Job Details

Duties

This job description is intended as a guide and is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of this role, such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed.

 

1. The aim of the role is to provide support at the point when problems emerge, preventing the need for more specialist services further down the line and to act as the lead professional for within the Youth Justice Service for cases where there are multiple and complex needs, much of this work will be conducted on evenings and weekends and the postholder will be required to be on call for the Outreach Youth Workers.

 

 

2. To establish and develop collaborative working arrangements with universal, community partners and key partner agencies such as Early Help, Children and Social Care, Education, Health, Police, Probation, Youth Custody Services, Courts and voluntary sector organisations and to undertake the role of Appropriate Adult (PACE) when required.

 

3. To provide support and challenge for practitioners working with vulnerable children, young people and families, and where necessary make timely referrals to appropriate services and ensuring that there are accurate records of work undertaken on the specified management information system.

 

4. To promote strength-based practice methods to improve engagement with children and families that enhance outcomes for children and their families.

 

5. To support families to make positive change in their lives by using systemic intervention methods, models, and tools, with the aims of helping them to be as independent as possible and to reduce risk of harm and increase safety and wellbeing.

 

6. To make professional judgements in the context of the relevant legal and policy frameworks particularly around risk, thresholds and information sharing.

 

7. To gather information, analyse and assess in order to manage risk, re-offending and safety/wellbeing accurately using appropriate screening and assessment tools; taking necessary measures to ensure welfare needs are dealt with effectively and public protection considerations are appropriately managed.

 

8. To conduct assessment, planning and reviewing activities and create, in conjunction with young people and families, bespoke intervention plans to address all areas of need and to regularly review the plans to ensure their suitability and effectiveness.

 

9. To conduct work with vulnerable children and families outside of normal working hours including evenings and weekend so as to reduce interfering with education training or employment of children/young people and their families.

 

10. Prepare, deliver and participate in the running of group work programmes.

 

11. To work within a multi-disciplinary team, to be responsible for all aspects of case management of complex and challenging caseload of children, young people and their families with the Youth Justice Service, including writing reports to a high standard, dealing with bail, duty and non-compliance issues swiftly and effectively in line with local and national standards.

 

12. Evidence of effectively managing high risk and complex cases and assisting with the day to day support and training of less experienced YOS staff.

 

13. To play a leading role in improving practice and quality of assessments and plans, assisting Team Managers including facilitating team meetings, taking responsibility for dissemination of new legislation and developments in practice. Take a lead role in the induction of new staff and being a ‘buddy’.

 

14. To adopt a strength based restorative approach in engaging children and young people and work together with colleagues to support opportunities to repair harm.

 

15. Contribute to the development of team/project/service plans and procedures to ensure these reflect the needs of children/young people and their families.

 

16. To develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of legislation and regulations and departmental procedures relating to working with children, young people and their families including Lambeth’s safeguarding procedures and GDPR laws.

 

17. To engage YOS staff and partner agencies in joint training, that embeds common language, and joined up processes in order to increase a shared responsibility

 

18. To attend, prepare for and make constructive use of supervision and appraisal meetings with line manager

 

19. To organise and plan work activities taking into account competing demands and priorities and to keep manager appraised of any difficulties.

 

20. To recognise and act on safeguarding concerns relating to children and to adults with care and support needs, and contribute to the response to such concerns, promptly escalating cases where necessary.

 

21. To meet the organisations requirements in regard to record keeping, including that required for the monitoring of performance and quality.

 

22. To contribute to the investigation and resolution of complaints, Member’s Enquiries or Local Government Ombudsmen enquiries, and play a part as needed in identifying and acting on the lessons learned from these.

 

23. To keep your skills, knowledge up to date undertaken appropriate and mandatory training in order to be able to meet the requirements of your role and to maintain requirements of professional registration where applicable and participate in the Council’s appraisal scheme.

 

24. To work flexibly in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participate as required in groups and task teams, some of which may involve working across disciplines, or with colleagues from across the council and partner organisations e.g. Risk Management Panel and MAPPA

 

25. To provide regular training and consultation sessions to both YOS Practitioners and key partner agencies.

 

26. To undertake other duties that may be reasonably requested by line manager.

 

27. Work as a member of the wider Children’s Services and carry out all duties in accordance with the London Borough of Lambeth’s Equal Opportunities policy, actively promoting equality and seeking to prevent and overcome disadvantage and discrimination.

 

28. As a Lambeth Officer you are expected to observe common corporate accountabilities and to promote a positive image of the Local Authority at all times

 

29. The post-holder must at all times carry out the duties of this post with due regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policies and addressing structural inequalities including racism

 

30. Employment is subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) criminal record disclosure satisfactory by the Council, to be undertaken on a three-yearly basis. You must inform your manager if you are arrested for or charged with any criminal offence.

 

31. The post is exempt from Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974, as the duties give you access to persons who are under the age of 18. Applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions, which would be regarded as spent for other purposes.

 

32. To participate in training, learning and development events relevant to the development of the service and the role. This includes:

• Carrying out the duties of the post in accordance with the Data Protection Act, the Computer Misuse Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation today and in the future, as well as Council policies.
• Complying with Financial Regulations, seeking best value in all goods and services purchased and preventing any avoidable financial loss.
• Being courteous and professional towards everyone you work with in all written and verbal contacts.
• Promptly responding to all messages and correspondence, including emails.
• Reporting any misconduct on the part of Council Officers or contractor

Pay: £31.33 Umbrella