Specialist Support Worker - Req24221

As a Specialist Support Worker in Futures   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 Specialist Support Worker you will bring to the role:

• Experience of working with highly vulnerable children ,families and adults
• Experience and knowledge of  working in the community and utilising all available assets
• 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 part of 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 Hold my Hand Project and work in truly meaningful and impactful ways with young people and their families.

As our next Specialist Support Worker  you will work as part of the team to support the Practitioners across their caseloads of young parents with a range of tasks from the very practical right through to therapeutic interventions. You will 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. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Adults and Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. 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 description

Job Purpose: 

The Specialist Support Worker will be an integrated member of the Futures team working to coordinate and provide 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).

Responsibilities:

The Support Worker will build positive relationships and work closely with Children's Social care teams and other key agencies throughout the young parent’s involvement with services providing advocacy and ongoing support in collaborative and restorative ways.

Working alongside the Futures practitioners the post holder will provide direct support to young people across the team and will utilise and promote a systemic ‘think family’ approach. 

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.

The Specialist Support Worker is expected to deliver support to young people as agreed by the Futures Practitioner.

To work directly with young parents throughout their involvement with services to provide practical and specific supported identified within formulation and based on need. 

Support young people to develop supportive networks that can enable well-being moving forward.

Support identified young people to build parenting skills and overall capacity to parent. 

To assist young people in practical needs such as housing, budgeting, job attainment, and pro-social recreational activities.

To work with young people to encourage positive changes within behaviours and lifestyle.

To support young people in accessing interventions and programmes that will benefit their health and well-being. 

To maintain clear and concise documentation of risk; support and interaction. 

To identify barriers to young people accessing services and activities and work towards how such barriers can be overcome. 

To fully implement the Leeds Practice Model, engaging in outcome focused supervision, using effective formulation and following the Leeds practice principles. 

Be available to practitioners and engage in activities to support practitioners in their work with young people and families.

Engage in team and individual supervision, taking responsibility for own development.

To be prepared to be flexible within working hours as and when required utilising an assertive outreach approach.

Contribute to awareness events that promote the service.

Promote and safeguard the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults.

Maintain an up to date working knowledge of legislation and statutory frameworks, including DfE Working Together, the Children Act 2004 and local Child Protection Procedures, and appropriate adult safeguarding legislation. 

To participate in development activities as necessary and to ensure up to date knowledge and skills. 

To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the Lead Practitioner.

To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures and to actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.

To comply with the requirements of the Social Care Staff Code of Conduct on Confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 1998.

To undertake other duties appropriate to the post.

To participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and CPD programmes.

To 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/events as requested.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. 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 working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the 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 and making sure the individual/s involved understand it is unacceptable.

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.   The job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and emerging learning and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Qualifications:

Educated to degree level or equivalent, in related subject.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION 

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

Ability to work as a team member.

Ability to work with Young People to develop a safety plan.

Effective communication skills.

Create, maintain and develop relationships with Young People, carers, and other professionals.

Resilient in challenging circumstances.

Able to work autonomously.

Self-disciplined ability to manage own time to prioritise workload and to achieve results.

Ability to work within a team and maintain professional boundaries.

Commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice.

Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Able and willing to work flexible hours.

Must demonstrate an ability to use IT Systems.

Capable of expressing information and ideas orally and in writing in a manner which is appropriate and meaningful to the audience.

Ability to use own initiative to plan and complete tasks to meet the needs of the role.

Adaptable to change.

Knowledge Required

Understanding of formulation and goal setting.

Of evidenced based therapeutic intervention.

Understanding of Trauma and Attachment.

Understanding the impact of loss and grief.

Resources available in the community and the ability to connect families to those resources.

Working knowledge of care proceedings.

Awareness of agencies which support young people and children including health, voluntary sector, etc.

Understanding of the issues which may be barriers for young people reaching their goals.

Understanding of Restorative Practice and its driving principles.

Understanding of restorative supervision.

Experience Required

Of working directly with young people and families who present with a range of complex needs e.g. mental health, social drug and alcohol problems, relationship difficulties and domestic violence.

Of multi-agency agency working and signposting to appropriate support.

Of receiving supervision.

Demonstrable experience of working with families in a community based setting.

Of using evidenced based therapeutic interventions.

Of using Restorative Practices within own or partnership working.

Demonstrable experience with child protection and court systems.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.

Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.

Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.

Understand the principle of confidentiality including its limits in relation to protection of Children and Young people.

Participate in and present relative training/evidence based practice within the team and to partner agencies.

Car driver essential.