The Children’s Society is a leading children’s charity committed to making childhood better. We work with children across the country, providing the right support at the right time. We commissioned The Good Childhood® Inquiry; the UK’s first independent national inquiry into childhood. Its aims were to renew society's understanding of modern childhood and to inform, improve and inspire all our relationships with children.

You’ll be required to advocate for disabled children and young people to ensure that they can actively participate in decisions about their health care. You’ll also be required to deliver training to health professionals and key workers. This was a 3 year funded project that is coming to an end on March 2010, therefore you would be required to spend a substantial amount of time on reviewing and evaluating the project’s work and its impact in the community. The post is located within The Children’s Society’s Disability Advocacy Project in Bethnal Green.

Experience of working positively with disabled children and young people will be key. You should have a professional qualification and substantial experience in working with children and young people.

As well as a strong commitment to your development, we offer a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

The hours of work are 37 per week.

The post is funded until March 2010. 

Senior Project Worker / Health Advocate

Job Purpose:

To deliver & support the work of the Disability Advocacy Project to ensure that disabled children and young people can actively participate in decisions about their health care, and to take lead responsibility for developing training programmes, and deliver internally and to external organisations.

Reporting to:

Programme Manager

Location:

Disability Advocacy ProjectUnit 2, 51 Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HQ

Reward Band:

Project Staff III (SF) £28,125 - £35,434 (includes ILW)

Key activities:

• To provide independent advocacy to support disabled young people, raise issues and concerns about their health care, and assist in participation or make representations at their reviews and any other meetings that impact on their lives.
• To enable disabled young people to express their views, wishes and feelings in the decision-making process that affect their own life, by either enabling them to represent themselves, by speaking on their behalf, or both.
• To develop and deliver a number of training programmes/seminars/consultancy services aimed at health professionals working with disabled children and young people to promote better working practice to include disabled young people.
• To pilot (in conjunction with Patient Advocacy Liaison Services) a model to enable disabled children and young people to access independent advocacy within health settings.
• To contribute in the development of participation and consultation methods to enable disabled children and young people to be included in the work of the project.
• To be involved in the recruitment, training and supervision of staff and volunteers according to the Society’s policies and procedures as &when required.
• To deputise for the Programme Manager and/or Senior Project Worker as required.
• To support the development of the project by contributing to on-going planning activities - including research work, consultation work, identifying potential funding sources, and developing funding proposals and strategic planning.
• To build and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally while promoting the work of the project and The Children’s Society.
• To support the Programme Manager in monitoring project expenditure in line with approved guidelines.
• To contribute to the administration of the project by undertaking tasks that support effective delivery of services, monitoring and evaluation of work and the maintenance of accurate records.

Attainments:

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

Experience

• Substantial experience in working with disabled children and young people from diverse backgrounds and/or in health settings
• Experience of supervising staff and/or volunteers
• Experience of delivering training programmes
• Experience of advocacy work

Qualifications

• A relevant recognised qualification in working with children and young people or another qualification associated with the area of work.

Work based knowledge

• Issues affecting disabled young people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of working with children and young people from a diverse background.
• Effective methods of working and communicating with disabled young people.
• Understanding issues faced by disabled young people in health settings and in transition.
• Be aware of current trends and issues around health services and forms of advocacy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of advocacy and empowerment.
• Knowledge and experience of developing and delivering training programmes.
• Childcare legislation including the Children ACT 1989, Children Act 2004 and Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and other relevant laws relating to disabilities.
• An understanding of relevant legislation affecting the Health Service and treatment.
• Understanding of the powers and duties of Local Authorities in relation to looked after children and young people leaving care.
• Health and Safety.

Skills

• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills including methods of communicating with a diverse audience. 
• Networking internally and externally.
• One-to-one working and group working.
• IT skills in word processing and e-mail. (The Society uses Microsoft Office applications).
• Facilitation and presentation skills including the ability to produce publicity materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively with disabled children and young people with various communication needs.

Core competencies:

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

• Understand the issues and concerns faced by disabled children and young people and respond to these effectively.
• Use language appropriate for the audience.
• Show a commitment to the work of the project and to the team and demonstrate initiative and commitment in order to raise quality standards.
• Actively seek the participation of disabled children and young people, their families and partner agencies to improve and develop services.
• Confidently and efficiently apply and develop knowledge and skills in order to take appropriate action.
• Lead by example inspiring team members in the setting and achieving of clear goals; give clear directions and support to staff in a supervisory capacity.
• Build effective networks offering ideas, suggestions, advice and support relevant to the needs of individual children and young people and external partners.
• Encourage and contribute to the development of new ideas and methods to ensure innovative and quality practice.

Other Competencies:

• Seeks opportunities for learning and development and uses time efficiently.
• Works within agreed boundaries.
• Co-operates well with Programme Manager and colleagues and responds positively to suggestions and feedback.
• Be aware of the budget process and offer sensible contributions to how resources are allocated

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Long distance travelling
• Occasional overnight stay away from home for visits, team development and/or training.
• Occasional requirement to promote and develop work in the wider Southern region.

(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 personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will be required to:·

• Actively promote the values of The Children’s Society in your day-to-day work.
• At all times carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• Have a commitment to ensure that the needs and rights of children and young people are upheld through their active participation in the work of the project and the Society.
• Have a commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• Have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with a willingness to learn new signs/symbols/languages.
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of the Society.
• Be flexible and adaptable and able to cope with changing priorities and demands.