The Children’s Society Tees Valley has been contracted to deliver a Children’s Participation Project in Stockton from September 2010 to the end of March 2011. The project will support children with complex and additional needs, between the ages of 5 and 18, in consultation and participation processes to develop their skills and confidence and discover their views and opinions.

Working in partnership with other providers of services to children with complex and additional needs, we will share good practice and raise awareness to develop children’s participation across services. We will also work with partners to help them contribute to borough wide consultation processes with children with complex and additional needs to influence services as well as develop a borough wide participation strategy.

We are looking to recruit sessional workers to support the delivery of the above work. We aim to be as flexible as possible with hours of work and this will be negotiable according to the needs of the children we work with.

You will have some experience of working with a disabled child/children and/or young person and be willing to be part of a team to deliver this work. You will need NVQ level I or II in a relevant subject or have a genuine interest in working towards this. Full induction training and continued support will be given.

If you are interested in finding out more about this work, please contact Gill Durdan or Matthew Allen on 01642 559147. 

Sessional Worker – Stockton Children’s Participation Project

Funded to 31 March 2011

Location:

The Children’s Society Tees Valley, 23 The Green, Billingham, TS23 1ES

Reward Band:

SAN £8.30 - £9.46 per hour

Reporting to:

Deputy Programme Manager, Programme Manager

Job purpose:

• To undertake participation and consultation work with children from 5 to 18 with complex and additional needs.
• To develop the capacity of the local workforce to improve their services through increased participation of children.
• To work with local partners to construct a borough wide model of children's participation.

Key activities:

• Engage in staff development and planning to deliver the work in line with agreed contract
• Support children in groups to develop their understanding, skills, knowledge and confidence in participation theory and practice
• Work with partner agencies to share and promote good practice in children’s participation
• Support partner agencies to involve children in participation processes to improve services
• Contribute to reporting on children’s consultation and participation
• Contribute to development of borough wide participation strategy
• Meet individual needs of children and young people as appropriate and in accordance with training and direction
• Provide and promote a culture of safe practice including assessment of risk and appropriate actions to minimise risk to reasonable levels
• Attend all relevant training, planning meetings and supervision
• Keep accurate records and provide them to deadlines, ensuring that the Children’s Society’s confidentiality policy is maintained.
• Assist with the evaluation of Stockton Children’s Participation Project

Attainments:

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

Experience of

• Direct practice with children and/or young people in an unsupervised capacity as a worker or volunteer
• Ability to work as a member of a team

Qualifications

• NVQ level I or II (or equivalent) or working towards an NVQ
• A genuine interest in the area of work is required, demonstrated by clear explanation of how this work will contribute to development of personal career pathway

Work/volunteer based knowledge

• An understanding of the issues affecting disabled children and young people
• An understanding of the concept of confidentiality
• A commitment to equal opportunities and diversity, along with anti discriminatory practice

Skills

• The ability to communicate effectively with disabled children and young people, parents and professionals
• The ability to plan creative and safe activities in accordance with the age and ability of children and young people
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills

Core competencies:

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

Provide services to others

• Provide services to others, internal and external.
• Treat others with respect and dignity.
• Works in partnership with children and young people.
• Comply with safeguarding requirements.

Build and maintain partnerships

• Maintain friendly, helpful and supportive relationships with immediate colleagues and participate fully in team activities.

Innovation

• Improve work methods to achieve higher levels of efficiency
• Learn from experience

Communicating with others

• Communicate effectively with others on day-to-day matters

Manage yourself

• Take steps to improve performance
• Takes initiative and is aware of own learning needs

Agree and meet targets

• Focus on what needs to be done
•  Meet service and quality standards
• Act in line with specific directions

Lead others

• Participate fully as a member of the team

Managing resources

• Support the efficient use and takes responsibility for sustaining of resources
• Share relevant information with others

Safeguarding

• Identify safeguarding issues
• Report and describe safeguarding concerns to a line –manager

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Direct work with disabled young people with individual care needs which may include, following appropriate training, administration of medication, moving and handling and personal care tasks
• Hours of work are flexible and negotiable according to the needs of the children and young people we work with.
• Requirement to work weekends and evenings
• An enhanced CRB check will be undertaken

(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 Children’s Society
• 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 in accordance with The Children’s Society’s policies and procedures
• To be an effective team worker
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of The Children’s Society