Help and Hope Project North East is a well established project, recognised in Newcastle for our excellence in developing work with refugee children and young people and their families, helping them to overcome the barriers to a successful integration in society.

We are seeking to recruit an approachable and motivated team player, to cover for a colleague taking maternity leave. You will have experience of working directly with children, young people and families, a good knowledge of diversity, involving service users, and you will be able to empathise with the plight of refugee children and young people.

You will need to have a relevant professional qualification in teaching, social work, youth work or other relevant field. In return, you will receive the support of committed colleagues and benefit from good learning and regular supervision. You also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the project whilst developing your skills.

Hours of work will be 37 per week. Maternity cover will be for a minimum of 6 months with a possible extension up to 12 months.

We offer generous holidays, contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

For an informal discussion about the role, please call Ginette Tweddle, Deputy Programme Manager on 0191 256 5037 or 07775812361.

Interview Date: 24th September 2008 

Project Worker

Job Purpose:

• To give practical support and advice to young refugees, aged between 0—19 as they try to settle successfully in the UK.
• Working with young refugees, some of whom may be unaccompanied, other agencies and partners to highlight, challenge and overcome the barriers to successful integration.

Reporting To:

Programme Manager

Location:

Newcastle upon Tyne

Reward Band:

Project Staff 2 SC £20,193- £26,130

Key Activities:

• To support young refugees to settle in Newcastle, working with other agencies and partners, listening to the concerns of young people facilitating access to other services.
• To work with young people to develop, in a safe environment, ways and opportunities to share their experiences and feelings about life as a refugee. Ensuring that these views and feelings are communicated to decision and policy makers both nationally and locally.
• To develop systems that enables the accessing of young people from a refugee background.
• To ensure that practice fulfils the requirements of legislation and the Children’s society policy and procedures in respect of health and safety, child safety and protection and equalities legislation.
• To ensure that all work is recorded and evaluated efficiently in line with the society’s commitment to learning from practice.
• To work co-operatively with other project workers, colleagues from other agencies and the Children’s Society at the discretion of the project leader.
• To participate in any other service development as identified by the project leader.

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Minimum 2 years experience of working with children and young people.
• Experience of working with children and young people who are refugees.
• Experience of working with groups of children and young people.
• Experience of multi-agency work, and developing joint working initiatives.

Qualifications

• Educated to at least degree level in teaching, social work, youth work or other relevant field.

Work based knowledge

• Knowledge of relevant legislation directly affecting children and young people.
• An understanding of the issues affecting young refugees in the UK.
• Knowledge and awareness of child protection legislation and safe practice.
• Working knowledge of information technology.

Skills

• Able to form effective, professional and appropriate relationships with children and young people on the basis of case work/advocacy model.
• To work with Children, young people, families and colleagues in a way that is sensitive, anti discriminatory showing respect for cultural heritage, backgrounds and points of view.
• Evaluation, recording, group working and supporting vulnerable young people and families.

Core Competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

Agreeing and Meeting Targets

• Identify and carry out tasks agreed in project and action plans with a positive outcome for young refugees whilst meeting deadlines.

Managing Yourself

• Act on your own initiative, aware of the changes and development in an ever changing environment in order to enhance the effectiveness of your engagement with your refugees, their families and other partners.

Leading Others

• Lead on specific activities when necessary, contributing to the building of a strong team work ethic.

Building and Maintaining Relationships

Be tactful and sensitive showing awareness of the range of issues involved in working with refugees, young people and service providers so as to maintain positive and professional relationships.

Communicating with Others

• Convey clearly, both orally and in writing issues relating to the work and role to a range of stakeholders externally and internally, including those whose first language is not English.

Providing Service to Others

• Understand the needs of young refugees and respond effectively to them delivering high quality services.

Continuously Improving

• Work within the framework of the quality standards accessing appropriate learning opportunities to improve service delivery and engagement with young refugees, whilst working in a creative and flexible manner.

Other Competencies:

You will also have the ability to:

Managing Resources

• Use resources efficiently and appropriately with an awareness of how it enables or contributes to achieving targets.

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• 37 hours a week.
• Some travel and overnight stay, weekend /evening work may be required nationally and locally, for which time off in lieu and expenses will be given and paid.

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions).

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you can personally succeed in this role and The Society you will require:

• An understanding and commitment to the mission, vision and values of the organisation.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to The Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• Flexibility and adaptability to cope with change.
• The ability to be an effective and supportive team worker.