JOB DESCRIPTION. POSITION TITLE: Supported Lodgings Support Worker (Part-time: 20 hours)

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Supported Lodgings Support Worker (Part-time: 20 hours) Responsible To: Supported Lodgings Manager Responsible For: Initially No-one, but with a view to supervising one volunteer. Safeguarding YMCA West London is wholly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. BASIC FUNCTION The primary purpose of YMCA West London s Supported Lodgings Project is to provide high quality holistic support and advice to vulnerable young people to help them develop sustainable independent living skills. The scheme places young people aged 16/17 with host families or single persons in local communities across West London and its surrounding areas. The role will involve the following key tasks: Supporting and advising Supported Lodging hosts to empower them to support young person placed with them. Carrying a case load of young people in placements and supporting them to achieve required outcomes in the following areas: volunteering, education, employment, training, independent living and wellbeing. Ensuring young people in placements are getting the support they need from their placements and acquiring independent living skills. PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES 1. Support and Advice a. Carrying out needs and risks assessment of young people referred to the service within the prescribed time limits and to ensure the young people, once accepted, are fully and carefully inducted into their placement. b. Carrying out needs and risks assessment of young people placed in Supported Lodgings within the prescribed time limits. c. Inducting young people accepted into the service and setting up required placement agreements that will facilitate the successful stay of the young person. d. Working with the hosts and young people in placements to develop outcomefocused support plans for them in areas such as: hygiene, cooking, budgeting, emotional wellbeing, accessing welfare benefits, engagement in education training or employment etc. e. Ensuring young people and hosts are aware of health and safety policies and procedures and to deal with any health and safety issues raised by a young people or hosts. f. Ensuring young people and hosts understand the procedures for reporting abuse, neglect or complaint. g. Promptly documenting all support and advisory related work carried out with young people and hosts using the tools and working documents provided by YMCA West London. h. Supporting young people eligible to claim welfare benefits to make claims as and when required. 1

2 g. Supporting young people to move on at the end of the placement and to record the outcomes achieved in a consistent and organised format. 2. Liaison and Advocacy Facilitating young people s access to external services including but not limited to: counselling, college, Social Services, Department of Work and Pension, medical, optical and dental services, drug and alcohol etc. 3. Christian Ethos To be willing to always work within the Christian ethos of YMCA West London. 4. Communication and Networking a. This includes regular communication and liaison with colleagues in the wider YMCA West London team to facilitate the smooth running of placements. b. Working with the Supported Lodgings Manager to provide reports required for Board of Management. c. Developing and maintaining links with the other external agencies. d. Attending meetings internally and externally and creating relationships which engender a positive image of the YMCA West London. 5. Equality & Diversity a. Ensuring that young people and hosts involved in the scheme are aware of the Association s Equality & Diversity Policy, Anti-Discriminatory Practice and Harassment Policies. b. Co-operating with external agencies in relation to discrimination and harassment issues, ensuring that young people are aware of the YMCA West London s Complaints Procedures, and encouraging them to use the Procedures if so required. 6. Involvement a. The post holder will be responsible for organising young people activities and will set up and coordinate young people s forums where appropriate. b. Encouraging young people to take advantage of nationally/regionally organised YMCA youth events, and to represent the voice of young people at these and other events where possible. SCALE This factor takes into account the overall importance of the position to the Association and its degree of complexity. This is usually reflected in terms of:- Staff: Nil initially, but rising to one volunteers. Clients: Up to 15 young people at any one time. Budget:- Revenue: Nil. Capital: Nil. DISCRETION TO ACT The post holder will be an integral part of the Supported Lodgings team and will ensure that they follow the policies and procedures of YMCA West London where applicable. The post-holder will be required to plan, organise and prioritise their work load and be accountable for them referring to the Supported Lodgings Manager for advice and guidance as required. ENVIRONMENT 1. The service will operate from YMCA West London s premises in Roxeth Gate, Roxeth Hill, Harrow HA2 0JN. Although other staff are based in the premises the 2

3 worker will be expected to handle most situations, calling on the support of colleagues where necessary. 2. Unsocial Hours: Meetings and events will occasionally require working evenings. 3. Risk: The level of risk must be monitored closely by the worker, ensuring that they are not in a premises alone with a client. The level of risk is calculated as medium. The service provides support for young people who are vulnerable and in need of housing and support. There remains a risk of violence both directed at staff, hosts or directed at themselves e.g. self-harm etc. This is combated through a range of interventions including supervision, continuing professional development, team meetings and line management meetings, review of Policies and Procedures. RELATIONSHIPS Internal Contacts Support workers and the wider operations team of YMCA West London. Corporate services team of YMCA West London. External Contacts Various Local Authority s Social Services teams and their respective, housing departments and Housing Benefit departments. Department of Work and Pension Colleges Employers Local charities/voluntary/statutory bodies Etc EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Educated to A Level standard or equivalent training or job experience, and previous prior experience working in a supported housing or youth work environment. Some vocational training would be advantageous. Line Manager s Signature: Date: Employee s Signature: Date: 3

4 WEST LONDON YMCA PERSON SPECIFICATION POSITION TITLE: Supported Lodgings Project Worker RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Programme Requirement Knowledge K1. Knowledge of the issues facing young vulnerable people. K2. Knowledge of Supporting People Programme Essentia l Desirabl e Applicatio n Form Selectio n Test Intervie w Skills S1. Excellent interpersonal skills. S2. IT Literate. S3. Self motivated and able to manage own workload Aptitude A1. Able to communicate effectively with service users, residents, professionals and members of the public both in writing and orally. A2. Able to work under pressure. A3. Able to deal with potentially violent and difficult situations. (query this one) A4. Able to take responsibility and make decisions in a lone worker situation. Experience E1. Experience of working with young people aged E2. Experience of working with a vulnerable client group. E3. Experience of using support planning tools E4. Experience of assisting with Housing Benefit claims Education Q1. General education to A Level or equivalent in experience or training. Q2. Evidence of recent relevant training. Christian Ethos V1. Willing and able to implement YMCA West London s values within 4

5 their work. V2. Willing and able to work within the Christian Purposes and Vision of YMCA West London s Personal Qualities P1. Able to present self and work effectively. P2. Honesty and integrity. Requirement Essentia l Desirabl e Applicatio n Form Selectio n Test Intervie w Circumstances C1. Able and willing to work unsocial hours. Health H1. Able to meet the requirements of the post with or without reasonable adjustment. Equality and Diversity O1. An understanding of equality and diversity issues. O2. Commitment to implementing Equality and Diversity Policy. 5