Job title:Personal Advisor
Salary: £29,777 - £31,364 per annum
Hours:37
Contract:Permanent
Location:Archway, Care Leaver Service Hub
This is an exciting opportunity for a full time, permanent position as a Personal Advisor within the Care Leaver Service. As our next Personal Advisor you’ll thrive on supporting young people, this includes young people leaving care from children’s residential homes, hospital, care leavers experiencing homelessness, former Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and young people in or leaving custody. You will advocate on behalf of our young people and demonstrate empathy and support to ensure that they are able to thrive into their adulthood years.
Leeds Care Leaver Service supports young adults aged between 17.5 years and 25 years of age who have left care: providing guidance, and practical assistance to support their transition to independence and adulthood. The service is committed to developing positive and meaningful relationships with young people, developing practice across the service, and building on the opportunities for care leavers in Leeds.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council valuesand ambitions.
It’s an exciting time to join Leeds City Council’s children’s services, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted at our last inspection.
We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.
About you
As a Personal Advisor you will bring the ability to form constructive relationships with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, deal with conflict situations using a calm and composed approach and be able to form purposeful working relationships with a diverse range of agencies. You must be able to work effectively as a member of a cohesive team in order to provide a high quality service.
About the role
As our next Personal Advisor you’ll build close working relationships with other colleagues, services users, carers, and relevant agencies and provide a high quality service when working with young people. You will have the opportunity to improve own practice through observation and evaluation with colleagues and development programmes, as you advocate for young people.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefitsto help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form. The closing date for applications is 11:30pm on Friday 23rd August 2024 with a view to holding interviews week commencing 2nd September 2024.
Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Team Manager, Kate Kerr on 0113 378 5178 or email: kate.kerr@leeds.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose
To advise, assist and befriend young people who are living-in or leaving care, to help them achieve full potential and prepare for living independently
Responsibilities
- Assess, plan, and review young people in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 as the young person’s Personal Adviser and primary worker
- Undertake case responsibility for young people classed as relevant and former relevant under Leaving Care legislation
- Providing direction, guidance and advice to other staff including those from partner agencies including assistance in staff induction
- Produce high quality reports to meet service deadlines
- Develop links with partner agencies, including Housing, Health, Youth Offending Service, and the Connexions Service to ensure maximum service integration
- Undertake direct work and group-work with young people to prepare them for the transition to adulthood, including young people with complex needs and in out-of-authority placements
- Carry out needs assessments in order to inform and construct appropriate Pathway Plans
- Follow internal procedures, maintain records, and carry out administrative tasks, including financial procedures associated with the efficient running of the project
- Act as appropriate adult for young people when necessary
- Be involved in legal and judicial processes were deemed necessary by the Team Manager
- Encourage links with parents and families with the agreement of the young people
- Prepare specialised reports and referrals for partner agencies for ongoing funding
- Provide comprehensive and appropriate advice and support, under Departmental guidance, to young people in respect of financial management, welfare benefits etc
- Maintain accurate and up to date individual files and case records on Frameworki in accordance with Looked After Children’s requirements
- Play a proactive role in the implementation of Child Protection procedures and act in accordance with Safeguarding procedures
- Provide a duty officer service and refer to appropriate services
- Share responsibilities for the security of the building
- Hours of work are primarily determined by the needs of the service and where necessary and approved by the Team Manager may include some evening and weekend working
- The role will maintain close working relationship with other colleagues, services users, carers, and other agencies in order to provide a high quality service
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
The post requires that you hold NVQ Level 3 and / or 4 in Care. If you do not hold this qualification you must be willing to register to commence the course within 3 months of taking up your appointment and have successfully completed it within 12 months of your registration
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to travel throughout the Leeds City Council boundaries and work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate
- Able to form constructive relationships with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds
- Able to negotiate with young people on a variety of issues
- Able to deal with conflict situations using a calm and composed approach
- Able to advocate the young person’s needs to other service providers
- Able to form purposeful working relationships with a diverse range of agencies
- Able to pass on information effectively, accurately, and concisely between service users, carers, colleagues, and other agencies
- Able to work to conflicting deadlines and organise and prioritise work in an efficient and effective way
- Able to work effectively as a member of a cohesive team in order to provide a high quality service
- Able to show empathy when dealing with troubled young people
- Able to implement individual pathway plans for young people assisting and enabling them into independence
- Knowledge of the education, training and work experience needs of young people and the opportunities open to them
- Understanding of the impact of homelessness issues and accommodation needs of young people
- Understanding the need for confidentiality
- Understanding of legislation and current issues affecting the provision of Children’s social work services and in particular Pathway Planning services
- Experience of working within a team, and working with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds with a diverse range of needs which may include those with learning disabilities, and with other relevant agencies
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics
- Understand and embraceLeeds City Council Values and Behavioursand codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering theBest City Ambitionof Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
