Development Worker (Bilingual preferred but not essential)

Working for developmentplus, this position will be for a 1 Year fixed term contract, working 3 days a week.

Project Overview:

A Step in the Right Direction gives people an opportunity to explore possibilities, make informed choices and set a realistic action plan, working at a pace to suit each person.  Outcomes of the project are different for every individual, but the aims are to give both practical and emotional support.  This may support participants into volunteering, work, training and improved health and wellbeing.  The key to the success of this programme is the individual coaching and mentoring participants receive, they can work on whatever aspect of their life they want to change – we help them to set goals and pinpoint specific areas of their life which are preventing them from moving forward and we are able to asses these outcomes.

Frequently, there are underlying mental health issues, some are already receiving help, and others are not.  But most lack confidence and many suffer from low self-esteem.  Sometimes we may accompany them to various appointments to offer the necessary additional support.

‘Step in the right direction’ is primarily self-referral programme and is voluntary on the part of the participant.  Workers have excellent links into the local community across the City, primarily from areas of high deprivation, low income families and the unemployed.  We do however accept referrals from professionals working across Health, Social Care, and Mental Wellbeing.

As Steps is generally a self-referral programme the Project Worker will visit as many established groups as possible to share the programmes overview.  In Lincoln for example groups visited included Family Centres, Local Neighbourhood Teams, Parent Groups and the local VCS.  Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 visits to build up a ‘familiar face’ relationship before an individual will step forward and ask to be part of the programme. 

When working with individuals on the Step in the Right Direction Programme we already know that they have taken a massive step in the journey by meeting us for the first time.  We make every possible effort to ensure that that first meeting is in a non-threatening venue with no stigma attached and where the participant knows that they can walk in without being judged.  The programme will not discriminate against participants but will provide a service-user centred approach, which celebrates the diversity of each individual.  Generally, as a rule we do not meet participants in their home so we ensure that meeting venues are not too far away, and should the participant have difficulties getting around we support their arrangements with transport either taxi or bus fayre which we have costed into the budget.

Development Worker Key Tasks:

1. To promote the “Step in the Right Direction” Programme.
2. To deliver one to one coaching and mentoring to individuals on the Programme.
3. To utilise the “Rickter Scale” tool to identify where an individual is and where they would like to be.
4. To prepare effective Action Plans for the individual, which are referred to throughout the “Steps” process.
5. To research, prepare and deliver training.
6. To work collaboratively to support the organisation in the sourcing of commissioning, funding and bid writing.
7. To work collaboratively in the development of publicity and advertising for existing and new training.
8. To attend team meetings.
9. Maintain accurate records and create evaluation reports as required necessary by funders / commissioners.
10. To attend meetings as appropriate as a representative of DP.
11. To undertake any other duties in line with the post and in agreement with the General Manager.

Person Specification:

Qualifications

Training Qualification - Desirable                                                                                                                  Counselling Qualification - Desirable                                                                                       

Rickter Scale Licence  - Desirable                                                                                                              (Must be able to use Rickter scale assessment methods confidently and effectively)                                           

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with people who lack confidence, motivation and direction, need emotional and practical support, who have not worked for a long time, who need to address their barriers to employability, may have a culture of benefit dependency and are not able to fully engage with statutory employment provisions. 
• Experience of delivering effective training groups and/or individuals 
• A knowledge of the Sincil Bank area would be desirable but not essential.

Skills & Abilities

• Proven ability to work with individuals on a one to one basis, including coaching and mentoring
• Proven ability of responding to individuals needs
• Proven ability of understanding and responding to Wellbeing needs with the context of worklessness
• Proven ability of utilising Action planning processes in order to create individual pathways to progress  
• Proven ability of effective working relationships with a diverse range of people.
• Proven ability of raising and maintaining individuals’ levels of motivation
• Proven ability of providing appropriate support to individuals to address emotional barriers to progression.
• Proven ability to provide accurate programme reports both written and verbal
• Able to produce Case studies in line with programme requirements
• Manage own programme administration effectively.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Maintaining good practice regarding safeguarding and confidentiality issues
• Knowledge and understanding of Employment Toolkits e.g. C.V building, application writing, interview skills and job search techniques.
• Competent in using word processing and excel spreadsheets.
• Good knowledge and understanding of current worklessness programmes.

Personal Attributes

Must be highly confident and motivated when working with programme participants

Must have excellent communication skills and be able to express oneself both verbally and written

Can think creatively and have a solution focused attitude.