Personal Advisor / Tenancy Support Worker Band 4

2 X Postions /FullTime Hours

Job Description :

JOB TITLE: Personal Adviser/Tenancy Support Worker 16+ Service

BAND: Band 4

DIRECTORATE: Children & Families

INITIAL LOCATION: Derry/L'Derry Area

REPORTS TO: Social Work Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Principal Social Worker

JOB SUMMARY

To support young people who are leaving care by fulfilling Personal Adviser/Tenancy Support worker duties to a satisfactory standard in accordance with statutory requirements, Leaving Care Standards and the policies and procedures of the Trust.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Duties

• Provide advice, including practical advice and support to young people leaving care and in aftercare as agreed in the pathway plan
• Offer support in the form of mentoring to and advocacy on behalf of, the young person, where appropriate
• Participate in assessing the needs of young people leaving care and contributing to preparation of pathway plans
• Participate in reviews of the pathway plan and request revisions to the plan where appropriate
• Liaise with the Trust in the implementation of the pathway plan as required
• Coordinate the provision of services and to take reasonable steps to ensure that young people make use of such provisions.

Stay in touch with young people and keep informed about their progress and well - being which will require the ability to work unsocial hours.

1. Support young peoples' participation in pathway planning and help them to represent their own wishes and views.

2. Promote young people's participation in the improvement and development of 16+ Services.

3. Maintain written records of contact with young people in accordance with HSC Trusts policy and procedures.

4. Participate in team meetings, regular supervision meetings and recognised training opportunities as agreed with the line manager.

5. To assist the young person to negotiate with Statutory and other agencies including accompanying them to appointments where appropriate.

6. To provide information and reports as required by the Manager.

7. To contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the 16+ Service as

Required.

8. To be able to use a computer to maintain required Trust contact records

and other data as required.

General Management Responsibilities

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of

openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with 'Your right to raise a concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

General Requirements

The post holder will be required to:

• Ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example:
  • Smoke Free policy
  • IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct
  • standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

• Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

• All employees of the Western Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Western Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the Western Health & Social Care Trust policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

• Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

• The HSC Code of conduct sets out the standards of conduct expected of all staff in the Western Health & Social Care Trust and presents standards of conduct and behaviours required during and after employment with the Trust. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

• Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

• Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability.

• Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties.

• Employees must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust's Risk Management Strategy.

• The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems.

• All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person.

• Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder's area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust's Equality Scheme.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Experience -

Minimum of 2 years direct experience of engaging with adolescent young people or young adults (16-25 years old) on an individual or group basis, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.

Experience and understanding of working in partnership with others, e.g. parents, GPs, teachers, youth clubs, PSNI etc. to meet the needs of young people.

Qualifications/ Registration

5 GCSE's at Grade A-C including English Language or equivalent

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car is essential. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved

Skills / Abilities

Demonstrates an understanding of the challenges facing young people today, for example, peer pressure, unemployment, drugs, alcohol, child sexual exploitation (C.S.E).

Demonstrates an understanding of the issues facing young people leaving care, for example, separation, loss, loneliness, independent living, barriers to Education, Training and Employment (ETE).

Has the ability to listen to and respond appropriately and sensitively and empathetically to the wishes and feelings of young people and deal appropriately with conflict or challenge.

Ability to develop and maintain positive and creative working relationships with young people, carers, families and other agencies, e.g. Accommodation Providers.

Ability to work with young people in a range of 1:1 or groupwork settings including residential if required in a flexible way to include unsocial hours.

Demonstrates an ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team

Has the ability to make effective use of supervision and training and to access support and advice as required

Ability to plan and prioritise work and keep written records.

Ability to negotiate and deliver support packages.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Proficiency or competence in informal educational / leisure activities (e.g. sport / cultural activity / or creative activity.

Involvement in Service User Participation or engagement schemes / groups

Qualifications

Vocational Qualification at Level 3 or higher in Childcare. Social Care, or Housing.

*Full Time Hours *

For more information contact [email protected] or call 02871 267799