Sessional Support Workers work within the Family Support Services Team. The Family Support Services Team at SBH Scotland have the key aims of:

• Increasing awareness and understanding of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus across Scotland so that those affected are empowered and supported appropriately to achieve their potential.
• Offering support to children, young people, adults, their families and carers affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus so that they have resilience and are empowered to live as independently as possible.

Family Support Services use a person-centred approach to tailor information and appropriately support according to individual need. SBH Scotland works in partnership with other agencies to provide information and support throughout the lifespan.

The Sessional Support Worker Role:

To provide appropriate support to children/young people/adults affected by Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus in a variety of settings, this could be 1-to-1 work but will focus mainly on group work.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and facilitate support groups, outings and other events as required
• Coordinate and facilitate groups according to needs; promoting independence, self management and peer support
• Facilitate and encourage the personal and social development of SBH Scotland members
• Establish and maintain effective communications and working relationships with partner agencies and colleagues to promote the wellbeing of service users.
• To maintain confidentiality with regard to sensitive personal information relating to individual users of the service
• To attend training as required and as identified through supervision and appraisal
• To liaise regularly with the Team Lead, and to attend and participate in staff team meetings
• All employees are expected to abide by Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland’s policies and procedures.
• Undertake other duties that may reasonably be requested by Team Lead

Accountable to: Senior Support Lead

Hours: Zero Hours Contract paid at £13.72 per hour. Travel Expenses Paid.

Hours will vary depending on activities, individual work, training and meetings. Work may be out with normal office hours, including evening and weekends therefore flexibility is a necessity.

Person Specification

Qualifications/ Education

Essential

• Higher level education

Desirable

• Educated to SVQ level 3
• Youth work experience
• Experience working with Vulnerable Adults

Knowledge Of

Essesntial

• the impact of long-term conditions and disabilities
• Able to use a database and have good knowledge of IT

Desirable

• Of the work of the voluntary sector
• Of the work of Health & Social services in relation to children, young people and adults with disabilities and their carers
• Current legislation relating to health and social care in the community

Experience

Essential

• Direct experience of;
• Working on own initiative
• Group Work

Desirable

• Multi-disciplinary working
• Working with or within the voluntary sector, social work, education, youth work, or Health and Social Care services or community provision
• Working with families with children and young people with disabilities
• Working with Adults and Carers with disabilities

Abilities and skills

• Good communication skills
• Ability to plan and organise own work
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own
• Ability to communicate well with other agencies
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Desirable

• Ability to respond positively to new situations
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Good planning and time management skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to maintain good working relationships with people at all levels.
• Confident

Desirable

• Creative
• Good sense of humour