Job Introduction
Staffordshire's Care Leavers Offer Team is excited to announce that we are going to be working in collaboration with the National House Project. Setting up our very own House Project, based in Tamworth.
The House Projects supports young people leaving care to create their own homes and live connected and fulfilling lives. The House Project is co-designed with young people. They work together to develop relationships and learn skills that enable them to live successful adult lives.
We are seeking enthusiastic, dynamic, and adaptable practitioners, who will help develop and deliver the ethos of the project. You will provide direct support to care leavers, through a trauma-informed approach using group work, the ORCHIDS Practice Framework, and the House Project Programme.
We have 3 posts available:
- 2 x full time 37 Hours per week – fixed term for 3 years
- 1 x part-time 18.5 Hours per week – fixed term for 3 years x 1
May require some evenings and weekend work.
Main Responsibility
As a Young Persons Practitioner, you will be:
- Supporting our young people to make the transition to independent living
- Providing practical and emotional support, along with advice and guidance to young people
- Able to work flexibly, innovatively, and in a solution focussed and empowering way to help our young people to achieve the best possible outcomes
The Ideal Candidate
You will need to have experience working directly with children and young people in a social care, education, housing, or youth work setting. Have experience working closely with other agencies and professionals (statutory and voluntary) and be able to demonstrate highly developed communication and influencing skills in a variety of contexts with young people.
You should have an understanding of the social, emotional, safeguarding, and practical challenges facing young people in care and care leavers and have an understanding of how these may be overcome.
What you will bring
- NVQ 3 or equivalent in caring for children & young people or relevant experience
- Knowledge and understanding of the Children Act 1989, 2004, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Children and Social Work Act 2017, Homeless Reduction Act 2018
- Knowledge and understanding of the accommodation issues in relation to young people Leaving Care.
- Knowledge of the Benefits System.
- Significant experience working with young people, to have experience working with young people who have experienced trauma and adversity, and whose behaviour may be challenging or distressing.
- Demonstrable experience working with Children in Care and Care Leavers
- Awareness/understanding of the social, emotional, safeguarding, and practical challenges facing young people in care and care leavers and understanding of how these may be overcome.
- Awareness/understanding of the specific needs of teenage parents and teenagers who are pregnant.
- Awareness/understanding of the particular needs of young people from different cultures Leaving Care.
- Awareness/understanding of the education, training, and work experience needs of young people, and the opportunities open to them.
If you would like to have an informal discussion about this role, please contact either:
Lynsey Dawson, Team Manager, on 07773792440, Lynsey.dawson@staffordshire.gov.uk
Or
Joanne Dell, Senior Practitioner, on 07790912901, Joanne.dell@staffordshire.gov.uk
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
