Young Carers Support Worker

Background

We are PKAVS, we are an incorporated charity supporting the wellbeing of people throughout Perth & Kinross at their times of greatest need. Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where people flourish, and communities thrive.

We operate across four locations under our service banners which include Carers PKAVS, the Third Sector Interface, The Walled Garden & Wisecraft PKAVS, and Shopmobility PKAVS.

Carers PKAVS is our largest service, and we provide support and respite care to unpaid carers aged 5+ across Perth & Kinross. The Young Carers Service offers information, advice, and support to young people and works in partnership with other agencies to deliver a range of activities that enable young people with caring responsibilities to be supported. Integral to this approach is the provision of 1:1 support and respite activities to help manage the caring responsibilities and have a break from caring.

We use a holistic approach in working with young people who have caring responsibilities and their families. This is achieved through providing appropriate forms of support as well as enabling and signposting young people and their families towards other appropriate forms of support available to them.

Working for PKAVS means joining a small family of professionals, who are committed to promoting equality and diversity in all our activities. We offer an inclusive culture that is based on compassion, togetherness, speaking from the heart, and our passion for making a positive impact.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen within in our Young Carers team for a Young Carers Support Worker. We are looking for a highly motivated person to work within a small, supportive, and dynamic team striving to recognise and enhance the potential of young people. Whilst a relevant qualification is desirable, experience of working with and being able to engage directly with young people and their families is an essential element of this role.

You will be involved in developing and delivering high quality individual support and group work programmes designed to improve outcomes for Young Carers.

You must have a flexible approach, working in collaboration with team members, volunteers, and external agencies in developing and participating in a range of activities and services delivered during school holidays, in the evenings and on weekends for Young Carers.

Key Objectives

• Support Young Carers in addressing the impact of their caring role on them through an outcome-focused Young Carer plan.
• Provide high quality individual support and group work programmes designed to improve outcomes for Young Carers.
• Champion the rights and well-being of Young Carers through representation at key multi-agency meetings and awareness raising activity.
• Enable family support including signposting to appropriate support services to help lessen the impact of the caring role on Young Carers.
• Support the delivery of respite activities including weekly respite groups, day, and residential school holiday activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake a needs assessment and support Young Carers based on a Young Carers Statement (YCS) with a focus on personal outcomes related to their caring responsibility.
• Liaise with partner agency staff for the purposes of seamless referral and signposting of Young Carers and their families as appropriate.
• Provide support for highly impacted Young Carers on a 1-1 basis to address needs identified in their outcome plan, to make informed choices, and take action around issues relating to their caring role.
• Support Young Carers to identify their respite needs and enable access to short breaks and appropriate funding.
• Provide annual reviews for Young Carers ensuring changes in need are identified and the most appropriate support and information is provided.
• Attend relevant professional and stakeholder meetings to advocate on behalf of Young Carers related to the impact of their caring responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain a schedule of awareness and promotion initiatives for known and unidentified Young Carers to champion their rights in collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Act as the service point of contact for key schools and locality agency teams within the geographic areas agreed.
• Participate in the transporting of Young Carers.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £22,986.72 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Experience:

• Spinal Injury: 1 year (preferred)
• Support Worker: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (preferred)

Work Location: In person