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.

Funded by the Big Lottery Young People’s Fund until March 2010, the Leading Edge Initiative is a national programme that aims to improve the achievement and inclusion of refugees aged 11-18 in schools. With the emphasis on participation, refugees identify the issues that affect them, direct many aspects of the work and are empowered to solve their own problems. This is a chance to contribute to the Initiative as part of our New Londoners team in Newham.

Building on our achievements to date, you'll be working directly with young people including young refugees, and with schools - facilitating conflict resolution, developing anti-racism activities, and establishing peer support schemes, alongside seeking to change policy and practice in schools, your impact will be felt at a local level, yet you’ll also be working to influence nationally.

With a relevant qualification, you’ll need experience of working with children and young people from diverse backgrounds in a participatory setting, helping them to deal with complex and sensitive issues. Knowledge of the schools system, and issues and legislation affecting young refugees will be essential. In addition, you should be adaptable, creative in solving problems and able to meet targets.

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

Fixed-term temporary post until 31st March 2010. Interview date: 31st July 2009.

All recruitment documents are available in alternative formats. Please note that CVs will not be accepted.

Leading Edge Project Worker

Location:

New Londoners Project, The Hub, 123 Star Lane, London, E16 4PZ

Reward Band:

£23,375-£29,312 (Including London Weighting).

37 hours a week.

End MARCH 2010

Reporting to:

Senior Practitioner

Job purpose:

• To deliver, monitor and develop Leading Edge programme activities for young refugees 11-18, with particular emphasis on inclusion in schools, ensuring milestones, outputs and outcomes of the programme are met.

Key activities:

• To identify and profile the needs of young refugees, helping to empower them to overcome barriers they encounter and achieve their potential in education and in the communities where they live.
• To provide and develop quality activities, actively involving young refugees in planning and implementation, in accordance with current legislation and good practice guidelines.
• To support young refugees to develop skills, knowledge and self -confidence to enable them to respond to issues affecting them.
• To develop models of participation enabling the voices of young refugees to be heard in the decision-making processes that affect them, to overcome barriers to education and settlement, and to avoid and resolve conflicts they may encounter.
• To provide an accessible advocacy/support service to young refugees.
• To work in partnership with relevant voluntary and statutory agencies to ensure the project’s development, through regular communication and good working relationships.
• To raise awareness of problems identified by young refugees.
• To share information to further the support of young refugees with service providers, British-born peers, parents/carers and relevant agencies.
• To assist in the process of strengthening and developing voluntary and community groups and statutory providers to provide a more inclusive and flexible service for young refugees.
• To contribute to the administration of the project, progress reports, monitoring and measuring outcomes and exit strategy, by undertaking tasks that support effective delivery of services.

Attainments:

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

Experience

• Relevant experience in working with children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience of supporting people who are dealing with complex and sensitive issues.
• Experience of advice or advocacy work.
• Experience of working within a team.

Qualifications

• A relevant professional qualification e.g. certificate in Youth and Community work, Social Work Diploma or another qualification associated with the work.

Work based knowledge

• Knowledge and experience of participatory methods in working with children and young people
• Knowledge of local authorities and school education system
• Awareness of issues effecting young refugees and young refugee carers
• Clear understanding of children’s rights and a commitment to promoting those rights
• Knowledge of legislation affecting young refugees.
• Safeguarding children

Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with children and young people written and verbally
• The ability to problem solve and plan creative and collaborative activities with young people.
• One to one working and group working
• IT Skills (Microsoft Word, Outlook Express, PowerPoint)
• Ability to plan and manage own workload
• Facilitation and presentation skills including the ability to contribute towards producing publicity materials

Core competencies:

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

• Understand issues and concerns faced by refugee children and young people and respond to these effectively.
• Take a leadership role when required and responsibility for the group’s performance.
• Regularly meet deadlines and see work through to achieve high quality results. Work within agreed boundaries.
• Take initiative to solve problems and be pro-active in advancing The Children’s Society values in day-to-day work.  Seeks opportunities for learning and schedules and uses time efficiently.
• Make yourself understood by speaking clearly and audibly as well as presenting written information clearly. Use language appropriate for the audience.
• Be aware of quality standards and take steps to improve quality standards whilst working in a creative and flexible manner.
• Show tact, sensitivity and support and use this to build good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Other competencies:

• Use project’s resources in an appropriate manner.

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Some residential time away from home for team development / training and participation work with young people.
• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Occasional requirement to travel to promote and develop work across the UK.
• Access to transport to transport children and young people
• The post holder will both co-work and work individually with children and young people.

(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 require:

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation.
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• A commitment to participation of children and young people in the development of services.
• Flexible, adaptable and able to cope with changing priorities and ambiguity.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of the Society