Job: Children's Services Practitioner

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Job details Job title Children's Services Practitioner Job reference HRSS003183 Date posted 05/11/2013 Application closing date 19/11/2013 Location Salary £15,948 - £17,403 pro rata Package permanent, part time, 15hrs per week Job category/type Job description Shrewsbury Shared Care is a residential short breaks Project set up by Action for Children in partnership with Shropshire Council.  The Project is located in a large bungalow in a residential area of Shrewsbury.  The bungalow is furnished and equipped to a high standard and provides short term care for up to 4 young people between the ages of 5 years and 18 years, with learning disabilities and/or multiple physical disabilities.  Placements are short term and will be under the short break arrangements and not as a permanent placement. Action for Children offer overnight breaks to meet the need of children assessed, we will accommodate young people for a minimum of 24 nights a year, depending on their needs up to a maximum of 86 nights per year. The service aims to support families and take into account the individual needs of young people, principles of ordinary living, working towards the achievement of individual potential and encouraging independence.  The Project emphasises the importance of individualised care, working in partnership with parents and young people and with maximising the potential of every young person. Young people will receive regular opportunities to participate in age appropriate leisure activities both in the Project and in the local area and to be included in the choice of these activities as far as possible. The individual physical, social and emotional needs of every young person who is cared for in the Project will be recognised and met. Parents/carers and young people will be involved whenever possible in all decisions which affect their care. In making arrangements to accommodate young people, the Project will seek (as far as is practical and within the population group) to ensure that a suitable peer group is identified for each young person and whenever possible the young person will use the same bedroom for each stay which will reflect individual preferences for activities/interests in the choice of furnishings, posters, books, music, etc. The Project bungalow will be maintained to high standards of cleanliness, decoration and furnishing which emphasise comfort and informality whilst also ensuring safety issues are not compromised. The Project will provide a service with the aim of proactively providing support for families by ensuring a consistency of staff offering an individual package tailored to their needs that includes outreach to access community activities or support in the child's home. All Children with disabilities in Shropshire to be given the choice to access appropriate high quality short breaks to maximise their potential and improve the quality of life for them and their families. Essential requirements (including minimum qualification) Needs: NVQ level 3 (or registered) Working with children, young people and families and achieving positive outcomes through support activities and intervention. Working with child protection systems and partner agencies. Applying safeguarding and child protection procedures. Working with children, young people and parents \ carers in a supportive and non judgmental manner, to support achievement of positive outcomes Working as part of a team and contributing to the team's development and achievement of objectives. Ability to use Microsoft outlook packages i.e. word, email etc. To prepare and apply a service user needs assessment, including accurate and regular retention of information To complete process and to comply with procedural expectations To deliver workload within agreed timescales. Effective written and verbal communications skills that can be varied to particular audiences. Working and educational knowledge and understanding of childcare legislation and issues To guide and direct less experienced staff. Demonstrable integration of equality and diversity into practice and service delivery Flexibility in work arrangements to ensure delivery of service, including travel and overnight stays Thorough appreciation of the need to maintain and respect confidentiality and professional boundaries. Job Description Person Spec Send to a friend Apply online