Job Title: Development Worker Early Years Service

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Development Worker Early Years Service 16 hours per week Fife

Location: Open Secret

Base to be arranged or home based

Salary: £25,440 (pro rata)

Reporting to: Manager Children and Families

Supervisor Responsibilities: Supervision of Volunteers

Overall Purpose of the Organisation:

Open Secret is an independent, specialist resource operating from a Community Development perspective.

A wide range of services are provided to survivors of childhood abuse; to non-abusing parents of children who have experienced abuse and to other family members and partners of survivors.

Services comprise:

 Individual/groupwork  Family support  Training, support and supervision of volunteers  Resource bank of information  Raising awareness and campaigning on issues related to childhood abuse  Involvement in issue based work which tackles discrimination and disadvantage at local, national and international levels  Contributing to research and legislative changes and developments  Advocacy and sign posting to other services

Services are also offered to workers in statutory, voluntary and community settings.

Services comprise:

 Training/consultation for statutory, voluntary and community agencies  Resource bank of information  Opportunities for partnership/joint working

Job Purpose: To develop and deliver services to children aged under 8 years, and families who have experienced trauma.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Support Work

 To work with a caseload and provide a number of different approaches including counselling, play therapy, art therapy and support to children under 8 and families.  To provide intensive support to families in need  To facilitate support groups and self help groups  To provide telephone support where necessary  To record all work accurately and follow all systems regarding case note recording and monitoring and evaluation of all work carried out.  To attend, where appropriate Court, Child Protection Case Conferences and other relevant meetings in support of children and families and contribute to future planning and protective measures/risk assessments

Project Work

 To develop the service in accordance with the targets set in the Big Lottery fund  To identify partner organisations  To promote and advertise the service using a variety of formats and new technology  To liaise with identified partner organisations - especially developing links with child protection officers (Local authority)  Working creatively and in partnership to develop responsive services to children and families  To provide ad hoc consultation to other workers/volunteers and community groups providing services to survivors  To deliver training  To hold regular focus groups of children and families using a variety of tools and interventions enabling them to feedback into the service  To identify future funding streams and/or work towards sustainable services  To work with schools and nurseries to raise awareness of the signs of trauma and to identify children requiring support  To provide group sessions in schools and nurseries

Supervision of volunteers

 To support and supervise workers enabling them to deliver quality services  Identify and develop the use of volunteers case load management and group work with children and families  Provide training and information for volunteers

Service Development

 To develop and provide training internally for volunteers and staff and for statutory, voluntary and community groups on issues affecting trauma survivors which includes contributions by survivors or the voices or words of survivors.  To market the project  To work collaboratively with administrative and development workers in problem-solving, project service planning and development.  To develop a resource bank of information on issues related to working with survivors of trauma  To campaign and raise awareness of issues of survivors and the impact of abuse on communities  Other activities as determined by the exigencies of the service

Monitoring and Evaluation

 To maintain and monitor records, statistics and evaluation systems and to follow administrative procedures and systems  To use evaluation tools appropriate to children  To analyse data and produce monthly internal reports and annual reports  To consult with service users using a variety of methods; for use internally in project development and training and externally to inform political debate (see above re focus groups)  To implement and develop with the admin team relevant monitoring and evaluation systems which allow quantitative and qualitative information to be gathered  To input findings into organisational development days, staff team meetings and Board meetings

Accountability and Supervision

 To attend line management, supervision, staff team meetings as a priority

Personal Development

 To attend training in line with your personal development plan and appraisal.  To attend supervision as a priority  To acknowledge personal strengths and areas of growth or development  To be aware of vicarious trauma and work with internal and external resources to work as healthily as possible  To monitor the impact of the on the organisation (as well as self – see above) and find ways for yourself, colleagues and the organisation to maintain a positive, healthy workplace

Team Working and communication

 To work as a part of a team contributing positively and effectively  To attend staff team meetings as a priority  To produce clear, coherent and useful written and electronic/digital reports  To communicate effectively both internally and externally as an ambassador of Open Secret

 Any other duties as required

Qualifications/Skills

The Development Worker must have a qualification in Social Work, Health, Psychology, Education, Counselling or equivalent.

In addition, the following would be essential:

 A good working knowledge of the issues for children and families experiencing trauma and crisis  Experience of working with child protection policy and procedures  Knowledge and experience of child care and child protection systems and the legal frameworks affecting children, young people and families  Experience of delivering play or art therapy or willingness to attend training  Experience of family therapy or willingness to attend training  Experience of supporting young children  Experience of counselling and group work  Evidence of an ability to set up and maintain an accessible service responsive to needs  An ability to work as part of a team  Proven experience of multi-disciplinary working  An understanding of local and national political contexts and how this impacts upon voluntary and community groups and organisations  Skills and experience of group work  An ability and commitment to developing and delivering training to individuals and groups within statutory, voluntary and community settings Desirable

 A full driving license  Skills and experience of supporting and supervising volunteers

Special Features of the Post

 The post will require evening and occasional weekend work  This post is subject to a 6 month appraisal  There may be periods or occasions when lone working occurs (Open Secrets lone working policy must be followed)  You will be required to both work hard and also have fun at work