2 month contract with a local Authority Job Purpose To ensure that the Council meets its statutory obligations to young people leaving care and complies with all legislative, regulatory and corporate requirements To be accountable for the provision of a statutory case work service to up to 27 young people ensuring that individual care plans are developed and implemented which meet the full range of needs To undertake direct work with vulnerable young people, who may display difficult, challenging and aggressive behaviours, in SCS buildings, in their homes and community settings To lead a multi-agency network around each young person and ensure that the input of all agencies e.g. youth offending, police, mental health and the National Asylum Seeking Service, is coordinated and effective and fulfils the agency’s own statutory duties as well as the needs of the young person To plan and deliver group work sessions for young people with specific needs To take part in a daily duty service to provide an emergency response to any care leaver or older looked after child whose own caseworker is away from the office To protect Council resources and ensure that services are provided within a limited budget through proactive financial planning, negotiating individual care packages and making recommendations on appropriate provision in each case Key Duties/Accountabilities To work in partnership with each young person on the caseload to develop and implement statutory care plans which promote positive outcomes in all areas. To ensure that statutory responsibly are met and evidenced on each case to meet the expectations of internal and external inspections and to protect the reputational standing of the Council To maintain detailed, accurate and contemporaneous records of case work and financial activity To make referrals to other agencies including adult social care, Connexions, advocacy, police, substance misuse and housing and crucially to ensure that each agency provides the required support to reach young person to minimise costs to the Council and to promote the welfare of young people. To lead and coordinate a multi-agency planning group around each young person to ensure an holistic approach to care planning To secure appropriate accommodation for each young person including those with extreme anti-social behaviour, mental health issues and additional vulnerability To ensure that each young person is supported into appropriate educational, employment or training resource and that their physical and mental health is promoted To work with the home office, solicitors and the ‘no recourse to public fund’ team to ensure that legal status issues are resolved in a speedy manner and that the Council’s resources are targeted appropriately To take part in a service duty rota which provides an emergency response to any leaving care young person whose own worker is away from the office To make financial projection on expenditure, provide specialist welfare benefit advice and challenge housing benefit and DWP decisions where required To complete specialist assessments for pathway plans, pre-birth child protection issues, risk management, fair access and adult services Essential Experience Required Significant experience of working with vulnerable young people with a range of complex problems is essential. Experience in financial planning, monitoring and the provision of best value services is essential Experience in user participation and an ability to develop and implement strategies to ensure that even the most hard to engage young people influence service delivery and design. Essential Qualification Required Qualification in child care/child development is essential. Additional information to note This role is 35 working hours per week. Enhanced DBS is required for this role. The role closes on 02/05/25