Alternative Approach Ltd is children’s and young person’s provider offering care and support to children and young people. Our family support service aims to work alongside young people and families to enable them to live healthy and happy lives. We adopt a family centred approach to ensure that all our support plans are individualised and tailored to the needs, wishes and feelings of the young people and families we support. We work holistically with our families and actively encourage their participation at every stage of support from planning through to service evaluation.
Our experienced staff come from a wide-range of professional backgrounds including, Health, Social Services, Education, Mental Health, Supported-Accommodation, Youth Work and more. Our staff share their knowledge, skills and experience with our families empowering them to make changes, achieve positive outcomes and reduce the need for future service involvement.
Children and young people need to grow and develop in a positive and rewarding manner, they need support and encouragement from people who are dedicated and determined to stay committed to them through challenging times.
The role of a Family Support worker will involve:
- Contributing to the children’s young person’s care plans and risk assessments, their review and implementation.
- Understand your individual responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the people you support and come in to contact with and ensure this is implemented in your role.
- Forming effective relationships with young people, their families, and external agencies.
- To ensure the home is kept clean and in a tidy condition, adhere to the cleaning rota system, encouraging the young people to participate as appropriate.
- To ensure that good quality records are maintained.
- To maintain and promote family support to high levels of professionalism expected by Alternative Approach.
- To meet the emotional and physical needs of our children and young people and maximize opportunities for their development.
- To travel to and work within family homes, educational settings, hospitals, and other areas, offering the highest standard of support to meet the needs of individuals and families in the following areas: Early Intervention, Mothers & Babies, Family Contact, Emergency Support and Respite.
- Establishing positive relationships with children and young people and always offering them unconditional and positive regard.
- Helping young people gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.
- To provide a positive role model, to be able to offer advice, guidance, and assistance where appropriate.
- Providing advice, assistance, and support on a 1:1 basis to enable children and young people to address past and present difficulties.
- Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress
- Attending planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager.
- Empowering children and young people and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future.
- Acting as an advocate at meetings where the children and young person is the subject of discussion.
- Encouraging the children and young person to develop links with the community attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network.
- Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures)
To work as part of a team
- Being aware of the aims and objectives and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them.
- Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them.
- Actively contributing to the development of the team.
- Receiving and storing information to improve communication.
- Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers.
- Being aware of childcare plans for all young people and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans.
- Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties.
- Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the National Minimum Standards.
- Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring to any causes for concern (Whistleblowing).
- Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them.
What we are looking for from you:
- Level 4 Diploma in Children and Young People or equivalent (desirable)
- Experience working with children and young people (desirable)
- Passion to help nurture young people
- Be able to work shift patterns including sleep ins
- Full driving licence (desirable)
What we can offer you:
- £13.02 per hour and £60 per sleep (£13.52 qualified)
- Enrolment onto the fully funded Level 4 Children and Young People’s Workforce qualification
- Enrolment into NEST pension scheme
- Comprehensive induction training and ongoing training within the role
- Fantastic opportunities for career development
- Monthly recognition awards
- Casual dress code
- The opportunity to make a real difference to a child’s life!
Successful employment is subject to satisfactory Full Enhanced Disclosure, right to work and reference checks in line with government regulations and Safer Recruitment Practices.
All young people are equally entitled to have their needs met in a fair and balanced way. Alternative Approach employees are responsible for promoting equal opportunities for all and for challenging any behaviour or practice which discriminates against any young person or colleague on the grounds of race, religion, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other perceived difference.