About The Job

Salary : £33,945 - £36,648 per annum

Working Pattern : Full Time (37 hours)

Contract Length : Permanent

Location : County Hall North Horsham

We are looking for a number of Personal Advisors to join our Care Leavers Service. Due to an expansion in the service, we are looking to form a new team in Horsham to support the vital work this service does in the North of the County.

The Care Leavers service work with our care leavers between the ages of 16.5-25 in their transition to adulthood. Personal Advisors support care leavers to develop the skills needed to live independently and to be aspirational in identifying and achieving their goals, including healthy living, stable homes, and good educational opportunities.

Transitioning into adulthood is a challenging time for any young people. This is especially so for our Care Leavers who have often experienced trauma and may have complex needs including mental health, substance use and offending behaviours.

To succeed, you will be able to demonstrate personal resilience, to manage the emotional demands of this role and support our Care Leavers who may have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, and discrimination.

You will be able to demonstrate you are able to respond calmly and sensitively to our Care Leavers who at times may be presenting challenging behaviours and in crisis situations.

There will be an occasional requirement to work flexibly outside of office hours to meet the needs of the care leavers. You’ll also need to be able to travel independently throughout the county, including to locations that are not always easily accessible by public transport.

There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.

Experience and Skills

Key Skills :

• Ability to analyse and interpret people-related information and data in order to prioritise needs, and to negotiate and implement effective plans for intervention and service provision.
• Ability to effectively engage and empower Care Leavers, to undertake direct work and use a range of interventions to achieve change.
• Ability to work effectively with young people in crisis and manage conflict, containing own and others’ anxieties and working within the boundaries of the role.
• Ability to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and a variety of external agencies in order to deliver the most effective service, including the ability to facilitate and co-ordinate multi-agency meetings and plans.
• Ability to work professionally, to reflect on own practice and learn from experience. To take responsibility for own performance and be proactive in relation to own work and professional development.

Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, and to seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal format, including the ability to explain complicated and contentious information to a wide range of people and negotiate and persuade others to adopt a particular course of action.

Qualifications and / or experience :

• Relevant degree, or equivalent qualification or experience, demonstrating that level of applied knowledge in providing advice and support to young people.
• Relevant postgraduate professional qualification, or equivalent qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge of legislation and national policy developments regarding youth, and their implications for practice, in particular the field of Leaving Care.
• Understanding of working with young people in crisis and the delivery of support and advice to enable and encourage them in their transition from adolescence to adulthood, maintaining a focus on the needs of the individual whilst handling conflict and disagreement.

For example, the transition from a supported living environment into a more independent environment.

• Understanding of occupational, career and other pathway opportunities for young people both locally and nationally.
• Significant experience of direct work with young people who have a range of presenting issues.
• Experience of working in a multi-agency context, demonstrating an awareness of differing roles and responsibilities and effective methods of collaboration.
• Evidence of good assessment skills, including the ability to ensure regular reviews and risk management with a variety of young people.

Evidence of effectively prioritising work and meeting deadlines.

• Evidence of working with those who access or need the service to identify issues and identify specific action by means of creative and pragmatic solutions.
• Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload.
• Valid and full driving licence.

Rewards and Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive :

• A competitive salary
• 27 days annual leave bank holidays
• A generous pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• Flexible working
• A range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers with the opportunity to save over £1,000 (Including : Argos, Samsung, Asos, B&Q and many more)
• Free access to employee assistance programmes
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres
• A range of commuting and business travel discounts and initiatives

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.