Dear Applicant

Support Worker – Young Peoples Division x 5

Ref: 1444/K

Thank you for your interest in the above post. I have pleasure in enclosing the following details:

·  Summary of Conditions of Service

·  Job Description

·  Person Specification

·  Details of Criminal Convictions Form

Appointment is subject to satisfactory criminal record clearance. A criminal record will not necessarily preclude you from employment.

Please submit a Details of Past Criminal Convictions form with your application (page 10 in this pack).

·  Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

·  Circle Anglia – What we do for you

·  Guidance on Appeal Procedures

If you complete your application online please follow the procedure on our website. If you save your application and wish to then email it as an attachment please send it to

Alternatively, please complete your application and post it to the Recruitment Team at Circle Anglia, 6 Central Avenue, St Andrews Business Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0HR to reach us no later than 5:00pm on the closing date of 7th April 2010. Please ensure adequate postage is paid as underpayment will result in the delay of your application and potentially missing the closing date.

Please note that applicants who are short listed will be asked to attend an assessment on 13th April 2010. If you have not heard from us by this date please assume that you have not been short listed.

I look forward to receiving your completed application.

Yours sincerely

Kirsty Strowlger

Recruitment Officer

Direct Dial: 01603 703695

Email:

1

Summary of Conditions of Service

Post: Support Worker – Young Peoples Division x 5


Contract Term: Permanent

Ref: 1444/K

Location: Foyer for Ipswich, IP4 1JN

Salary: £17,499 per annum + on-call allowance

Hours: 35 hours per week

Circle Anglia operates flexible working policies which you may be able to benefit from subject to the requirements of the policies

Holidays: 29 days running from 1 January to 31 December pro rata. After three years service the holiday entitlement rises to 30 days, after five years service to 31 days, after seven years service to 32 and after nine years service to 33 days pro rata.

Sickness: During probationary period there are 10 days paid sick leave pro rata. During first year of service, following satisfactory completion of probationary period, 20 days paid sick leave pro rata.

Thereafter: up to 13 weeks at full pay followed by 13 weeks at 75% of pay

This is subject to procedures being followed.

Probationary period: Six months

Notice period: One month upon satisfactory completion of probationary period.

/ EPIC Trust
(part of Circle Anglia Ltd.)
Job Description

Support Worker - Young Peoples Division

Key purpose: / To be responsible for day to day delivery of a high quality
support service which meets the individual needs of
service users.
To establish and maintain good community links in order
to ensure access to appropriate services for service
users
Responsible to: / Foyer Manager, Senior Support Coordinator, Support Coordinator

Key responsibilities:

1.  Participate in the day-to-day running of scheme

2.  Assessing support needs, drawing up, implementing monitoring and reviewing support plans to meet the individual needs of a diverse group of allocated service users.

3.  Co-ordinate maintain the package of support including personally providing support and accessing and monitoring other resources, including:

·  advocating on behalf of service users with other agencies

·  welfare benefits advice and budgeting skills

·  accessing resources from statutory and voluntary agencies

·  support related to individual needs

·  skills for living independently and successful maintenance of a tenancy

4.  Provide information and consult service users about services provided: actively encourage service user participation through facilitation of service user meetings and other activities.

5.  Implement procedures for service user selection and allocations in collaboration with Supported Housing Management team, including:

·  seeking referrals

·  interviewing and assessing prospective service users

6.  To liaise with the Senior Support Coordinator while supporting service users to:

·  avoid rent arrears

·  resolve conflict between service users

·  maximise incomes, particularly around welfare benefits

·  ensure health & safety requirements are met

7.  Be proactive in informing supported housing management of potential and actual repairs and need for improvements and adaptations, including:

·  reporting repairs

·  making recommendations regarding purchasing of furniture and equipment

8.  To work effectively as a project member, including:

·  sharing information

·  taking on project wide responsibilities

·  providing cover for other project members

·  contributing to the development of the service

·  working agreed hours which may include evenings and some weekends

9.  Implement the Trust’s Customer Service Guarantee and resolve service failures.

10.  Develop effective and professional working relationships internally and externally promoting a positive image of the service and of Epic Trust.

11.  Plan and organise own work and follow office procedures and administrative systems, including keeping service user’s files up to date.

12.  Meet key performance targets including Support Plans, Risk Assessments, service user focused monitoring.

13.  Keep your professional knowledge updated e.g. of legislation, welfare rights, procedures, resources available for service users.

14.  Contribute to ensuring value for money and budgetary control by:

·  keeping records of expenditure

·  monitoring budget spend

·  making recommendations on expenditure

·  following procedures for purchasing including petty cash and banking

15.  To liaise regularly with service users external supports networks and provide monthly reports on the progress of each service user.

16.  To liaise with Supporting People on a regular basis.

17.  To be part of a shift working rota and to participate in on-call arrangements and sleepovers as required

/ EPIC Trust
(part of Circle Anglia Ltd.)
Person Specification

Support Worker - Young Peoples Division

Professional Knowledge and Experience / ·  Relevant experience of providing services for young people
·  Understanding of Support Work delivery
·  Understanding and identifying the support needs of vulnerable people
·  Understanding of issues involved in supporting people with complex needs in the community
·  Ability to act independently & where & when to seek the support of other agencies.
·  Understanding of service development
·  Particular experience of working with young people who have experienced unsettled and chaotic lifestyles.

Thinking style

Analysis and problem solving / Thinks analytically in a logical and systematic way to identify the cause of problems. Quickly identifies the key issues in complex situations. Generates practical solutions based on sound analysis with view to solving problems. Consistently makes the right decisions based on an evaluation of the options available and a careful balancing of priorities.
Structure / Takes a structured approach to organising work. Sets both long term goals and interim milestones and plans work to meet these. Continually reviews progress. Establishes well defined, but practical working procedures and administration systems.
Business awareness / Understands the Trusts strategic goals and the environment in which EPIC operates.

Relationships with people

Self-portrayal / Establishes positive relationships with a variety of people, both internal and external to EPIC Trust. Builds a sense of identity and common purpose to achieve objectives. Encourages a team spirit. Puts forward arguments persuasively and is skilled in gaining agreement from others on issues. Adapts style according to the situation, using a range of influencing styles as appropriate. Shows a willingness to find a common ground but will not move from predetermined position.
Customer orientation / Demonstrates a strong commitment to meeting customer needs. Emphasises the importance of delivering a high standard of service. Involves customers and other bodies in defining service requirements. Places high value on customer satisfaction.
Communication / Able to assess the needs of a situation and tailor communication accordingly. Is proactive about keeping colleagues informed about relevant developments.

Behaviours and emotions

Results orientation / Is proactive in taking responsibility for everyday problems and more major initiatives.
Acts for the benefit of EPIC Trust through being resourceful and taking the initiative. Is motivated by achieving measurable results. Sets clear targets and goals in all areas of work and puts in place systems for monitoring progress. Identifies the reasons for any shortfalls and ensures these are corrected. Perseveres to overcome obstacles, and instils a sense of determination in others. Is able to motivate him/herself when there is little involvement from above.
Resilience / Willingly takes on board the changing culture, and adopts own approach accordingly. Able to understand and appreciate different approaches and ideas, and then apply them in practical situations. Able to maintain effective performance while under pressure and keep emotions under control when faced with opposition.

TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL APPLICANTS

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Care Standards Act 2000

As this post will involve working with vulnerable people, you are obliged to disclose the details of all offences that have resulted in criminal convictions, including any convictions which occurred a long time ago and have become ‘spent’ in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The explanatory note below explains why applicants for this post are obliged to disclose all their past criminal convictions (if any).

Any past criminal conviction by or before a court, whether in or outside Great Britain, must be disclosed. For this purpose, any finding in any criminal proceedings that you have committed an offence, or done the act of made the omission charged, counts as a conviction.

Please complete the accompanying form and return it, in a sealed envelope marked ‘confidential’, with your completed application form. Your application will not be considered unless the form is completed and returned. The sealed envelope containing the completed form will not normally be opened unless you have been short listed. The completed form will be treated as a confidential document throughout the interview and selection processes. In coming to a decision as to whether or not to select you for the post, the selection panel would consider the relevance to the job of any past criminal convictions which have been disclosed.

IMPORTANT: If you are selected for this or any other post, but you have not disclosed a past criminal conviction which later comes to light by means of a CRB disclosure or other circumstances, you may be dismissed from your employment.

In accordance with the Care Standards Act 2000, the organisation will undertake a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure check of all staff applying for positions that involve contact with vulnerable persons. This check covers cautions and bind over’s, as well as convictions. An Enhanced check can take several weeks to process and this self-disclosure is required in the meantime.

Please contact the Recruitment Department on 01603 703 502 with any queries about this or Circle Anglia policy on CRB disclosures and employment of ex-offenders.

Explanatory Note

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, as amended, removes from applicants for certain types of employment the right not to disclose spent criminal convictions. Accordingly, such applicants are required to disclose all past criminal convictions, even if they occurred a long time ago.


The types of employment in respect of which job applicants have to disclose all past criminal convictions include those specified below:-

(1)  Any employment which is in connection with the provision of Social Services and is of such a kind as to enable the employee to have access to any of the following classes of person in the course of his/her normal duties:

(a)  persons suffering from serious illness or mental disorder of any description

(b)  persons addicted to alcohol or drugs

(c)  persons who are suffering a sensory impairment

(d)  other substantially disabled persons

(2)  Any employment concerned with the provision to persons aged under 18 of accommodation, care, social services or supervision, being employment of such kind as to enable the employee to have access in the course of his/her normal duties to such persons, and any other employment the normal duties of which are carried out wholly or partly on the premises where such provision takes place.


Details Of Past Criminal Convictions Strictly Confidential

Title Forename(s)

Surname Previous/other names
Date of Birth Position for which you are applying
Address
Post Reference Number

In accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) 1975, all offences that have resulted in criminal convictions (including motoring offences) must be disclosed when applying for this position, no matter how long ago those offences occurred. Any past criminal conviction by or before a court, whether in or outside Great Britain, must be disclosed. For this purpose, any finding in any criminal proceedings that you have committed an offence, or done the act or made the omission charged, counts as a conviction.

While a CRB check is processed, please list all past criminal convictions, cautions or bind over’s (if any) below. Please also indicate if you have been subject to a conditional discharge. If you have no past criminal convictions, cautions or bind over’s, please enter ‘none’ below:

(please continue on a separate sheet if necessary)

Date of conviction/discharge / Nature of offence/charge/caution/bind over
or discharge / Name of Court / Sentence,
Penalty
or Order
Details of current investigation or pending court case

I agree that the Criminal Records Bureau may disclose to Circle Anglia all past criminal convictions, cautions and bind over’s (if any) that I may have and details of all cautions and bind over’s (if any) administered upon me. I understand that, in view of the nature of the position for which I am applying, the convictions which the CRB will reveal will include convictions that, under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, have become spent.

I also declare that, unless stated above, I do not possess, or have ever possessed a criminal record, nor have I been subject to any conditional discharges, bind over’s or cautions or am currently under investigation or awaiting a court case. In the event that any declaration is found to be false, I understand that my employment could be terminated immediately.

Signed Date

19

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders and the Storage of Criminal Record Disclosure Information