Lead Practitioner

Job Description

Changing lives takes a little time and space. Part of CrossReach Childrens Services, our Community Team in partnership with local agencies, supports young people to be a part of community life. By adopting a child-centred approach our team works with the whole-child, focusing on improving relationshipsand enhancing personal development.As a mentor for children in residential care you will undertake key-worker responsibilities for individual children. This will involve assessing needs, creating and maintaining Care Plans and identifying strategies for positive outcomes.We are looking for an HNC Social Care and SVQ Level 3 qualification and experience in a care/education role. You will also need a full driving licence. Counselling skills and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy [DDP] Level 1 or equivalent would be an advantage.In return we offer a benefits package that includes an employer contributory pension and generous holiday allowance. Well also make sure you have all the training and development you need, not only so you can do a great job, but to help you build yourcareer with us too.If you would like to talk to someone about the types of opportunities we have, or have any other questions, please contact . Main Function All those employed within the CrossReach Children & Family Services will, with a commitment to our Christian values, work as part of a holistic team to deliver a service that ensures that the needs of the children, young people and their families that wesupport, are fully met. You will be expected to work to the highest professional standards of those working within the Childrens workforce and adhere to professional codes of practice of SSSC, GTCS and other relevant professional bodies; ensuring that theaims and objectives of CrossReach and those specific to Children & Family Services and the section within which you are based are met.All adults within our services, regardless of specific job remit & role, have a responsibility to promote a Therapeutic Environment and contribute to the Relational Health of children and young people in our services and have an understanding of how theirrole contributes. The following values and attributes are applicable to all those employed within Children & Family services and not solely to those whose primary role is to support the direct care and education of children and young people.In undertaking your role you will be expected to demonstrate, from an asset/strengths based approach the following core principles:Inclusion: Understanding that our role is to include those who, for whatever reason, have been excluded from the mainstream of our society through

1. The impact that past experiences have on how individuals understand themselves and the world around them
2. Understanding that our role is to provide positive experiences which can start to heal past harm and build trust through positive and genuine relationships with children, young people and their families
3. Being mindful in all our interactions of language usedboth words and tone; body language of stance & facial expression and how this may be perceived by others, based on their past experiences
4. Being aware that your own past experiences has had an impact on who you are

Relational Health: understanding the impact of our relationships and interactions with those around us, including:

1. The impact that past experiences have on how individuals understand themselves and the world around them
2. Understanding that our role is to provide positive experiences which can start to heal past harm and build trust through positive and genuine relationships with children, young people and their families
3. Being mindful in all our interactions of language usedboth words and tone; body language of stance & facial expression and how this may be perceived by others, based on their past experiences
4. Being aware that your own past experiences has had an impact on who you are

Advocating: Understanding that our role is to ensure that all needs are met:

1. Explaining all decisions that affect individuals as well as the implications of these decisions in a way that they are able to understand.
2. Being aware of who else and what other agencies can support individuals to have their needs met
3. Supporting children, young people and their families to be able to communicate and express their emotions, feelings and needs in a constructive approach

The above core attributes takes cognisance of

• CrossReach Values
• CrossReach Children & Families Services Values & Ethos statement
• Getting It Right For Every Child
• Curriculum for Excellence
• Common Core of Skills, Knowledge & Understanding and Values for the Childrens Workforce in Scotland

Main Duties To implement and uphold the aims, objectives, policies and procedures of CrossReach and Children and Family ServicesTo meet the care needs of children and young people, as their residential care mentor you will:1. Ensure that children & young peoples primary care needs are fully met:

• Safety
• Health,
• Active
• Nurtured
• Achieving
• Respected
• Responsible
• Included

2. Undertake Keyworker responsibilities in relation to individual children and young people.This will include working in partnership with the child, young person, their family and other support agencies. Keyworkers will also be expected to prepare relevantreports as well as generally manage the implementation and maintenance of a care and education plan. Working within GIRFEC & CFE legislation specific tasks will include:

Assessment of individual needs

Creating and maintaining Care Plans, Risk assessments, Crisis management plan

Identifying strategies to support individual children & young people achieve positive outcomes

Implement, monitor & evaluate individual care plansLead Individual & Group wo