Job Description - Young CarersTransition Worker

Responsible to-Young Carers Co-ordinator (Warrington)

Line Managed by-Young Carers Co-ordinator (Warrington)

Responsible for- No staff

Objectives

Wired is a registered charity that provides a range of services to disadvantaged people and carers within Wirral, Liverpool, Oldham, Wrexham and Wales.

Wired are committed to ensuring that young carers are recognised first and foremost as children and young people and are supported to enjoy their childhood while understanding that they are providing care for a parent or sibling.

Young carers can be defined as ‘children and young persons under 18 who provide or intend to provide care, assistance or support to another family member. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility which would usually be associated with an adult’

The objective of this role is to support young carers. You will provide a combination of one to one support and Advocacy. You will provide opportunities for young people to come together, make friends and take part in social activities.

Purpose of the role

The YoungCarers Transition Worker will ensure a dedicated point of contact and to enable strong relationships to be forged with Carers in transition. The CTW will taking responsibility for holistic needs of the young carer, facilitating joined up services around the young carer and co-ordinating emergency support. The Carer Transition Worker (CTW) will co-ordinate the following;

  • Transition assessment – undertaken using the YCWA assessment tool
  • Anticipated post 18 support needs of the Carer in transition
  • Which of those needs will be eligible for support
  • Aspirations goals for the future for the Carer in transition
  • Information and advice on relevant adult social care

Tasks and Responsibilities

The Transition worker will also undertake the standard 3 key areas of work within the Young Carers Team,plus the usual accountabilities expected from all Wired personnel.

Supporting Young Carers

  • Providing Advocacy
  • Provide one to one support to Young Carers who may need support to them to speak up and identify their own needs.
  • Provide support to Young Carers at appropriate meetings including Team around the Child meetings, Family Assessments, Carers Assessments etc
  • Carry out assessment of need using CAF and act as Lead Professional if appropriate.
  • Provide information to Young Carers that supports them to maintain their own health and wellbeing.
  • Provide Young Carers with information about their rights as Young Carers and also Carers Assessments (if appropriate).
  • Provide information to Young Carers about The Emergency Card Helpline, Leisure Card and other Carers services as appropriate.
  • Support Young Carers to transition from childhood to adulthood

Drop Ins/ Peer Support Groups

  • Organise and facilitate Young Carers drop ins across Warrington.
  • Organise leisure opportunities for Young Carers.
  • Work flexibly to ensure that Young Carers have the support required to attend drop ins

Working in Partnership

  • Where necessary, work in partnership with other services to ensure the family is supported and the young person is protected from taking on an inappropriate caring role.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with other providers of children and young peoples services

Miscellaneous Accountabilities

  • Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information pertaining to Wired and/or NHS Warrington / Warrington Council.
  • To fully understand Safeguarding legislation in relation to the services delivered and the service users identified under these services
  • Collect and collate information for the purpose of regular statistical and qualitative reporting, with input from clients and staff
  • Exhibit a professional, friendly and approachable demeanour to clients, colleagues and other professionals at all times
  • Utilise effective time management techniques to ensure tasks are prioritised, and agreed deadlines are met.
  • Work towards goals within a Personal Development Plan to meet identified individual and business need, and attend all relevant staff training, supervision and meetings.
  • Ensure that attitudes and work behaviour reflect the philosophy of Wired at all times (refer to Wired Code of Conduct).
  • Any other duty that may be required, commensurate with job title and salary (Wired’s services are continually changing – flexibility and adaptability is essential).

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. 1974.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

Competency / Level required
Communication / 2
Planning & Organising / 2
Team working / 2
Problem solving / 2
Business Awareness / 2
Customer service / 2

For details of the requirements at each level, please refer to the Competencies Framework.

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Experience of providing Advocacy / E
Knowledge and understanding of Children’s and Young Peoples Services in Warrington / D
Knowledge and understanding of Common Assessment Framework/Family Support Meetings/ Lead Professional Role / E
Knowledge and experience of relevant legislation, including Children Act 2004, Carers Act, Equal Opportunities Act, / D
Experience of facilitating meetings, taking lead professional role and carrying out an Assessment / E
Knowledge of the local area / D
IT literate, with good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc., as well as internet search skills and email use / E
Experience of delivering presentations or/and training, to market the service to a variety of audiences, including education staff, social workers, health professionals, and children and young people / E
Clean driving licence and use of a car / E
Knowledge of ‘Think Family’ approach to delivering services / E
Experience and ability to work with children and young people in a group work setting / E

Essential Requirement (E)-The candidate MUST be skilled in

the requisite competency

Desirable Requirement (D)-The candidate would ideally be

skilled in the requisite competency,

but we would also consider

candidates with the aptitude and

willingness to develop the skill

Young Carers Advocacy and Support Worker Page 1 of 5Job Description – November 2012