Senior 16 Plus Supported Living Support Worker

Salary based on a full-time contract; 32 hours over 6 days and two 8 hour sleep ins (2 on 4 off shift pattern) 11.50 per hour plus sleep in rate paid at 50 per night.

If you have a positive attitude, a sense of humour and a passion and drive to help young people fulfill their potential, then we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for aSenior16+ Supported Living Support Worker who is enthusiastic, patient, reliable and highly motivated to join our team in Somerset. Providing support and guidance to unaccompanied young adults as they journey towards independent living.

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity requiring post holders to contribute to the transition from care to independence, as part of a dedicated team working to enrich the opportunities available to young people.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

There are many roles and responsibilities of a senior supported living support worker, including:

• Supporting young people leaving care aged 16 to 18 years in a range of practical, personal, social and financial ways to help to enable and develop their independence and to help them become confident, successful and contributing in their community.
  
• Complete weekly and monthly reports, support plans and risks assessments via our bespoke online system to ensure accurate recording on file is adhered.
  
• Help to identify risks and concerns and liaise with the wider team to put plans in place to ensure that young people are safe.
  
• Supporting young people to re-join/continue with their education and or learning journey or take the first steps on their journey to employment.
  
• Ensuring the placement appearance is kept to a high standard, maintenance, including cleaning daily.
  
• Helping young people to enjoy affordable and sustainable activities within their local community.
  
• Using creative and inclusive approaches to support young peoples development and improve their aspirations through 1-1 key work sessions.
  
• Liaising with external agencies and professionals.
  
• Adhering to policies and procedures to safeguard young people from harm and abuse.
  
• Managing challenging behaviour and difficult situations.
  
• Line management responsibility for small team of supported living support workers.

Making friends is often difficult for the young people we support, and so a key responsibility of being a supported living support worker is promoting and planning meaningful days. This can be supporting individuals to pursue and enjoy their hobbies and interests, accessing training and educaiton, getting involved in community groups, or encouraging learning a new life skill skill like cooking or DIY.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with young people and partner agencies.
  
• Experience of working with young people and/or challenging behaviour in either paid, unpaid or volunteer capacity.
  
• Strong organisational skills in order to be flexible and responsive, to meet the needs of young people.
  
• Good IT skills with ability to use Outlook, online recording systems, Excel, Word, using a tablet and a smart phone.
  
• Empathy and understanding of the needs of young people leaving care, and the barriers they face.
  
• An ability to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries.
  
• Willingness to undertake sleep-in shifts and flexible to work on a rota basis.
  
• You will be able to keep accurate records and providing written reports on young people for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager.
  
• Desirable but not essential - QCF Level 3 in childrens residential care (working with young people) or equivalent.
  
• Full, clean UK driving license.
  
• Have or be willing to have business insurance for transport, if/when required.
  
• Previous experience of managing staff would be desireable.

• Competitive rates of pay
  
• Access to further training and career development opportunities
  
• Acess to level 3 and 4 qualificaitons
  
• Equivalent to 28 days paid holiday
  
• Company pension