Outreach Coordinator

The Role: Outreach Co-ordinator Location: South East London Salary: £27,000 - £30,000 (depending on experience) Hours: Shift based (Full Time 40+ hours) Do you possess a NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or working towards it? Do you have experience of working with young people (16 – 25 years old)? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. OwnLife Group is looking to appoint an Outreach Worker to join our team. Reporting to the manager, you will be responsible for safeguarding and promoting young people’s welfare. If you are keen on joining this exciting, forward-thinking company and taking the next step in your career, then please click the apply now button to find out more. Please note, you will be required to complete an application form as the next step in this process should you be shortlisted, in line with our safer recruitment policy. The Company: OwnLife Group is an independent organisation committed to providing children and young people with a caring environment in which they can achieve independence and fulfil their personal goals. We have a number of outreach/standalone homes across Southeast London. Our name reflects our aim which is to inspire the children and young people placed in our care to “own” and take control of their “own lives”. Young people are most likely to realise these goals if they are treated with respect and dignity and share with their carers, high expectations for the future. We believe our staff deserve the same quality of life and we ensure this by supporting them so that they, in turn, can support the young people in their care and their own families at the same time. Key Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of an Outreach Worker, but are not limited to: * Responsible for Young People living in outreach/stand-alone accommodation provided by OwnLife Limited * Support, advise and ensure the needs of young people living in out reach/stand-alone accommodation are met * Ensure that OwnLife Ltd consistently provides a high quality of service to its users and remains economically viable * Inform and carry out delegated tasks as required by OwnLife Ltd and the Senior Outreach Co-ordinator * Act as a Key Worker for a specified number of young people, undertaking all necessary work as appropriate including: ensuring their pastoral and physical needs are met; compiling reports and file records and ensuring the young person has an understanding of their reports and assessments before they are made public in order that they can contribute in a positive manner to any review meetings and to their individual programmes * Contribute to relevant plans*, programmes and contracts for a specified number of young people and be responsible for the execution of such plans through working directly under the guidance of the Outreach Management Team, Consultants to OwnLife Ltd, colleagues and professionals from other agencies * Liaise with the young person’s family and Social Worker/Personal Advisor regularly, and work in partnership to fulfil the requirements of the relevant plans* * Attend planning meetings, conferences, child protection meetings, courts, and if required, prepare and present reports at those meetings and courts * Ensure that where necessary, appropriate legal representation is obtained * Undertake all work within OwnLife Ltd policy, procedure and operational guidelines, ensuring that the main focus of all work is in line with the young person’s relevant plans* * Assist in identifying and supporting young people to engage in appropriate leisure and social activities * Acknowledging the needs of isolated or vulnerable young people and identify resources to meet those needs * Ensuring that young people have the necessary life skills to live independently and that they are fully aware of any benefits to which they are entitled and are claiming these * Play an active part in teaching and assessing a structured programme of personal problem solving and social skills, including self-care and hygiene and developing independent living skills * Supporting young people to maintain benefit claims, and having an understanding of the UC process and DWP * Ensuring that young people are supported to engage in education, training or employment * Ensure a high standard of record keeping and an impeccable standard of confidentiality * Keep up to date with current legislation and guidelines relating to the care of young people * Provide cover for absent colleagues as required, within the department. * Attend training opportunities as required, and to develop knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to working with young people * Attend structured supervision sessions, play an active part in drawing up a supervision contract and agenda with the supervisor, and contribute to quality assurance standards by giving the supervisor and management feed-back on how useful the supervision has been * Attend team meetings and take minutes when required to do so * Ensure the proper use of information technology including CHARMS, inputting and receiving data as required * Actively promote and adhere to OwnLife’s Equal Opportunities Policy * Be aware of and ensure of their responsibilities in regard to safeguarding and protecting the young people in our care as part of their initial induction and through regular supervision * To be aware of and implement the OwnLife ‘Whistle Blowing policy’ if necessary and appropriate to do so * Ensure a high degree of awareness of both OwnLife Ltd and individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, ensuring that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for all persons involved with OwnLife Ltd. * Carry out such other duties which are within the competency of the post holder which they may be asked to perform from time to time * Ensure an impeccable and accurate standard ofconfidentiality and record keeping is maintained * This job description may change in the light of future developments within OwnLife Ltd or in relation to future changes in legislation or practice guidelines. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder The Person: The key skills and qualities of a Outreach Coordinator: NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or currently working towards this qualification (essential) Must have at least 2 years’ experience working with young people (16 – 25 years old) (essential) Worked in an out reach/standalone setting with young people who present challenging behaviour Experience of working with young people in a similar capacity Ability to engage young people, meet their physical and psychological needs Ability to work in partnership with other professionals and with the parent(s) carer(s) of the young people in our care Understanding of professional boundaries with young people Ability to work in a team. Good numeracy and literacy skills OwnLife Group is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all of its employees to share this commitment. This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced check by the Disclosure & Barring Service