Family Caseworker

Dandelion Time’s pioneering nature-based therapy seeks to rebuild the confidence and self-belief of children impacted by trauma, enabling them to take the necessary steps to move forward.  To support our expansion across Kent, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Family Caseworker.  You will work directly with children and families delivering our unique therapeutic programme aimed at helping families recover from trauma.

As a member of a close knit and hugely supportive team, you will manage your own caseload and be responsible for preparing, leading and delivering  family sessions, including organising yourself and others in craft activities, gardening, meal preparation and individual face to face working. 

We would love to hear from you if you …..

• Have a professional qualification in a related subject for example, but not limited to systemic practice, occupational therapy, eco-therapy, play therapy or counselling.
• Are experienced in one or more specialist areas such as attachment difficulties, trauma, domestic violence or mental health issues.
• Have worked in a therapeutic or health agency setting managing caseloads and completing comprehensive administration.
• Have a practical skill such as gardening, craft-working, art, or other practical skills quality. gardener, craft-worker, artist, musician or have another practical skills quality.
• Understand and are committed to service delivery within a strong safeguarding framework.

As this is a predominantly outdoor, all season’s hands on role you will need bags of energy, resilience, creativity and a great sense of humour

You will be based at our West Farleigh (Maidstone) site but must have the ability and willingness to also work from one or more of our other sites including Shadoxhurst (Ashford) and Shorne (Gravesend).  As we grow we will need you to travel to and work at our new sites (within reasonable travelling distance).  Please note that public transport is extremely limited at all our sites so you will need your own transport.

At Dandelion Time we always strive to achieve a happy and healthy work-life balance for all.  Where practicable we offer flexible working arrangements to allow you to work in a way that suits your individual lifestyle.

• Hybrid working and flexibility in work patterns
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time staff) with the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Generous enhanced sick pay
• Additional reward days
• Good communication and technology processes
• A focus on CPD and career growth
• Working in and with nature and animals at our rural based settings

Safeguarding

Dandelion Time is committed to a culture that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and their families with robust recruitment procedures that deter and prevent people who are unsuitable to work with children from applying for or securing employment within the charity.  All individuals working in any capacity at Dandelion Time will be subject to safeguarding checks in line with the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education.  This will include a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check against both the Adult and Child Barred List service.  Evidence of ID, your right to work in the UK, your relevant qualifications, current address and satisfactory references are also a requirement. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children or vulnerable adults.

Equality and Diversity

Dandelion Time is committed to creating a more inclusive organisation which benefits from a variety of perspectives and better reflects the communities we serve, to make smarter decisions and better support our families.  We expect all our people to be accountable for equality, diversity and inclusion at Dandelion Time. It is only by working together in unity that we can ensure that everyone can perform at our best. We warmly welcome applications from all sectors of the community and from a  diverse range of genders, backgrounds, ethnicities,  sexual orientations and physical abilities.

As part of our Safer Recruitment procedures, we proactively remove bias by ensuring the recruiting panel only receive anonymised applications to complete the shortlisting process. 

Are you ready to start transforming the lives of vulnerable children and their families?  If so we would love to hear from you.