Do you have relevant experience of working with children and young people with a disability/and or autism or relevant experience in a similar sector or work environment?

About Aberlour Options Fife - Respite and Outreach

Options Fife Respite and Outreach provides a range of flexible support through outreach and overnight short breaks at weekends, evenings and school holidays to children and young people with complex learning disabilities and autism. We offer a high-quality child centred service providing positive and enabling experiences for the young people, supporting them through the challenges and complexities that enable them to work towards their individual outcomes and personal goals. We work closely with families and other professionals in providing support tailored around the child’s plan.

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit a Young People’s Worker to work 24 hours per week. You will play a fundamental role in ensuring that the young people you work with have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives in line with their care plan, supporting children to progress within their individual outcomes. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on each young person's progress. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal, and emotional care. We support young people who have epilepsy, need personal care and need gastrostomy feeding. Aberlour, in conjunction with NHS, provides all staff with training.

We are looking for candidates who have a passion for working with young people with disabilities. It is desired but not essential that candidates hold a relevant qualification at an SCQF level 7 or above. Due to SSSC requirements you may be required to gain qualifications after starting with Aberlour.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.

Do you want to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with a learning disability and or Autism?

We have an exciting opportunity for a family focused, warm friendly, resourceful and empathetic individual to join our newly extended Disability Service as a Family Worker.

About Options Fife

At Options Fife we have been providing person centred services to children and young people with a learning disability and/or Autism for over 25 years. Our Family Workers enhance the existing provision offered, enabling whole family support for children and families with complex learning needs.

What we are looking for....

As a Family Worker, you will offer emotional and direct practical help to families experiencing short- or long-term challenges. You will work with families; identifying areas where support is required, working with them to co-produce a family support plan which will be individually tailored to their child’s and family’s needs. You will agree outcomes and personal goals within the child’s plan.

The role of the Family Worker will be diverse and wide ranging and will include the following:

• Promote and develop healthy routines, including sleep.

• Provide practical support with personal care.

• Support the development of play routines.

• Support parents to address difficulties and reduce risks.

• Build upon parents existing knowledge and equip them with enabling strategies and tools.

• Support families to have positive and rewarding relationships.

• Support families to implement structure, identify triggers and understand the function and purpose of their child’s behaviour and reduce challenges from escalating.

• Along with families, liaise and work with partners and colleagues from Social Work, Health and Education to assess, review and evaluate progress.

• You will have experience of supporting children and families with a learning disability and Autism. You will have up-to-date knowledge of best practice and supporting tools and interventions.

You will manage your own diary, and your hours will be 37.5 per week, worked flexibly between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday. The days and hours worked will be agreed with families within the family support plan. There may also occasionally be a need to provide additional support out with these times and to be able to respond to crises and family stress.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team of dedicated staff supporting children and families to maintain or rebuild relationships with missing family members after parental separation or relationship breakdown. The role provides an interesting variety of family support interventions including working in our child contact centres as the Family Connection Lead worker (we refer to child contact as our Family Connections service); one-to-one work with children in our All About Me Voice of the Child service; and developing focussed project and group work.

Our Family Connections service supports families through a child’s rights lens to support families move towards independent co-parenting solutions with the child’s needs at the heart of decision making. You will work as part of a staff team, on shift, with families referred via the family court system, or via self-referrals, to ensure safe supervised and supported child contact can be facilitated. You will have excellent relational skills and experience of working with both children and parents/carers. As Lead Worker you will have responsibility for families matched to you through our referrals and allocations process and ensure each family member is fully prepared for support, nurtured throughout their Family Connections journey, ensure reviews are timely, and that all work supports steps towards positive outcomes for children.

Currently the project part of this role is funded to develop our commitment to care experienced children and young people through The Promise. We seek someone with experience in participation and engagement practice and skills to organise small connection events. You should have experience of developing projects, collecting accurate data, and contributing to the impact assessment and reporting of the project. You should also have experience of working with external stakeholders, ideally social workers, solicitors and other third sector partners. Please note the funding through The Promise ends in Jan 2025 hence the temporary nature of this role. It is anticipated further project funding will be available after this time.

The role will also involve nurturing one-to-one support through our All About Me Voice of the Child service which adopts a therapeutic approach to support the child understand more about their family story, safely explore their feelings and opinions, and explore options for next steps. Sometimes our children voice they are not ready to see family members due to previous trauma, it is our duty to ensure this voice is heard by decision makers, including parents and family court Sheriffs.

The Organisation:

Family Journeys are a forward-thinking organisation who work with and alongside children and families as they navigate changes to their family because of separation and relationship breakdown. Often our families have experienced high levels of conflict and children and parent relationships have become negatively impacted by adversity and change. We start our engagement with every family believing in success and achieving positive outcomes for children. Family Journeys provide professional Family Mediation services, Family Connections services, All About Me Voice of the Child services, individual parent support, and group or project work provision to support families find solutions. We proudly adapt our services to meet the needs of our children and families in response to lived experience feedback.

Family Journeys are a small organisation doing big things across Edinburgh and The Lothians. We belief the biggest difference comes from attention to the smallest details. We always think ‘child first’. So, if you are kind and compassionate, skilled in building relationships and see the person not the problem, if you share our commitment to involving children as active decision makers in their own care arrangements that will forever impact on their family relationships – then we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity:

We are looking to employ at 6-18 hours per week however we would be willing to discuss hours at interview. The role is fully funded until January 2025 with continued funding anticipated.

This role will be over 1-3 days per week and will be on shift in our Family Connections service which operate Thursday – Sunday. One weekend day will be required. We work with staff to ensure best fit with your circumstances and the needs of the organisation to set an agreed working pattern to a fixed rota across the staff team. Project and Development hours will be worked flexibly to meet the needs of our children and families. This may include outreach family support and group work. You will have flexibility to manage these hours across the rest of your week with compressed hours an option.

Family Journeys offer you a competitive salary with annual incremental growth, generous annual leave entitlement (35 days pro rata inclusive of 9 public holidays and 1 annual wellbeing day) and a contributory pension scheme.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

Bilston Residential Service is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for a young girl with a learning disability and ASD. Our newly renovated house is designed to support her in having a fulfilling and active life, both within her home and in the wider community. We understand and appreciate her unique personality and strive to create a space where she can thrive and be supported with her individual needs.

Our young person loves the outdoors and especially enjoys local walks in the woods, regardless of the weather! In the house a range of activities will be planned to provide engagement, physical activity and to meet sensory needs. She loves regular visits from her mother and father that may include going for walks and eating out.

Our staff are expected to be creative and innovative in their approach to supporting our young people in making positive choices and achieving their personal goals. We value patience and resilience, especially when dealing with challenging behaviours, and strive to create a nurturing environment that promotes independence and fosters positive experiences and skill developments.

At Bilston, we believe allowing staff to choose between single or double shifts allows more flexibility and a better work/life balance. A suggested shift pattern of working 2 long days one week and 3 long days the next week provides a good work-life balance while on FT contracts. This, alongside the opportunity to support a wonderful YP with lots of potential makes Bilson a very desirable place to work.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities for the role are;

• Help young people in all aspects of their daily lives.
• Have good communication skills and the ability to engage well with both young people, colleagues and other professionals.
• Be a creative thinker and having a solution focused approach.
• Use your skills, knowledge and experience to meet the needs of young people.

Let's talk about you

• A positive approach, providing a fun environment for all the children in our care.
• Ideally, a HNC and SVQ 3 in a social care discipline (or a qualification which would meet the registration requirements) or a commitment to working towards these.
• Experience of working with children and young people, or vulnerable adults
• Safeguarding knowledge.

Good to know

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Benefits:29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, Blue Light card, excellent training and developments opportunities, professional qualifications, excellent training and development opportunities, flexible maternity, adoption and paternity packages, up to 7% employer contribution pension, discount portal with your favourite brands.