Alternative Approach Ltd is an ambitious supported living provider, offering supported accommodation to 16-18-year-olds. You will be based within one of our supported living accommodations based within Merseyside. Ideal candidates will have experience working with young people aged between 16 & 18. Your role will require you to support young people within our supported living homes to ensure they receive the highest standard of support appropriate to their individual needs.
The primary objective is to enable our young people to become emotionally stable and self-sufficient to live independently as well as ensuring they maintain a clean home environment. This will involve teaching young people life skills such as cleaning, cooking, and personal hygiene. You will also be required to do daily house checks to ensure the health and safety of our young people. As a support worker, you will also be required to build strong working relationships with local authorities and other professional organisations.
The role of a Leaving Care Support worker will involve:
- Contributing to the 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.
- To ensure that good quality records are maintained complying with company safeguarding procedures and policies.
- To maintain and promote high levels of professionalism expected by Alternative Approach.
- To meet the emotional and physical needs of our young people and maximize opportunities for their development.
- Working to relevant frameworks and legislation relating to the support and care of young people.
- You will be providing emotional support and guidance around healthy relationships and building/maintaining positive relationships with their families.
- Establishing positive relationships with 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 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 young people and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future.
- Acting as an advocate at meetings where the young person is the subject of discussion.
- Encouraging the young person to develop links with the community attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network.
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:
- Pay rate for full time 42 hours per week on £13.02 per hour and undertaking 3 sleeps per week at £60 per sleep
- Enrolment onto the fully funded Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce qualification
- Enrolment into NEST pension scheme
- 235 hours annual leave per year
- Opportunities to pick up extra shifts / overtime
- 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.