Check Point is an information, advice and support service for young people aged 11-21 in Torbay. We aim to provide innovative support that empowers young people to reach their true potential. Check Point delivers an integrated model of support for young people including the provision of:

• Information, advice and support Drop-in providing a street level, direct access service
• Sexual Health
• Sexual Exploitation Service
• Runaways Service
• Under 18s Substance Misuse Service
• Counselling

We have been successful in securing a 2 Year Supporting People Contract to deliver a specialist Homeless Prevention Service to young people and their families. The service aims to prevent young people, aged 16 and 17, from becoming homeless through a variety of intervention.

We are recruiting the following Post :

Floating Support Worker, 37 hours per week, £16,133 - £18,377

The Floating Support Worker will work as part of a team offering individual support to young people and their family members. The role requires you to be flexible, responsive to need, practical and creative in your approach and to have an ability to engage with young people, parents and carers. The post will provide a range of interventions including case work support and wider preventative activities.

For more information, please contact Natalie Ash, Information and Advice Co-ordinator on 01803 290330 and quote vacancy reference # S02378.

Title: Floating Support Worker

Location: Check Point

Reward Band: Project Staff I (SA)
CRB Level Required: Enhanced


Reporting to:
Homeless Prevention Project Worker/ Information and Advice Co-ordinator

Job Purpose:
To work in partnership with the Homeless Prevention Project Worker to prevent young people, living in Torbay, from becoming homeless

Key Activities:

• To provide a case work service to young people and their families
• To assist in the assessment of needs and risks as relevant to each Service User and to assist to set and attain realistic and achievable targets.
• To assist through key activities in helping children and young people to develop the skills, knowledge and self -confidence, which will enable them to respond to the issues affecting them.
• To keep accurate and detailed records of the work, ensuring that the Society’s codes of confidentiality and standards are adhered.
• To assist in developing links with key agencies in the area through participation in meetings where relevant.
• To contribute to the goals and targets of The Children’s Society, and to ensure that the voices of the young people who use our service, are heard within The Children’s Society, and other relevant bodies.
• To support drop-in provision
• To facilitate sessions within schools and appropriate groups to promote homeless prevention
• To assist families to achieve economic well being including income and benefits maximisation, reducing overall debt and assistance in identifying opportunities to participate in paid employment
• To attend appointments with parents or young people, advocate for services or supporting individuals to complete application forms and reduce the anxiety of attending
• To encourage and support clients to participate in training and education together with less formal learning activities, for example attending open days and local further education sites
• Maximise opportunities to become involved in meaningful leisure activities taking into account issues of faith and culture and encouraging clients to make a positive contribution within the wider community, such as joining youth groups
• To encourage contact with family, friends and other social networks
• To support clients to stay safe including, avoidance of causing harm to others and the minimisation of risk of harm from others
• To support families wider housing needs and link in with Housing Services where appropriate e.g. there may be an issue of overcrowding which has led to the young person’s homelessness
• To work with children and young people to enable them to have a voice and influence in our work.
  
  Attainments:
  In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:
  
  Experience
• Previous experience paid or unpaid of working with children and young people.
• Experience of working within a team
  
  Qualifications
  Candidate working towards a qualification in Youth Work, Social Care or NVQ2 or similar
  
  Work based knowledge
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing young people and their families which result in young people becoming homeless.
  
  Skills
• Demonstrable skills in communicating with children, young people and their families
• The ability to respond calmly and in a flexible way to young people in crisis
• The ability to work in an anti-discriminatory way with a commitment to equality of opportunity
  
  Core Competencies:
  In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:
  
  Leading Others
  Participate fully as a team member
  
  Innovation
• Improve work methods to achieve higher levels of efficiency
• Learn from experience
  
  Communicating with Others
  Communicate effectively with others in own area on day-to- day matters.
  
  Building and Maintaining Partnerships
• Maintain friendly, helpful and supportive relationships with immediate colleagues.
• Participate fully in team activities.
  
  Managing Resources
• Support the efficient use and take responsibility for sustaining resources.
• Share relevant information with others.
  
  Providing Services to Others
• Provide services to others, internal and external.
• Treat others with respect and dignity.
• Comply with safeguarding requirements.
• Work in partnership with children and young people.
  
  Managing Yourself
• Take steps to improve performance.
• Take initiative and have awareness of own learning needs.
  
  Agreeing and Meeting Targets
• Focus on what needs to be done.
• Meet service and quality standards.
• Act in line with specific directions.
  
  Safeguarding children and young people
• Be able to identify safeguarding issues.
• Be able to report and describe safeguarding concerns to a line-manager.
  
  Special Job Circumstances: This post has the following special circumstances:
• Much of the work will take place away from the Project base, for example taking young people to appointments.
• Some tasks will require working outside of office hours.
• Driving Licence and use of car desirable
  
  (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
• 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.
  
  Job Description Agreement:
  This job description is a guide to the work you will be required to undertake. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances. It does not form part of your Contract of Employment.