CLOSING DATE: Thursday 1st May 2025  

Job Title: Lead Worker/Support Worker

Salary: Scale 5, Points 24-25, £24,618 - £25,399 per annum, pro rata

Hours of work: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)

Key Responsibilities:

• To undertake holistic risk and needs assessments within the community on an outreach basis.

• To develop support and risk management plans using appropriate assessment tools, such as the Outcome Star.

• To ensure a non-judgmental, person – centred approach is undertaken at all times, utilising a variety of approaches to promote engagement.

• To work with young people with complex and multiple needs to help them to sustain tenancies and manage their lives better.

• To support and encourage young people to engage with learning skills, apprenticeships, traineeships and volunteering opportunities.

• To support and encourage young people to develop positive family and other support networks.

• To mediate between young people and family/friends to develop positive relationships and increase support networks.

• To assist young people to identify and take up settled accommodation and to continue to provide ongoing support to them.

• To work with young people and employers to achieve and maintain employment.

• To be available to young people for regular support sessions and to respond to crisis.

• To take responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of young people.

• To promote and facilitate the participation of young people in their individual support plans and in the management of the service.

• To facilitate young people’s access to and take up of both statutory and non-statutory support services, including but not limited to, health, mental-health, and substance misuse services.

• To be the vital link between the client and other appropriate services ensuring a co-ordinated response.

• To advocate on behalf of young people on issues such as, benefits, housing rights etc.

• To support young people to understand their rights and responsibilities.

• To ensure benefit claims are made and maintained in order to maximise young people’s income, provide support with budgeting, debt advice and complete applications for small grants.

• To assist young people to improve their life skills through practical support, such as assisting with shopping and cooking healthy meals on a budget.
  
  
• To scope out local existing and new services and to support young people to make links with the local community.
  
  
• To organise and accompany young people to appointments as appropriate.
  
  
• To maintain accurate records e.g. support plans, day to day records and outcomes.
  
  
• To work independently managing a caseload, prioritising workloads and managing risk.
  
  
• To assist in the induction of new staff, to supervise and support volunteers, trainees and students, as required by line manager.

• To work as part of a team, providing cover for colleagues as required by the line manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• GCSE A-C Grade in Maths and English or equivalent
• NVQ 3 in Advice and Guidance, Health and Social Care or other relevant subject.

• Youth Work or Social Work degree.

ROLE EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Experience of working within the following areas: Youth Work, Residential or Social Work, Probation/Criminal justice, Community Work, Education and Training, housing or support work.

KNOWLEDGE:

Essential:

• Up to date knowledge of welfare rights and resources
• Knowledge of the breadth and complexity of needs young people may face.

• Knowledge of relevant support services available, including but not limited to Mental Health, Social Care, Health, Substance Misuse, CSE and County Lines
• Up to date knowledge of relevant Acts/legislation i.e. Housing, Homelessness, Childrens and Care Acts.

SKILLS:

Essential:

• Ability to use initiate and proactively seek out services to meet the needs of young people.
• Ability to relate to and engage young people with multiple vulnerabilities

• Valid driving licence and car user.