Early Intervention Workers

Early Intervention Workers

Family Resource Service

Children & Young People

Youth Offending Team, Andover Road

Early Intervention Worker (Qualified) (Ref. 02145)

£23,175 - £30,843 per annum. Grade H/I, SCP 29 - 39 plus car leasing scheme or Car Allowance (pay award pending)

Full Time: 37 hours per week

Fixed term until 31/3/08. We will be seeking funding past March 08 (secondments welcome)

Early Intervention Worker (Unqualified) (Ref. 01298)

£17,985 - £24,708 per annum. Grade F/G, SCP 21 – 31, plus car leasing scheme or Car Allowance (pay award pending)

Full Time: 37 hours per week

Permanent

We are looking to appoint 1 qualified Early Intervention Worker (DIPSW or equivilent) until March 08 and 1 unqualified Early Intervention Worker on a permenant contract, working within the Family Resource Service, with close links to West Berkshire’s Youth Offending Team. You will play a key role in this enthusiastic, energetic and creative team, identifying and working with young people aged between 8-13 years who are at risk of offending or anti-social behaviour.

You will assess the needs of young people at risk of offending using the agreed assessment tools and be working with a range of agencies to provide an intervention package that will reduce these risks, which will include working individually or in groups with young people and parents.

For the qualified post you will need to hold a DipSW or equivalent. You should have a knowledge of the relevant legislation and a commitment to working with young people to improve their life chances, within a criminal justice framework. need to work flexibly, including evenings and some weekends, to ensure the service is delivered effectively and efficiently.

For an informal discussion about the specifics of the post, please contact Carolyn Waterhouse Team Manager or Claire Ashley (ATM) on 01635 43639 or email or

For an application form and information pack please call the 24-hour answerphone on 01635 519122 or email , quoting the relevant post reference number. To be considered for this post, an application form must be completed. Please ensure that your completed form is with us by the closing date.

Closing Date: 27th September 2007

JOB DESCRIPTION
Authority: West Berkshire District Council / Department/Division: Youth Offending Team
Post Ref No: 01298 / Location: Children & Families Resource Centre
Job Title: Early Intervention Worker / Grade/Salary Range:
F/G – SCP 21 – 31 £17,985 - £24,708
JOB PURPOSE
The post-holder will work with children who have been identified by a range of agencies as being of high risk of offending. Working within a multi-agency framework the Early Intervention workers will be responsible for assessing the level of risk, and working with the children and parents on an individual and groupwork basis to combat the identified risk factors. These are likely to include: existing offending behaviour or anti-social behaviour, difficulties within the school setting with risk of exclusion, issues with parenting behaviour.
DESIGNATION OF POST AND POSITION WITHIN DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.  To assess the needs of children aged 8-13 years at risk of offending using agreed assessment tools.
2.  With other agencies create a package of services to meet needs identified, acting as key worker where appropriate.
3.  To help in the development of packages of interventions to support Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts used with this age group.
4.  To work with children on an individual and group work basis.
5.  With colleagues from health, education, children’s services, youth offending team and voluntary organisations, identify existing preventive resources and innovative methods of inter-agency working.
6.  To assess parents of young people at risk of offending in need of or wishing for additional help in developing their parenting skills.
7.  To deliver programmes to parents, individually and in-groups, to improve their confidence and skills in managing their children’s behaviour.
8.  To maximise opportunities of co-running groups for parents with other agencies where the children may be offending or at risk of offending.
9.  To monitor outcomes of all interventions, including parental satisfaction and impact on their children’s offending behaviour.
10. To undertake such monitoring as may be required by the Children’s Fund , Children & Young People’s directorate and Youth Justice Board.
11. To develop the service in line with developments in preventive strategies nationally and locally.
12. To keep accurate and up-to-date records.
13. To ensure that a positive and proactive approach is taken with regards anti-discriminatory practice and children’s rights in all areas of our work.
In addition the post-holder will have the following generic duties.
·  To involve carers in assessment and interventions and take into account their needs as well as those of the child.
·  To identify with the Assistant Team Manager the level of resources which will be required and available for each client.
·  To carry a personal caseload of prevention within the framework of the Crime and Disorder Act, and throughout the assessment and support process provide advice, counselling treatment and advocacy according to professional expertise for clients and carers, as appropriate.
·  To discuss with the Children and their Families the level of service(s) which will be available, and to confirm in writing with the family and young person the agreed outcomes.
·  To negotiate the delivery of services with providers in accordance with service level agreements and block contracts etc, paying due regard to statutory responsibilities.
·  To monitor the progress of the written objectives and expectations and amend these as required. This should take account of the client’s view and needs, ensure cost effectiveness in relation to the quality of the service delivery.
·  To participate in other activities which would benefit from the application of professional skills, e.g. working parties, special service developments, policy formulation, group work and community development work.
·  To inform the Team Manager of specific needs which cannot be met through non-availability of services or inadequate budgetary provision.
·  To maintain case records and to fulfil departmental procedures and statutory duties commensurate with national and departmental training requirements.
·  To carry out other such tasks as are commensurate with the post according to discipline specialist skills.
SCOPE OF JOB (Budgetary/Resource control, Impact)

Environment

The post-holder will work in the context of relevant legislation and Children’s Service policy and procedures.

Constraints

The post-holder will work within the Children’s Services and West Berkshire Council policies and practice.

Relationships

The post-holder will have regular contact with Children and Young People Directorate staff including senior managers. There will be a link-management arrangement with the Youth Offending Team Manager. The post-holder will have a range of contacts outside the service area with Health Trusts, the Police, private and voluntary provider’s etc.

This Job Description will be regularly reviewed in light of national expectations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Youth Offending Team Officer – Early Intervention Worker
/ Department/Division: Youth Offending Team
Authority: West Berkshire Council / Post Reference No: 01298
KEY CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications And Training / NVQ 3 or above or A Level equivalent education
Competence Summary
(Knowledge, abilities, skills, experience) / Experience of working with children/young people
Experience and ability to deal with challenging behaviour. Negotiation skills/clear communication skills
Creative thinking
Problem solving
A willingness and ability to translate an understanding of current good practice and evidence based interviews with young people and their families in everyday work situations.
Ability to make independent judgments and exercise initiative within agreed limits
Ability to complete relevant forms.
Knowledge and understanding of children and their families and the challenge that this can present.
Ability to develop respectful relationships with young people and their families.
Ability to support people in distress/crisis
Ability to liaise with a range of professionals. / Some experience of working with Children and Young people at risk of poor outcomes including offending or demonstration of research or practice based interest in this subject.
Ability to assess children and their families
Ability to write clear, comprehensive and legible reports.
Ability to prioritise own workloads and to recognise own coping mechanisms.
.
Work-related Personal Requirements / Working hours will need to be flexible and may include some weekend working.
Need for flexibility in fulfilling job requirements and in the evolving nature of the job.
Car driver/daily use of a car.
Willingness to fully participate in supervision.
Basic understanding of team work.
Ability to follow care plans and risk assessments
Ability to work calmly under pressure.
Sense of humour.
Liking of children.
.
Other Work Requirements / Full driving license.