Children & Family Support Worker

Sense

Job Description

Children & Family Support Worker

Responsible to:Principal MSI Consultant

Payscale:28-33

1.Description of Role

1.1The Children & Family Support Worker is responsible for providing outreach support to deafblind children, young people and their families, in their own homes or in an educational placement.

1.2The Children & Family Support Worker will play a key role in raising awareness of the work of Sense’s Children’s Specialist Service; as part of a national strategy to ensure we provide a minimum offer of support to deafblind children, young people and their families.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Service Development & Quality

1.1To identify deafblind children, young people and their families across the local area that would be able to access Sense’s Children’s Specialist Services.

1.2To work in collaboration with other local service providers to offer services to support deafblind children, young people and their families; these may include Saturday clubs, play sessions, drop in sessions and swimming groups. Ensuring equal access to events for a diverse range of the community across the geographical area.

1.3To undertake casework to support deafblind children, young people and their families. This will include providing outreach support through home visits, accompanying hospital appointments and annual reviews.

1.4To maintain accurate and up to date data, files and records of contact or activities in accordance with nationally agreed standards for the Children’s Specialist Service; providing reports on an regular and agreed basis.

1.5To provide support to young deafblind people during the transition from childhood to adulthood; this includes:

(a)empowering the young person to enable their views to be heard;

(b)facilitating their understanding of the options available; and

(c)signposting the young person to the most appropriate adult service provider be it Sense or another provider.

1.6To manage, maintain and facilitate access to a Toy Library Resource based at the resource centre (NB this will only apply to those posts located in Resource Centres).

1.7To support intervenor networking events as required.

1.8To contribute to training activities with colleagues from across Children’s Specialist Services.

1. Information

2.1To provide information and advice about the nature of deafblindness and the role of Sense’s Children’s Specialist Services in supporting deafblind children, young people and their families.

2.2To provide information about rights and access to statutory services such as education, health and social care; locating and signposting more appropriate sources of advice as appropriate.

2.3To provide information and advice within the scope and remit of the role; referring, or seeking advice on, more complex matters to more senior members of the Children’s Specialist team as appropriate.

2.4To promote Sense’s Children’s Specialist Services by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with professionals from local authorities, health and education.

1. Other

3.1To be conversant with the mission and values of Sense and understand and perform all duties in accordance with statutory requirements and the policies and procedures of Sense.

3.2To follow current legislation and practice guidelines relating to health and safety and to the safeguarding of children.

3.3To carry out any other duties commensurate with the nature and grade of this post.

Sense

Person Specification

Children & Family Support Worker

Education and Training
Essential Criteria / Desirable Criteria
Early years learning/teaching qualification e.g. Diploma in Childcare & Education, NNEB or an equivalent NVQ level 3 qualification. / Relevant degree or professional qualification in social work (Diploma in Social Work), health (RMHN), education or MSI Advanced Certificate.
Willing to train and obtain CACDP qualifications in communicating with deaf / deafblind people. / First aid qualification.
Knowledge and understanding of methods for communicating with deafblind or MSI children. / CACDP BSL level 1 (or higher).
Achievements and Experience
Essential Criteria / Desirable Criteria
Proven experience of working with disabled children or young people; including implementing programmes developed by specialist colleagues. / Experience of working with deafblind children and young people in an education or social care setting; possibly gained in an outreach capacity.
Demonstrable experience of supporting deafblind children, young people and their families in the home, education and social care settings. / Experience of working as part of a team to develop resources and services for disabled children and their families.
Experience of working as part of the multi-disciplinary team with professionals from other agencies; developing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Skills & Abilities
Essential Criteria / Desirable Criteria
Knowledge of child protection processes. / Understanding of the statutory framework for protecting and promoting the well-being of children.
Able to work independently to manage a caseload and maintain appropriate records.
Empathy, tact and diplomacy when supporting deafblind children, young people and their families.
Able to deliver fun and accessible activities for deafblind children and young people.
Proficient in the use of IT, including MS Office.
Able to maintain accurate records and produce reports.
A commitment to the principles of equal opportunities.

Notes

1. The office base for this post will be agreed at the time of appointment.
2. This post will involve some travel, occasionally on a national basis; including some overnight stays.
3. This post will require flexibility including the ability to work unsociable hours including weekends and evenings.

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