Young Carers Keyworker

**About Us**
You will be responsible for the effective delivery of statutory and strategic duties to minimise the impact on a child or young person who is in a caring role. You will work in partnership with parents / carers, young people and other professionals to support and strengthen families in caring for their own children and to build the resilience of young carers to manage their complex family circumstances.

Undertaking a holistic family approach, you will support Young Carers on your caseload by undertaking statutory assessments and transition assessments, and identifying direct work with children, young people, parents and carers to achieve positive change. You will also support other professionals to meet the needs of young carers via a duty and consultancy service by offering specialist analysis and guidance.

You will meet the ongoing needs of young carers for respite and connection via group work aimed at a range of different age groups. You will plan, co-lead and co-facilitate group work and group activities. You will raise awareness about young carers through structured training sessions with children and other professionals and by maintaining good links with local communities and services.

The post involves regular evening work to either lead group work or to facilitate a young carer engaging in group sessions. The post will require prolonged periods of listening to adults and children, who are often in distressing situations. You will be expected to travel independently throughout the county to locations that will require you to have a full driving licence and your own transport. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.

**About The Job**
Grade: NJC 8

**Salary**: £28,371 to £31,099

Working pattern: Full - time

Contract type: Permanent

Locations: County wide Role, central office based in Worthing
- **_DBS check is a requirement of this post_**

You will require an ability to respond creatively, with a willingness and ability to work flexibly around the needs of the family and young carer, including working early, late, evenings and some weekends.

You will use your initiative to organise your workload and will need to frequently make decisions in response to unanticipated problems for young carers and their families, demonstrating a resourcefulness to deal with situations without ready access to more senior officers.

**Experience and Skills**
Key Skills:

- Ability to work effectively with families in crisis, managing own and others’ anxieties and working within the boundaries of the role. Ability to work in a demanding environment and to remain calm in difficult situations. Ability to listen to sometimes distressing details related to ill health, disability trauma, loss and bereavement with empathy and sensitivity.
- Ability to manage casework effectively with children/young people and their families, establishing needs, setting objectives and reviewing progress. Ability to analyse, assess risk and problem solve.
- Ability to listen, engage and work creatively in partnership with children / young people and their families in order to build an empowering relationship with all family members to effect positive and lasting change. Ability to work with families focussing on their collective strengths and resources e.g. using a solution focussed approach.
- Ability to plan, lead and deliver engaging and structured group work activities and to facilitate reflective group discussions.
- Ability to reflect on own practice and to learn from experience. To take responsibility for own performance and to be proactive in relation to own work and professional development.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and prioritise needs in order to make recommendations / decisions which will have a positive outcome. Ability to use a range of screening tools. Ability to accurately record information.

Qualifications and/or experience:

- NVQ level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification, demonstrating that level of ability in working with children/young people and families, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Relevant organisational knowledge of systems, procedures and policies associated with operating a client focused service.
- Knowledge of child and adolescent development and age-appropriate behaviour relevant to Young Carers.
- Understanding of current childcare legislation and policy. Knowledge of Safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Experience of working with children/young people and their families in a crisis situation in order to provide support to families with complex and chronic difficulties.
- Experience of analysing and interpreting the needs of children and young people within a family context.
- Significant experience of using a range of direct work interventions in working with children/young people and their families.
- Experience of facilitating engaging, structured group sessions and activ