Practitioner (Futures) - Req24400

As a Futures Practitioner you’ll thrive on being part of an energetic and dynamic team that always goes the extra mile to support the young people they work with.  
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Futures Practitioner you will bring to the role:

• Experience of working with highly vulnerable children, families and adults
• Experience of working in intensive community based ways
• Knowledge, training and understanding of the challenges of this client group
• A trauma informed ethos in all that you do
• Flexible, determined and ‘can do’ approach

About the role
The Futures team currently works with young people who have experienced the removal of an infant through care proceedings . It is extending its scope to actively and creatively support young people and particularly care leavers that need more support during pregnancy and beyond.

This work is tied to the compassionate Leeds Strategy and wants to ensure that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in our city are recognised and equitably supported to access the help that they need.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Futures team and work in truly meaningful and impactful ways with young people and their families.  

As our next Practitioner you will work as part of the team to support a small caseload, support the Hold my Hand project and utilise the Leeds Practice Model to guide and shape your practice.

The team works flexibly and according to need and there is an expectation that you contribute to a rota that enables a response to young people between 8am and 8pm. Occasional weekend working according to need is also expected.

What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply
Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Karen Kirby Futures Team Lead at Karen.kirby@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Purpose: The Futures Practitioner will be an integrated member of the Futures team working to design ,coordinate and implement  intensive and flexible packages of support to young parents (under 25s) where there is an assessed and measurable risk of care proceedings or repeat proceedings for an infant .In particular where the young parent is at risk of poor long term social and health outcomes associated with domestic violence, substance use, and adverse life events. The young parent may be a child themselves as such at risk of becoming looked after, having poor school attendance or becoming NEET (not in education, employment and training). The Futures practitioner works always to enable and empower parents to make positive life change. 

Responsibilities:

• Hold a small case load of parents and families and fully advocate for them throughout, always maintaining emphasis on achieving effective and sustainable outcomes.
• Work systemically as part of a team, to collaboratively develop and deliver effective assessment, formulation and plans of intervention with parents and families, this includes allocating and overseeing work to junior staff and supporting them in their own development to deliver this effectively.
• Recognise the challenges young parents can face and use initiative and creativity to provide a responsive and flexible approach to engaging them in an approach that will work for them.
• Work as part of a team that works outside of traditional hours and uses an assertive outreach approach.
• Work as part of a team that works in partnership with other agencies and organisations, working always to develop relationships and networks and align professionals to the case formulation, so developing pathways and creating access to the most appropriate interventions and treatments at that point in time.
• Utilising guidance and supervision fully implement the Leeds Practice Model, engaging in outcome focused supervision, using effective formulation and following the Leeds Practice Principles.
• Deliver evidenced based treatments, interventions and approaches in your work that are most relevant to this client group e.g. Systemic working, CBT,DBT developmental theory, family working, strength focused approaches.
• Engage in team and individual supervision, taking responsibility for own development.
• Contribute to effective data collection and analysis to inform and improve practice.
• Contribute to training and awareness events that promote the service.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults that you are responsible for or who come into contact with the service.
• Maintain an up to date working knowledge of legislation, statutory frameworks and codes of practice, relevant to this work. 
• To comply with the requirements of the Social Care Staff Code of Conduct.
• This is a developing service and as such is subject to changes in scope and operational delivery. The post holder will be expected to actively contribute to and be part of all ongoing developments 
• Be flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required, commensurate to grade
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion and development programmes
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days and events as requested
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures such as child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all by working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures
• The postholder is expected to work within the parameters of the council’s flexibility protocol
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post

Qualifications - Relevant professional qualification in related health or social care discipline .E.g. social work, nursing, allied health professional, therapeutic modality e.g. CBT.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

• Effective communication and engagement skills
• Able to work in highly distressing situations and a variety of settings 
• Able to be responsive and flexible to the needs of the individual within a context of restorative practice.
• Able to stay with enduring issues and continue to apply a strength based approach
• Able to engage in group and individual supervision and receive feedback on your work.
• Able to work alongside partner agencies in delivering multifaceted plans of care.
• Able to recognise and manage safety and safeguarding concerns for both children and adults 
• Able to work as part of team and a team approach that works intensively and flexibly.
• Able to work autonomously and manage own time to prioritise workload and to achieve results
• Car driver

Knowledge Required

• Up to date professional and personal development and adherence to own professional standards and code of conduct 
• Awareness of this client group and the challenges they face in relation to individual development and potential experiences of adversity.
• Understanding of formulation, goal setting and  evidenced based/informed  intervention 
• Understanding of trauma Informed practice, restorative practice and associated psychological theory. 
• Of pre-birth assessment process and care proceedings.
• Working knowledge of effective multidisciplinary working and own contributions and accountability 
• Understanding of the principle of confidentiality including its limits in relation to protection of Children, Young people and particularly young adults.

Experience Required

• Of delivering complex  packages of care.
• Of receiving supervision 
• Of working directly with young people and families in community settings who present with a range of complex needs e.g. mental health, social drug and alcohol problems, relationship difficulties and domestic violence 
• Of working in multidisciplinary and multi-agency way and developing  effective partnerships.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

• To be a strong team player 
• Demonstrate active commitment to flexible and creative practice and be prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ 
• Demonstrate openness and adaptability to change 
• Demonstrate active commitment to trauma informed practice and continuous practice improvement and professional development  . 
• Committed to continuous improvement
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the council's Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy 
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Skills Required

• Able to use formulation and apply to individual care planning 
• Able to apply a range of psychological and social theories and evidence based approaches e.g. CBT, systemic working, family working, social learning theory 

Knowledge Required

• Of professional training in specific psychological /mental health / drug and alcohol treatments or approaches
• Of understanding of Restorative Practice and its driving principles
• Of infant and child development and effective parent training/support approaches 

Experience Required

• Of delivering specific psychological /mental health/drug and alcohol treatments and approaches. 
• Of using Restorative Practices within own or partnership working.
• Of child protection processes and court systems
• Of working with young parents in first 1001 days .

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