Missing from home project worker

£26,100 per annum / pro rata (plus allowances)

Fixed Term contract until the 31st August 2026

35 hours

Location - Wythenshawe, Manchester

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role sits within our Youth Impact Directorate. Which works to provide immediate one-to-one support for children who are missing from care. Your role will be to help us maintain and develop innovative practice to support our work in our services around the country.

We are currently looking for a committed, passionate and empathetic individual to join our dynamic, ambitious team.

A key part of this role will be your ability to:

• To deliver the Missing From Home Return Interview Service as set out in the contract with Manchester City Council
• To work within a multi-disciplinary approach in response to children missing from care
• To ensure that children and young people who are at risk of or are missing, are kept safe and supported to reduce or prevent missing episodes.
• To work within the community to provide information and education to young people, parents, professionals and the wider community about children who go missing.

KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Negotiation, facilitation and advocacy skills.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of children and young people, families, colleagues and partner agencies.
• Assessment and evaluation skills.
• Accurate recording skills.
• IT skills in Microsoft Office .
• Ability to work on own initiative and to reflect on own practice and performance.
• Working knowledge of policy and practice related to missing children and those who are exploited.
• Working knowledge and understanding of legislation as it relates to children and young people at risk.

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

Experience

• Experience of working directly with vulnerable children particularly Who are missing and in care of local authorities
• Substantial experience of undertaking assessments of need and risk and planning interventions.
• Significant experience of multi-agency working.
• Experience of supporting the learning of others

Qualifications

• GCSE level pass grade, or equivalent, in English
• A relevant professional qualification e.g. Registered Qualified Social Worker, Youth and Community Qualified Worker

Travel required across Greater Manchester.

• Some anti-social hours arising from operational needs relating to practice.
• Possible overnight stays away from home.
• A current driving licence, access to a vehicle and ability to transport children/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]

INFO ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better – and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours - 8 to 4, 9 to 5, 10 to 6, or in between to be agreed with your manager.
• Family-friendly policies - Including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Season ticket loan - : Interest free loan for annual or quarterly season tickets for public transport to and from work.
• Pension - Stakeholder pension scheme with company-matched employee contributions of m up to 8%.
• Death in service benefit - Four times' annual salary for all employees.
• Free confidential counselling service: Available to all staff and volunteers.
• 'Xtras': Employee discount scheme offering a range of savings across groceries, fuel, clothing, and holidays

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, which includes the disclosure of criminal records, vetting checks, and the provision of appropriate references. The number and type of references required may vary depending on the nature and responsibilities of the role, ensuring that each appointment is carefully assessed. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our Youth Impact Domain will be required to complete an "Employment history_template" document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be loaded by the candidate at the point of uploading your CV.

The closing date for Applications is midnight on 14th November.

Interviews will be held on 19th November.

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