Job Description and Person Specification

Service

/ Subwize Young Persons Substance Misuse Barking and Dagenham Drug and Alcohol Services

Job Title

/ Recovery Worker (Family and Hidden Harm) (KC1753)

Office Base

/ Barking

Hours

/ 37.5 hours per week

Salary Range

/ Scale Point 23-28

Reports to

/ Service Lead

Purpose of Job

/ To provide early intervention and prevention work with substance misusing families to improve outcomes for these families.
·  Working with the family as a unit
·  To initiate CAFs/Family CAFs /E CAFs
·  Working in partnership with other agencies to meet the 5 outcomes of Change for Children
·  Ensure children and families effected by substance misuse are supported
·  Close partnership working with the family for parents with substance misuse problems
·  Working closely with the MASH/MAP/ Troubled Families to provide a holistic approach to working with the family and attending initial planning and review meetings as required
·  To initiate and run Hidden Harm support groups /PODs
·  Sharing knowledge and skills across the team to ensure that all workers have the ability to work with these groups
·  Work holistically with children and young people affected by parental substance misuse, using a range of interventions
·  To deliver hidden harm training to professionals across the borough

Key Activities

·  To identify families in conjunction with other agencies, who will benefit from the Think Family approach, negotiating participation and engagement with the processes.
·  To manage a caseload of individuals effected by parental substance misuse
·  To deliver satellites sessions in schools /coffee mornings to parents
·  To devise flexible access and engagement tools for young substance misusers.
·  To ensure that best safeguarding practice is followed at all times, and to seek advice if necessary from statutory agencies.
·  To be the assessing professional where a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or CAF+ assessment is needed.
·  After training and development, to take on the role of Lead Professional for a small number of families and young people to promote examples of good practice. In agreement with the young person, family and other professionals, to ensure that a multi-agency care-plan is developed to achieve positive outcomes for the young person / family.
·  To deliver interventions with family members which improve outcomes and resilience, and prevent further escalation of the family’s difficulties.
·  To be responsible for generating and encouraging referrals from adult treatment services.
·  To work with partner agencies to encourage the delivery of the referrals through the FAST pathway.
·  To work closely with Children’s Services to enable the linking in of all partners on the treatment journey.
·  In conjunction with the Think Family Development Managers, to assist with the forming of a TAF for families identified by substance misuse treatment providers, where there is none in place, but the family have risk factors.
·  To work with families where there is no further action from area social care teams, because they do not meet the child protection threshold, and build a TAF to support the parents, children and young people.
·  To build on existing good practice being used for working with families within substance misuse treatment services, and share it with other agencies.
·  To identify blocks and barriers in individual cases and to seek out innovative solutions in conjunction with the family and the TAF and the Family Pathfinder/Subwize team/FIP, as well as young people in transition. Where this is not possible to inform Development Managers and the Subwize Service Manager of these issues.


General terms of reference:

In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

·  Seek to improve personal performance, contribution, knowledge and skills.
·  Participate in appraisal, training and supervision processes.
·  Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice relevant to the relevant client group.
·  Ensure the implementation of all CRI policies.
·  Work flexibly across operational sites as required
·  Believe in and carry out CRI’s ethos and values
·  Ensure the implementation of the all CRi policies.
·  To support the team with assertive outreach and events across the borough
·  Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.
·  Work flexibly within the agreed number of hours to maintain levels of service provision including evenings and weekends
·  Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
·  To provide a Psychosocial / Educative structured group to the families and carers in order to provide knowledge and education around issues that are commonly connected to the families/carers, i.e. how alcohol and drug use effects the family, coping mechanisms, dealing with crisis, exploring and enhancing social support etc.

Specific National Occupational Standards / Competence required for this role. Post-holders will be expected to demonstrate that they:

Unit Number and Title /
AA1 / Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists
AA2 / Establish, sustain and disengage from relationships with individuals
AA3 / Enable individuals to find out more about and use services and facilities
AA4 / Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights
AA5 / Interact with individuals using telecommunications
AB1 / Support individuals when they are distressed
AB2 / Support individuals who are substance users
AB2.1 / Enable individuals to adopt safe practices associated with substance use
AB2.2 / Support individuals in reducing substance use
AB3 / Contribute to the prevention and management of abusive and aggressive behaviour
AB4 / Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse
AB5 / Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AC1 / Develop your own knowledge and practice
AC1.1 / Reflect on and evaluate your own values, priorities, interests and effectiveness
AC1.2 / Incorporate new knowledge into the development of your own practice
AC2 / Make use of supervision
AC3 / Contribute to the development of the knowledge and practice of others
AC4 / Support and challenge workers on specific aspects of their practice
AD1 / Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
AD2 / Facilitate learning through presentations and activities
AD3 / Facilitate group learning
AF1 / Carry out screening and referral assessment
AF2 / Carry out assessment to identify and prioritise needs and taking appropriate action
AG2 / Contribute to the development, provision and review of care programmes
AG3 / Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services
AH3 / Supply and exchange injecting equipment for individuals
AH4 / Support individuals to undertake and monitor their own health care
AI1 / Counsel individuals about their substance use using recognised theoretical models
AI2 / Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
AK1 / Assist individuals to explore future employment, training and education opportunities
AK2 / Assist individuals to plan for future employment, training and education
AK3 / Enable individuals to access and retain housing
AK4 / Enable individuals to administer their financial affairs
HSC34 /
Promote the well-being and protection of children and young people
HSC38 /
Support children and young people to manage their lives
HSC39 /
Support children and young people to achieve their educational potential
HSC43 / Take responsibility for the continuing professional development of self and others
HSC44 /
Develop practice which promotes the involvement, well-being and protection of children and young people
HSC46 /
Independently represent and advocate with, and on behalf of, children and young people
HSC48 / Demonstrate a style of leadership that ensures an organisational culture of open and participatory management and practice
HSC210 / Support individuals to access and participate in recreational activities
HSC226 / Support individuals who are distressed
HSC230 / Manage environments and resources during clinical activities
HSC233 / Relate to and interact with individuals
HSC234 / Ensure your own actions, support the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals
HSC235 / Contribute to protecting children and young people from danger, harm and abuse
HSC311 /
Support children and young people to develop and maintain supportive relationships
HSC312 /
Support the social, emotional and identity development of children and young people
HSC329 / Contribute to planning, monitoring and reviewing the delivery of service for individuals
HSC340 /
Carry out comprehensive substance misuse assessment
HSC341 /
Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
HSC342 /
Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
HSC349 /
Enable individuals to access housing and accommodation
HSC391 /
Provide services to those affected by someone else's substance use
HSC420 /
Promote leisure opportunities and activities for individuals
HSC435 /
Manage the development and direction of provision
HSC3102 /
Work with community networks and partnerships
HSC3119 /

Promote the values and principles underpinning best practice

www.skillsforhealth.org.uk for more information on NOS

Leading and Managing Children’s Services in England: a National Professional Development Framework (DCSF – 00291 – 2008)

Person Specification

Essential requirements:

·  Experience of working with families who have two or more risk factors i.e. parental mental health, parental substance misuse, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, no qualifications, unemployed, poor / unsuitable housing, parental disability, parental learning disability.
·  Experience of embedding best practice in organisations.
·  The willingness and ability to act confidently, speak up for what’s right and to deal with difficult situations.
·  Experience of working with children and families affected by Substance misuse (hidden harm) between the ages of 6-21 years
·  Extensive Experience of working in the substance misuse field
·  Ability to work in close partnership with partner agencies including Children’s Services.
·  Clear understanding of the Think Family agenda
·  Clear understanding of child protection policy
·  Experience of providing interventions to substance misusers and Hidden Harm clients
·  Experience of contributing to / chairing multi-agency meetings.
·  Experience of undertaking in-depth comprehensive assessments, care-planning, case management and reviews.
·  The ability and willingness to be empathetic, inclusive, non judgemental and respectful of differences.
·  Practical knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and young people policies and procedures.
·  Ability to work with the young person / family at the centre of the process.
·  Ability to communicate complex processes and systems change to young people, families, other professionals and other stakeholders.
·  Ability to lead a multi-agency team without having line management responsibility (as a Lead Professional).
·  Knowledge of the legislative and strategic frameworks for all services to children, young people and families, and where to go for detailed information and help if required.
·  Commitment to ensuring all staff understands how their professional practice contributes to improving outcomes for and safeguarding children, young people and families.
·  Commitment to continued professional development including participation in internal and external training programmes.
·  Flexible some evenings and weekends if requested.

Desirable Requirements:

·  Knowledge/experience of relevant legislation relating to Court Proceedings, Parenting Orders, Community Sentencing and Anti-social Behaviour Orders.
·  To deliver structured group work to carers affected by someone’s substance misuse

This post is subject to a DBS check at an enhanced level and will be subject to registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

You will be required to work flexibly across operational sites as required and work flexibly within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision. As required this will include some flexibility in working hours (i.e. earlier starts, evening and weekends).

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