Senior High Needs Supported Accommodation Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job context

The post holder will support young people through the supported accommodation Core Offer.

The post holder will provide all aspects of caring support and interventions, in line with the young peoples Core Assessments, Care Plans and Pathway Plans and develop effective Individual Progress and Support plans with a focus on reducing risks, building on strengths and preparing for adult life. Mentoring and supporting Key workers is integral to the post, working with staff and young people to develop their resilience and life skills to enable them to successfully manage the transition to independence. Key characteristic requirements of this post are flexibility, commitment, building effective relationships, resilience, persistence and the ability to support workers to deliver best practice. The post requires an enhanced DBS. This role involves spoken communications, so a confident use of English language is required.

Job specifics

This role will have a designated group of accommodations for which you will be the senior worker and lead on the delivery of the services Core Offer. The Core offer areas are:

Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Education, Training and Employment

Staying Safe

Preparing for Adult Life (Life Skills)

Self-Care

Social and Recreational Opportunities

Creating a Family, Social and Community Based Support Network

Senior Workers will lead and support High Need Supported Accommodation Workers and other support workers in day to day practice driving support planning, interventions and case progress for young people in their designated accommodations through effective communication with a range of professionals working together to improve outcomes for young people

Job purpose

The core purpose of this job is to proactively take a lead role in providing the support and interventions young people need so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes in life. The post holder will be responsible for the direct day-to-day support of young people within supported accommodation accompanied by other supportive tasks and duties. Additionally, the post holder will also provide at times care and support to young people in various residential placements, and to care leavers (including post 18). The post holder will work within a defined culture and intervention practice model and will adopt a solution focussed and restorative approach.

Operational Management:

Develop understanding of and strive for excellent practice in line with quality standards, regulations and the Ofsted frameworks.

Support young people in all areas of their lives including physical/mental health, forming relationships, developing life skills, keeping safe, education, training and employment and engaging in community based activities.

Understand the principles of child development and support development through promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing a variety of appropriate stimulating activities and being a consistent and supportive adult role model.

Understand the impact of trauma, neglect and early adversity on adolescents.

Be sensitive to the needs of the individual young people regarding race, culture, language, religion, gender, sexuality and culture-specific events.

Develop effective key working relationships with young people and maintain relationship throughout key transition points and post 18 if required.

Share in the practical activities necessary to maintain a warm, welcoming and safe accommodation

Participate in assessing risks and producing action plans in relation to challenging behaviour, safeguarding, missing from home and general health and safety using a risk managed (not risk averse) approach.

Provide for young peoples physical needs as necessaryfor example by cooking, washing, ironing, shopping, budgeting, making appointments and equip them with the skills theyll need to be able to carry out such tasks themselves in preparation for adulthood.

Deliver support to young people across all supported accommodation placements and services i.e., floating support, 24/7 High needs support, supported lodgings and some housing options.

Demonstrate a flexible, persistent and resilient approach to working with and supporting young people with complex and challenging behaviours utilising Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Restorative Practice principles.

Ensure young people are kept informed of their circumstances and rights and promote young people taking an active role in planning their lives and taking as much control and responsibility as is appropriate.

Actively promote the development of an integrated culture and intervention practice model across supported accommodation.

Ensure links between service areas are developed and maintained and work collaboratively with a range of professionals to provide an efficient service.

Contribute to and participate in case progress meetings, statutory reviews and all other meetings as required and assist in the formation and implementation of care plans, pathway plans and action plans that meet individual need.

Support the process of transition in a timely way by helping young people achieve and promoting their attainment of life skills.

Proactively support young people to return to their families, where appropriate

Adopt a solution focussed approach to working with young people and families in order to help them rebuild relationships, increase their achievements, reduce their risks and build on their strengths.

Promote, participate in and lead Group work sessions

Produce accurate, informative and timely written and IT-based records.

Support the effective induction of new and sessional staff and help develop and promote a learning culture within the organisation.

Regularly reflect on practice (both your own and general operating practices) and take full advantage of professional supervision and IPM.

Fulfil commitments when trained as a trainer in specialist skills, e.g., Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Restorative Practice

Develop specialised knowledge and skills and then act as a champion to drive forward good practice and share your expertise with others across the team.

As senior worker be responsible for effective planning, interventions, practice and utilisation of resources across the supported accommodation properties you are allocated to lead.

Be a positive role model for colleagues and provide support, encouragement and guidance to staff when dealing with complex situations, including debriefing of staff post critical incident.

Deliver supervision to sessional workers (and Support Workers once you reach Advanced Practitioner status)

Deliver group supervision as required (once you reach Advanced Practitioner status)

Contribute to the development of in-house recording systems, and perform auditing tasks related to the systems, to encourage quality assurance.

Be aware of staffing needs across the supported accommodation service and deploy staff according to best value

To work as required across the No Wrong Door/Supported Accommodation Service if requested by the Head of Service for Placement Support or the Group Managers for No Wrong Door or Supported Accommodation

Resource management:

Provide support, as required, to the staff team and help ensure that the service runs effectively and within budget.

Report malpractice, or evidence which may suggest it, to the line manager or other appropriate person following the whistle blowing procedure.

Lead staff in your designated accommodations overseeing/supporting delivery of day to day practice/tasks of support workers.

Partnerships:

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, managers, partners and stakeholders.

Deliver practice in a professional manner in keeping with North Yorkshire Councils (NYCs) Behaviour and Skills Framework and professional codes of conduct.

Communications:

Develop and utilise effective communication skills (nonverbal communication, active listening, self-regulation, emotional competence)

Ensure effective and timely information sharing with professionals, families and young people.

Understand confidentiality and data protection within the role.

Systems and information:

Be accountable for monies allocated for specific purposes and maintain accurate financial records including the effective receipt, recording and accounting of petty cash systems.

Provide the effective co-ordination and completion of day-to-day recording systems within the service.

Requirement to use computer systems such as MS Office and Intranet/Internet to complete certain tasks

Safeguarding:

Be committed to safeguarding; promote the welfare of children, young people and adults and raise concerns as appropriate.

Report to line manager, or other appropriate person, malpractice or evidence which may suggest it has taken place.

Be alert to signs of distress or abuse and take appropriate action.

Provide additional support and comfort to young people under stress and understand the impact of data protection and confidentiality issues.

Give young people the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them, as appropriate to their age and ability, and take their wishes and feelings into account.

Ensure that the young people are monitored and protected, using agreed approaches, and utilise Signs of Safety as the key assessment and child protection approach to practice.

Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and relationships with young people and adults in accordance with NYCs professional codes of conduct.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of principles of safeguarding & child protection
• Supported Accommodation Regulations and Quality Standards 2023
• Children and Social Work Act 2017 in relation to care leavers
• Childrens Act 1989 & 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• Common Assessment Framework
• Direct contact/working with young people with social care needs
• Knowledge of pathways for young people at key transition points and post 18.
• Understanding of and ability to analyse the wider care perspectives of people with social care needs.
• Liaising within the Directorate, with other agencies, professions, families and young people
• Understanding of and commitment to Restorative Practice
• Knowledge of Health and Safety at Work Act 1989.
• Experience of working with young people aged 16-25 and their families.
• Experience and resilience in working with young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Experience of working with established systems and procedures to ensure secure and accurate recording of information.

Desirable

• Understand best practice in the care and support of adolescents.
• Understand Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Signs of Safety.
• Understand the role of Ofsted and their inspection framework.
• Have awareness of best value and effective use of resources in line with NYCs budgets and service plans.
• Experience of working in a Supported accommodation, residential care or housing setting working on a shift basis.
• Administrative experience.
• Some experience of supporting staff in challenging situations.
• Experience and confidence lone working with young people

Qualifications

Essential

• Hold NVQ 3 Caring for Children and Young People or QCF Level 3 Diploma Caring for Children and Young People (or equivalent)

Occupational Skills

Essential

• Good communication, interpersonal and advocacy skills.
• Risk management and assessment skills.
• Time management skills.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Team working skills.
• Numeracy and literacy skills.
• Inter-agency collaboration skills.
• IT skills to effectively use systems for practice.
• Effective recording/report writing skills.
• Problem solving skills and the ability to find and implement innovative solutions.
• Personal resilience and the ability to develop it in young people.
• Ability to drive forward plans for young people.
• The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable

• Experience of auditing systems and recording.
• Experience of petty cash systems and compliance with auditing processes.
• Experience of deployment of staff resources to meet need.
• Experience of supporting/supervising sessional staff.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

North Yorkshire Council

Address

County Hall

Racecourse Lane

Northallerton

North Yorkshire

DL7 8AE

Employer's website

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)