1. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

· Experience working with vulnerable young people (especially those in or leaving care).
· Knowledge of safeguarding practices and child protection procedures.
· Level 3 Diploma in Children’s and Young People Workforce.
· Working with Children and Young People: 1 years (required) or equivalent, or willingness to work towards it.
· Understanding of the challenges faced by care leavers transitioning to independence.

2. SKILLS & ABILITIES

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
· Ability to build trusting, professional relationships with young people.
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
· Effective crisis management and conflict resolution skills.
· Competency in record-keeping, report writing, and using IT systems.
· Experience of using apple products and outlook

4. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

· Enhanced DBS check.
· Willingness to work unsocial hours, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.
· Understanding of professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Desirable Criteria
· Lived experience of the care system or youth work.
· First Aid and/or mental health training.
· Knowledge of housing and tenancy law relating to young people.
· Experience supporting young people with complex needs, including mental health, substance misuse, or offending behaviours.

ABOUT US:

At Greater Horizons, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality supported accommodation for young people aged 16-18 transitioning from the care system to independent living. We aim to engage, enable, and enhance the lives of our residents by offering trauma-informed support, promoting independence, and encouraging positive community integration.

GREATER HORIZONS ARE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE SAFEGUARDING AND WELFARE OF ALL CHILDREN WITHIN OUR CARE. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE WILLING TO UNDERGO AND ENHANCED DBS CHECK AND MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO REFERENCES COVERING THE PAST TWO YEARS. APPLICANTS MUST ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR ALL POSITIONS RELATED TO WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THE VULNERABLE AND DETAILS OF EMPLOYMENT GOING BACK TO FULL TIME EDUCATION.

This job description is provided to assist the post holder to understand what his / her duties are and may be amended from time to time without change to the level of responsibility appropriate of the grade of the post. The content of this Job Description and Person Specification will be reviewed in line with the requirements of the service.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.25-£12.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 12/09/202

THE ROLE:

To provide advice, assistance, and support to young people. To attend to their practical, physical, and emotional needs. To act as an appropriate role model and to work closely with them to enable them to address their difficulties and achieve their optimum potential.
To deliver a highly effective 24-hour wrap around Support Service for young people aged 16 years and up to 18 years+ (and including those with a disability up to the age of 21 years) which meets the National Minimum Standards. To ensure that all aspects of support of the young people are met to promote their welfare, whilst working in partnership with their families and other professionals.
To provide experience and expertise in working with young people and families and to effectively support the manager and staff team. To enable Young People to have maximum control over all aspects of their daily life and to ensure they are supported to develop their abilities in line with their Pathway Plans and risk assessment. To comply with Greater Horizons Policies and Procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SUPPORT WORKER:

· To promote a healthy lifestyle and demonstrate positive and consistent adult role model behaviours.
· To understand each young person with a commitment to a mindful relationship with the young person remaining emotionally attuned with a willingness to understand how the world feels from the young persons perspective.
· Ability to build trust with young people and offer strategies to help them manage their inner feeling and anxieties, whilst managing their own feelings and behaviours.
· To encourage the physical, emotional, and social needs of young people. Remaining sensitive to the needs of the young people considering their age, gender, sexuality, religion etc.
· To identify and set consistent rules and boundaries to modify unacceptable behaviours.
· To assist young people to help gain social awareness of other peers or adults and develop a relationship by building trust with the young person.
· To contribute to and implement pathway plans and write progress reports.
· To observe, prepare and participate in regular consultations, reviews and professional meetings for the young person and other meetings as required, ensuring that Looked After Children Documentation is up to date and kept up to date.
· To always safeguard and be alert to signs of distress or abuse and where necessary referring to Greater Horizons’ designated safeguarding officer, to ensure young people can be monitored and protected appropriately.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· To support and engage young people to achieve optimal outcomes, including preparation for adult life programme, appointments, meetings.
· To support the effective delivery of Greater Horizons Service Aims.
· To develop productive working relationships with colleagues, other agencies and members of the public.
· To work closely with the team leaders and senior management to ensure the running of the home is to a high standard and meeting the Quality Standards.
· To contribute to the development of young people through the provision of a nurturing homely environment and being a committed and consistent adult role model.
· To be assigned as a key worker or co-keyworker and provide a high standard of support throughout.
· To provide young people support in cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping, and budgeting.
· To ensure that ILA / petty cash receipts are retained for financial auditing records.
· To support young people in attending Education, Employment and Training.
· To understand / read / update risk assessments and pathway plans
· To ensure that that all logbooks, communication books, Health and Safety records and daily records are updated and maintained to a standard as required.
· To ensure that all accidents (including young people, employee and third parties) are recorded immediately using the correct forms and notification procedures.
· To participate in staff handovers before commencing or leaving a shift.
· To apply positive behaviour management / de-escalation strategies to manage the behaviour of the young people and participate in physical interventions as a last resort only where required.
· Induct Young People on admission, explaining house rules and welcome pack etc.
· Continually assess Young People’s needs and work with fellow colleagues and the Home’s Manager to revise support plans in line with Young Person’s changing needs and abilities.
· Provide a positive, welcoming, and stimulating environment for Young People, leading by example in encouraging them to carry out day to day duties.
· Be a point of contact for Young People to feel able to discuss ideas and keep them updated on actions and act on their behalf when appropriate.
· Promote, acknowledge, and respect the privacy, dignity, diversity, rights, and responsibilities of Young People to enable them to meet their goals and aspirations and to build and maintain their self-worth and individuality.
· Identify development areas in Young People to enable their independence and be innovative in coming up with methods to support these.
· Apply the correct protocol, immediately, upon any suspicion, evidence, or allegation of any concern in relation to child protection, in accordance with Greater Horizons Policies and Procedures.
· Respect and enforce professional boundaries and communicate professionally with Young People, colleagues, professionals, and agencies.
· Ensure general upkeep of the house is to a high standard and to report maintenance issues, and gas / electric pay as you go meters always have sufficient credit.
· Manage the accommodation, ensuring that health and safety requirements are always met.
· Provide weekly reports.
· Respond to informal complaints made by or on behalf of Young People.
· Liaise with professionals / carers as necessary and attend professional meetings as required.
· Attend all staff meetings, training courses, supervisions.
· Identify and request relevant training and development through supervisions.
· Cover any gaps on shift or provide a second person on duty, until relief staff can be secured.
· Ensure staff room privacy is protected and not allow Young People into the staff room for any reason.
· Contribute to the development of teams and individuals to enhance their skills, experience, and knowledge. Develop one’s own knowledge, practice, resources, and style of leadership which ensures open and participatory management and practice.
· Contribute to the promotion of the individual’s health and social wellbeing; ensure that the individual can maintain a positive sense of self and identity, and that they are supported in maximising their educational opportunities and achievements.
· Ability to lone work within the home to support the young people with their independent living skills. Working to the risk management and following the lone working policy and procedures.
· Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as may from time to time be required by the Team Leader / Manager for Greater Horizons.