PSST Support Worker

Leeds Safe Roads Partnership; Leeds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization based in Leeds is seeking a Placement Stability Support Worker to enhance stability for children looked after. The role involves providing direct support to children and families, managing various demands, and working closely with social work teams and other professionals. Candidates should have strong communication skills and relevant experience in childcare or social work. The position offers a permanent contract with competitive benefits, contributing to an important mission within the community.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays

Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Flexible working arrangements

Career pathway and professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience or qualification in childcare, counselling, teaching, nursing, or social work.
• Good standard of education and relevant qualifications to social care and administration.

Responsibilities

• Provide placement support and direct work with children and families.
• Liaise with other agencies and professionals to improve outcomes.
• Maintain and update case notes and records.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Negotiation and mediation skills

Ability to manage conflicting demands

Innovative and creative approach

Ability to deal sensitively with conflict

Education

Qualification in childcare, social work or similar

Job description

Job title: Placement Stability Support Worker

Hours: Full time 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: The post will be based at Kernel House, Leeds.

As a Placement Stability Support Worker you will have a can-do attitude and thrive in a fast moving and rewarding team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Placement Stability and Support Team which is part of the wider Placements Service. We are looking for candidates who have aproactive and creative approach to supporting children Looked After, and who are passionate about preventing placement instability and breakdown.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Placement Stability Support Worker, you will bring to the role:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Negotiation and mediation skills.
• The ability to be innovative and creative when working with children and families.
• The ability to communicate and engage effectively with a wide range of professionals and carers in order to produce positive outcomes.
• The ability to manage constant and often conflicting demands.
• The ability to deal sensitively with conflict and challenge.

About the role

The Placement Service primarily undertakes home finding for children who are in foster care, residential care, and semi-independent placements. The Placement Service works closely with key partners across the city, as well as external agencies to support the positive matching of children and young people to the most appropriate available homes, and in supporting young people’s homes through multi-agency working and provision of services, as well as ensuring advice and support is provided to social workers, carers and families.

The national Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, and the government response to this review and implementation of its recommendations – the ‘Stable Homes Built on Love’ strategy and consultation, along with Leeds’s financial challenge, mean that now more than ever Leeds Children’s Social Work Service is committed to increasing stability for children and young people. The Placement Stability and Support Team work collaboratively with children’s Social Work and Fostering teams, to promote stability and reduce breakdowns. Our aim is to ensure that all Children Looked After can experience a safe and secure home, ideally within Leeds.

You will be proficient at finding time specific, dynamic, and creative solutions to challenging situations. Possession of a full current driving licence is essential, as you will be required to travel around the city. The successful candidate will play a role in establishing positive working relationships with a range of other agencies and professionals.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Christina Stevenson, Team Manager, Placement Stability and Support team. Call 07712216140/ 0113 3783453 or email [e-mail]

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose:

To actively participate in the consultation, development and provision of placement stability and support services for Looked After Children in conjunction with social work staff.

Responsibilities:

To provide placement support including direct work with children and families and carers, regarding de-escalation, promoting attachment, and managing behaviour.

To undertake or contribute to assessments of need for placement support where appropriate.

Maintain and update case notes and write reports as required. Undertake detailed recording in line with departmental procedures.

To mobilise a support service for placements and ensure that plans are made which include appropriate support packages.

Liaise and network with other agencies involved in the provision of services for Children Looked After including co working with other professionals.

To participate in training to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

Undertaking placement support with a view to meeting the identified needs of each child through liaison with social workers, carers, service providers and others as appropriate in each case.

Contribute to meetings relating to the placements of children and young people, where required.

Comply with and understand Leeds City Council child protection procedures and act as appropriate regarding matters of child safety, protection, and well-being.

Understand the National Minimum Standards and regulations regarding fostering and residential services and ensure they are maintained for all placements.

Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.

Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, diversity and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.

Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Substantial experience or qualification in childcare, counselling, teaching, nursing, social work or similar.

A good standard of education and relevant qualifications to social care and administration are desirable.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Negotiation and mediation skills.
• Highly organised working practices.
• Good telephone and listening skills.
• Able to communicate and engage effectively with a wide range of professionals and carers in order to produce positive outcomes.
• Able to build working relationships with colleagues and be able to work as part of a team.
• Able to work on own initiative and manage own workload effectively.
• Able to analyse problems and offer creative solutions within available resources and financial constraints.
• Able to deal sensitively with conflict and challenge.
• Able to manage constant and often conflicting demands.
• Ability to be innovative and creative when working with children and families.
• Ability to make proactive use of supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to working with families.
• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Good Information Technology skills and the ability to use electronic mail (e-mail) referral system.
• Able to be flexible in approach to out of hours working.
• Able to acquire skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis in relation to the post.

Knowledge Required;

• Knowledge of theories and practice relating to child development, parenting skills and strategies.
• Knowledge of relevant childcare legislation and research theory and practice relating to Children Looked After (e.g., separation and loss, attachment disorders, bereavement, etc).
• Understanding of the role of social workers; foster carers; residential workers, residential services provision for children and relevant legislation.
• Understanding of the interface between Local Authority provision and the independent sectors.
• Understanding and awareness of the diversity of physical, emotional, health, cultural and social needs of children.

Experience Required;

• Substantial experiences in direct child and/or family related work. This could include childcare, social work, education, early years, counselling, fostering and adoption, youth justice, sports, therapeutic, drug and alcohol, residential and family support services.
• Experience of working within a challenging environment with competing demands.
• Experience of workload management and ability to prioritise tasks.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics;

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.