Personal Advisor – Leaving Care Team

Personal advisors in the Leaving Care service provide practical help and direct support to young people and young adults using the service from age 18.

They are required to manage an agreed caseload of young people in compliance with casework objectives, departmental policy and procedural requirements, consistently maintaining the highest level of professional standards.

The Personal Advisor will safeguard and promote the welfare of young people, giving due consideration to their race, culture, religion and linguistic background.

They will use agreed assessment frameworks in collaboration with the individual to robustly assess their needs and to develop corresponding Pathway Plans setting out clear goals and who is going to provide assistance.

They will ensure the mental, physical and sexual health needs of young people are assessed and met and to assist them in accessing health services, local leisure facilities, social networks and other community facilities and links.

They will identify accommodation needs and assist young people in securing appropriate accommodation options, whilst ensuring the educational, training and employment needs of young people are assessed and met.

The Personal Advisor will also ensure that young people who are seeking asylum, or who have an unresolved immigration status, have good quality legal representation to help them with their applications and to maintain contact with the immigration authorities. They will help young people with the resettlement process and transition to benefits after they are granted leave to remain in the UK.

To be successful:

  • For this role you will need You will have a Qualification in Youth Work or a related field eg. NVQ4 Guidance, Youth and Community Work and have experience of working with Children Looked After, UASC and care leavers.
  • Experience of direct work with young people in formal and informal settings, including needs assessment, care planning and providing advice, counselling and support and developing and applying effective mechanisms to engage young people in service.
  • Experience of building strong partnerships, maintaining relationships and co-producing solutions to challenges across a diverse set of stakeholders, including children, young people and their families. Advocating the voices of those we are working with.
  • Proven ability to effectively use data, intelligence and evidence to create meaningful insight and to inform own decision making addressing specific equality or diversity issues within your practice with colleagues/service users and taking action to solve them.
  • Experience of keeping and maintaining records (in accordance with local policy) and producing accurate reports, presentations, written updates to a range of stakeholders (which may include families, children or young people).
  • Knowledge of statutory legislation (for example Children’s Act) and national policy drivers that will affect children’s services and your role.
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    Benefits of Working for Kingston + Richmond:

  • 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years.
  • Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
  • Stable and supportive leadership
  • Hybrid and mobile working (between home and work) with latest technology to facilitate this
  • Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
  • Flexible working options – helping to keep a good work life balance
  • A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
  • A range of staff benefits and discounts
  • An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway