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Job description

To assist service users by improving the quality of lives within their community by promoting wellbeing, independence and healthy life choices. The Short Stay Break Service meets the needs of young people (8-17) and their families by providing an alternative to placement for 4 days and 4 nights, social, educational, cultural and recreational break at an Extern youth facility. Short Stay Break Service staff engages the child or young person in a range of activities and can help him/her examine lifestyle issues while the social worker intervenes with the carers thus allowing the child or young person to return to their living arrangements with the crisis being averted. This approach prevents breakdown in living arrangements and the child or young person can subsequently be referred to a programme within Extern's continuum of services.

Responsibilities

• When required, take referrals from appropriate bodies, carry out initial assessment of service user, and discuss referral with team. Contribute to the development of appropriate service user programmes.
• Contribute to the assessment of service user needs for referrals to external agencies and make appropriate referrals when required.
• Assist in the case management of identified service users. Facilitate and participate in group work with service users.
• Promote and encourage independence and assist and encourage service users to develop life skills e.g. cooking, cleaning and personal care. Accompany service users to meetings/appointments as and when required.
• Support service users to complete paperwork when required e.g. benefits, housing, school etc.
• Adhere to safeguarding procedures and relevant internal and external policies and standards at all times. Report safeguarding concerns, in a timely manner, in line with Extern policy. Attend mandatory safeguarding training.
• Read and risk assess referral information and risk assess with team. Assist in the development of service users risk assessments and continually review and amend as and when required.
• Follow necessary risk management requirements e.g. managing the environment, room checks, medication administration, on call procedures. Adhere to the Short Stay Break Service code of practice, safeguarding procedures and relevant external standard.
• To risk assess each planned activity in line with Extern’s policy. To facilitate activities in line with Extern’s approved centre list. Ensure appropriate use of all physical resources provided, including safe storage and access by approved person.
• Ensure adherence to Externs covid-19 guidance and PHA public guidance. Attend and actively participate in multi-agency risk assessment meetings.
• To adopt a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach when working with both internal and external stakeholders. Attend and positively participate in internal and external meetings as required.
• Develop and maintain appropriate professional relationships with services users, Colleagues and stakeholders. Represent Extern professionally through a variety of communication mediums, e.g. emails, telephone contact, meetings and presentations.
• Adopt a solution focused approach within Team meetings and through team engagement in order to identify and remove barriers for best practice and team cohesion.
• Ensure compliance with necessary organisational and commissioner recording requirements e.g. information management systems, service user files, case notes. Complete individual reports in a timely manner and at an acceptable standard.
• Ensure data protection legislation is adhered to and that service user rights to confidentiality are protected, including securing confidential information. Record and provide receipts for all petty cash, and ensure money is responsibly secured.
• Engage fully in the Extern supervision process for professional development, case management and professional support.
• Ensure that you are receiving adequate supervision in line with the Morrison model. In conjunction with senior staff, assist in the supervision, management and training of new staff and bank staff.
• Responsible for keeping updated on Extern’s policies and procedures. Attend all core training, in line with Extern requirements (e.g. TCI & First Aid).
• Identify and discuss professional training needs and training programmes with line manager, in order to maximise your own potential. Utilise other forms of self-directed learning to maximise professional learning (e.g. research articles, shadow.
• Ensure that learning gained is implemented in practice and where possible shared with team members.
• Adhere to Extern’s health & safety policies and procedures e.g. Lone Working Policy, Transport Policy. Act as a key holder for any buildings and secure the buildings as appropriate.
• Ensure completion of project vehicle checks, and report any maintenance or safety issues evident. Complete training and adhere to all fire safety regulations.
• Ensure use of appropriate PPE at all times in line with PHA requirements and organisation guidelines.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Minimum of a Level 3 Qualification (as set out in the RQF Framework) in a relevant field/subject for example; Youth Work, Social Care, Sociology, Psychology or combined Social & Behavioural Sciences etc.
• In the absence of the qualification requirement, 2 years recent, relevant experience of working in a social care setting dealing with challenging behaviours with young people aged 8-17 years old. (Experience can be from paid/unpaid employment.
• 6 months substantial experience of working in a social care setting dealing with challenging behaviours with young people aged 8-17 years old. (Experience can be from paid/unpaid employment, voluntary work, student placement).
• IT competent, including use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Willing to work irregular hours including residential placements, overnights, evenings, and weekends.
• Full driving licence valid for use in UK and Ireland and access to use of a car, with appropriate business insurance, in order to provide transport to Service Users.
• Be registered or willing to register with NISCC within 3 months of commencement of employment (you will be required to provide evidence of NISCC registration).

Desirable Skills

• Outdoor activity qualifications/ experience Experience of working with young people in a residential setting.