Job title: Young Carer Support Practitioner
Reporting to: Head of Service Delivery (YC/PC)
Work base: Sanford House, Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 1HE
Hours of work: 18 hours per week
Duration: Part-time, Two-Year Contract
Job purpose: To work as a member of the support work team offering practical and emotional support to young carers (aged 5 – 17) who are responsible for caring for a parent, sibling, or other family member with physical or learning disabilities, long term illness, mental health problems or substance misuse.
Direct reports: None
Salary: £11,909 pro rata (£24,480 FTE)

Specific Tasks

• Receive referrals and requests for service and complete appropriate assessment paperwork with young carers. This will involve undertaking school and home visits as a lone worker.
• Provide young carers with support and advice, and possible one to one support, as appropriate to the person’s situation, making referrals to suitable external services as needed.
• Manage a caseload to ensure that individual young carers are supported appropriately.
• Keep up-to-date records of contact with young carers and comply with SCC monitoring and information systems including database input of relevant information on individual young carers.
• Deliver or support during young carer groups and holiday activities that provide opportunities for young carers to have respite, socialise and meet identified outcomes, whilst adhering to the group risk assessment and following internal Safeguarding policies.
• Record information and feedback before and after each session to ensure any concerns or incidents are addressed promptly.

Relationships

• Work collaboratively with all Swindon Carers Centre staff, volunteers, and students, exchanging professional knowledge, experience, mutual support, and service development.
• Work alongside external agencies and schools to ensure multi-agency working to highlight and support the needs of young carers.
• Support the Centre in the production of performance reports and other Centre information as required.

Other

• Contribute to promotion of Swindon Carers Centre activities and campaigns.
• Attend meetings, conferences, and training relevant to the role, as and when required and appropriate.
• To understand and commit to equal opportunities and will take an active role in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organisation.
• To role model the Swindon Carers Centre Behaviours Framework at all times.
• To recognise, support, and embrace the Mission and Values of Swindon Carers Centre.
• To have a commitment to your own personal development, a willingness to participate in individual supervision, and to undertake relevant training opportunities.

Special Conditions

• Swindon Carers Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults with care and support needs and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• Team working is essential to the smooth running of the organisation. It is the nature of the work that at times, responsibilities and tasks may be unpredictable and varied. Where the occasion arises, staff are expected to work in a flexible way. Any additional duties will normally be compatible with regular working and the need to provide service continuity. If the additional responsibility or task becomes a regular or frequent part of the employee’s activities, it will be reviewed to assess whether it should be included in the job description in consultation with the employee.
• A driving license and access to a vehicle, insured for business use, is required for this post.
• Flexible working hours including some evenings may be required.
• Due to the nature of our work with vulnerable individuals an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required for this post.
• All staff are expected to:
  
  • prepare for and participate in regular supervision sessions and the annual appraisal process as part of their performance management, and to support further personal development and training opportunities,
  • carry out their duties and responsibilities with due regard to the policies and procedures of Swindon Carers Centre.