Children's Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Children's Support Worker to join our Homelessness service in Tower Hamlets.

£13,676.00 per annum, working 20 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're part of one team? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

To offer practical and emotional support to children and young people aged 0-16 years, who are living with the effects of Domestic Abuse and Violence, and overcoming the traumatic impact on their lives. The support is offered during their time in the refuge, through the transition from refuge to their new home and ongoing support in the community. Support is also offered to children who live in the wider community who access the service independently. To liaise and work together with all other agencies involved with the families, in order to meet their ongoing needs appropriately and effectively. The post is restricted to females only due to the nature of the role. The occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

* To ensure that the needs of children and young people in the refuge are assessed as part of admission and the duration of their stay
* To plan and implement a programme of therapeutic and recreational activities for children and young people living both at the refuge and in the community, as well as play-work and activity trips * To provide individual, age appropriate key working sessions for children of all ages. With a focus on safeguarding, including risk and safety planning, emotional & physical health & wellbeing, education and social & family networks
* To encourage and support mothers to build loving and consistent relationships with their children * To work in partnership with all agencies in relation to safeguarding children following both local and national approaches around Early Help Assessments, CIN, TAF and Child Protection Protocols
* To act as the Lead Practitioner in early help assessments and using early help principles to develop support plans for sub-threshold families, ensuring effective multi-agency involvement.
* To write and contribute to the completion of Reports for Courts and Children's Social Care Conferences and meetings regarding the families, when required.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Flexible
* Open to feedback and self development
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments Mission & Values 'Working with people to make choices, achieve goals and take control of their live through high quality care, support and housing'
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description.