Young Persons Advisor

We are looking for 2 young people's advisors to work within our high performing care leaver service in Durham. This will be to build relationships with young people transitioning to leaving care from age 16 and with care leavers aged 18-25. We have an aspirational team that supports young people to achieve their goals and we highly value the relationships we achieve with the young people we support. If you have experience of working with this age group including supporting them to plan for their future, we look forward to hearing from you.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Hold case responsibility for young people whose assessed needs are commensurate with the grade of the post in terms of their complexity.

• Work in partnership with young people to monitor and review their individual pathway plans.

• Undertake planned and outcome focused direct work with young people individually and in group work to support each young person to reach the goals set out in their pathway plan including:

• Developing and enhancing skills for independent living, including managing finances.
• Finding a home.
• Accessing and sustaining appropriate education, training and employment opportunities.
• Ensuring financial support.
• Developing a healthy lifestyle and accessing appropriate health services and health promotion services.
• Sustaining relationships with family and friends, and participating in hobbies, leisure and social activities.

• Build positive and effective working relationships with young people. Maintain an awareness of each young person’s wellbeing and progress through regular contact. Take reasonable steps to re-establish contact if this is lost.

• To work proactively and creatively with professionals from within Durham County Council and with partner agencies from the statutory, voluntary and independent sector to ensure each young person has access to resources and services. Act as an advocate for young people where required.

• To promote and encourage full involvement, consultation and participation of young people in the development and delivery of the service.

• Ensure accurate records are maintained which reflect decision making. Prepare and present reports where appropriate.

• Support the team manager and social work consultant to manage risk in relation to young people.

The candidates must have:

• Level 3 qualification in a relevant children’s services field or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Significant experience of direct work with young people (teenagers) in a social care, health, education, housing or youth and community setting.
• Able to form positive and effective working relationships with young people.
• Able to network, negotiate and advocate on behalf of young people.
• Encourage young people to have a voice and get involved
• Good communication skills including listening and writing clearly.
• Able to keep accurate records.
• Information Technology skills
• Enthusiasm for working with young people to achieve positive outcomes.
• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
• Emotionally resilient, able to deal with emotional distress and challenging behaviour, including aggression in a calm and controlled manner.
• Able to work on own initiative, to organise workload, achieve deadlines and work under pressure.
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to work flexible hours.
• Full current driving licence or access to a means of mobility support.