Community Support Practitioner / Support Worker

Job Title: Community Support Practitioner

Location: Ross-shire, Highland

Salary: Starting at £20,812 (including unsocial hours allowance)

Job Type: 2 Full time positions or part-time up to a maximum of 2 full time equivalent posts. 2 year fixed term appointments.

Many vulnerable children and young people are failed by our current systems, unable to be supported sufficiently within their own homes and communities and are consequently taken into care.

Our client is establishing an innovative and creative new service in the Ross-Shire area of Highland, focused on supporting children and young people on the 'edge of care' to remain and flourish in their local communities.

The service employs personalised and person-centred approaches and principles to ensure children, young people and families are supported to build on their strengths, assets and interests to build enduring capacity and resilience. The service also promotes local professional stakeholders and communities to coproduce solutions.

They are looking to recruit dynamic and creative individuals to deliver flexible, person-centred services to vulnerable families with the aim of enabling young people to continue to live safely at home with their parents. They want individuals who will be playful, warm, accepting, curious, tenacious and empathetic in their dealings with the children, young people and families and to bring these qualities to the role.

Job Role:

The company are seeking to recruit enthusiastic, energetic and committed individuals who share their vision that collaborative early intervention and engagement is the best option for children and families on the 'edge of care'. They are willing to consider either two full time appointments or part-time appointments up to a maximum of the equivalent of two full time posts or job share - the key is to secure the right skills, knowledge and experience and mix of individuals to deliver the services which will secure the best outcomes for the families.

Frontline work will be based within a variety of settings including the service base, family homes, schools and community settings.

Community Support Practitioners provide needs led, person-centred support to children, young people, parents/carers to enable children and young people at risk of being accommodated (in residential care or out of authority placement) to remain safely at home with Family or in Kinship care. This requires the ability to develop person-centred relationships with families, based on empathy, respect and positive regard. The work will involve working either individually or in groups with children, young people and parents/carers using an asset based approach to build their capacity and resilience. As well as being involved in planning, designing and delivering appropriate work you will assist in assessing and evaluating the services working with families and other key people. You will need to support and challenge parents to build on their parenting and caring skills, taking into account culture, values and abilities.

The Candidate:

Successful candidates must be comfortable working in a culture based on respect, integrity, innovation and the ability to challenge. The successful candidate will bring a fresh and collaborative approach to this service, in discussion with the manager, be willing to try new approaches and ensure strong and trusting relationships are developed with families and stakeholders.

You will have experience of direct practice within this field of work, including child/adult protection issues. Experience of working with children with additional support needs would be desirable but is not essential.

This role requires successful candidates to manage their time in a way which balances the need to meet the needs of children and families and administrative requirements of the role while also being available to join your team as a practitioner on a flexible basis working directly with the children and families including working weekends, evenings and public holidays.

Closing Date: noon Thursday 8th December 2016

Interview Date: Wednesday 11th January 2017

Please click the APPLY button and CHECK YOUR EMAILS for the link to the careers page.

The Charity is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all their service users and uses a thorough and rigorous recruitment and selection process including PVG Scheme checks to ensure this commitment is not compromised.

Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Community Care Assistant, CCA, Community Support Worker, Care Assistant, Support Worker, Enabler, Carer, Care Worker, Care Helper, Care Management, Care Assist, Support Coordinator, Care Manager, Support Manager, Care Coordinator will also be considered for this role.