We are the difference for Children in Care and Care Leavers.
Southampton City Council's Pathways Through Care Team is a service passionate about achieving the best outcomes for the children we care for and our young people who are care experienced. Building relationships that enable our young people to feel and know that they are held in mind is important to us.
Working closely with partnership agencies to provide high challenge and high support, building strong relationships between practitioners and their families, enabling systemic and reflective work with our young people and their networks is also a priority.
An exciting and rare opportunity has become available for a position as a Personal Advisor to support our young people in the next chapter of their lives and independence. This vacancy will allow you to build meaningful and influential relationships with our care leavers, striving to continually improve and show them that we are aspirational and ambitious for what they can achieve.
The service is building on exciting developments, stronger links with partner agencies and cohesion in service relationships with our colleagues in SCC. The main area of focus for any person wanting to join Pathways Through Care must be an enhanced understanding of the importance of building trusting relationships with young people.
In June 2023, Ofsted noted strong evidence that: “The experiences and progress of children in care are good. Improvements to the quality of support provided to children in care have accelerated recently.”
In the role as a Personal Advisor, we are looking for genuine care, commitment, and passion for young people and young adults who have experienced time in care. Our Personal Advisers have considerable energy and empathy to support those leaving our care to be the best they can be.
About the Service:
The service benefits from a permanent management team with a wide range of experience, as well as two visible and approachable service managers. There are six teams within the service – two for young people who are care experienced, one team specializing in working with unaccompanied children in the UK, and two additional teams supporting social workers with children in care under the age of 18. There is also a Staying Connected team working specifically with young people (currently post-18) in supported accommodation.
The service prides itself on having a cohesive and friendly atmosphere that offers support to team members.
About the Role:
* You will maintain regular contact with our care leavers, co-producing pathway plans focusing on their needs and goals.
* You will build meaningful and lasting relationships, providing support that promotes their independence, well-being, and educational or employment opportunities.
* You will demonstrate to our care leavers through your work how much they are cared about, showing them their importance to you and Southampton City Council.
* You will work with various partner agencies advocating for your young people, ensuring that any risks and needs are recognized and addressed.
* You will attend social events with young people to build relationships, promote participation, and help develop their confidence and networks.
Who are we looking for?
We seek a practitioner who is reflective and assured in their practice, ideally with experience in direct intervention/support with young people who are care experienced. You will build relationships through regular visits and statutory intervention via care leaver contacts, nurturing and developing meaningful relationships with young people, interpreting their views, and advocating for them to reach their full potential.
The work is varied and challenging, with a strong team approach ensuring good support for the successful applicant.
There may be opportunities to specialize in supporting Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and young people, which is a new strand to our service, offering further developmental opportunities.
If you feel you have the care, commitment, skills, and experience for this rewarding role, we would be delighted to receive your application.
You will have experience working with children and young people and ideally have formal qualifications in related courses.
Please refer to the attached job description for essential and desirable elements to apply for these roles.
Rewards:
* As Ofsted stated in our June 2023 inspection, where we achieved a Good grading: ‘Practitioners are supported by energetic and responsive frontline managers.’ You will receive regular good quality 1-1 case and personal supervision aligned with restorative principles.
* A laptop and mobile phone will be provided to support your work.
* A robust induction period and personal development plan will meet your training and development needs, including membership to Research in Practice and access to an internal resource library.
* Ongoing training and professional development are important to us.
* Flexible working arrangements are offered, including a 9-day fortnight.
* Paid leave (up to 33 days excluding bank holidays, depending on length of service) and flexible arrangements.
* Discounted rail fares, paid parking, and access to the Council's bicycle loan scheme.
* Opportunities to engage in work-based well-being activities and recognition for your contributions through our employment awards and recognition schemes.
Our Location:
You will be based within Southampton city centre in the Civic Centre, a historical building within easy reach of colleagues also based in the building. Some flexible/remote/home working is available.
Our Organisation:
Southampton City Council is a unitary authority, providing access to responsive leadership that is supportive at all management levels. We are committed to developing all our staff while working in a highly supportive and challenging culture, which reflects our ambition to become a child-friendly city.
Contact details for informal discussion:
For further information regarding the position, please contact Service Manager Ellie Steel at Ellie.Steel@southampton.gov.uk or Team Manager Carolyn Driscoll at Carolyn.Driscoll@southampton.gov.uk. Either manager will respond to your email and arrange a call if needed.
Additional information:
* This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.
* 37 hours per week.
* Flexible working and travel outside of the council will be part of the job requirements.
Recruitment contact details:
Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For more information about SCC, please visit Southampton City Council. Follow us on social media for regular updates on our featured jobs and latest news: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.
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