The Westminster Society

Children, Youth and Family Services

Youth Team Leader for Westminster

JOB DESCRIPTION

Accountable to: The Youth Team Manager

Responsible for: Delivering youth services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 13 years+.

Enabling young people with SEND to engage with and transition into universal youth provision.

To work with the Team Manager to develop and deliver high quality youth activities and programmes within safe, secure and supportive specialist and mainstream environments for young people with SEND and in partnership with other providers, in a range of local and community settings.

To provide effective operational support to the youth work team so as to facilitate the delivery of innovative and engaging youth work programmes / activities that support the development of social and emotional capabilities of young people with SEND.

Work in close partnership with Statutory Services, becoming part of the ‘team around the youth’ approach.

To work as part of an integrated management team within Children, Youth and Family Services

Main Objectives: To work in partnership with young people with SEND so that they are actively involved in planning, developing, shaping and delivering provision, ensuring that all programmes and activities are led by young peoples’ needs and interests

Work towards all activities and programmes being co-produced with young people; ensuring that their assets and capabilities are recognized and nurtured and that the youth work team works with young people in equal ways, respecting and valuing each others unique contributions.

Offering a personalized approach to providing youth activities; seeing each young person as an individual with strengths, preferences, aspirations and putting them at the centre of the process of identifying their needs and enabling them to make informed choices.

To work with the Team Manager to ensure youth services enable the young people with SEND to reach their full potential with exciting and challenging opportunities for extended learning and development that supports progression.

of 6 Work in partnership to ensure that all activities reflect individual, family and cultural needs and the local wider communities.

Maintaining a warm, friendly and welcoming environment at all times for young people, their families and local partners.

Work with the Team Manager to maintain regular monitoring, evaluation and critical reflection with staff and young people, ensuring continuous improvement.

Work with the Team Manager to ensure that programmes and activities meet internal, local and national standards.

Providing cover during periods of absence and providing input to our youth services is required as part of the management team.

Limits of Authority: To work within the agreed framework of the Westminster Society’s policies, procedures and guidelines, including adhering to budgets and all relevant legislation / standards

Approval of the Director of Children, Youth and Family Services is sought before:  Committing the Society to any capital expenditure.  Changing the established practices of the organisation outside of agreed delegated authority.  Altering the guidelines, procedures and policies of the Society

Managing Diversity: All Westminster Society employees are expected to work individually and collectively to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to working with others from a variety of cultures and backgrounds where the work of others are valued and respected; all employees are expected therefore to carry out their tasks within the terms and intention of the Society’s Managing Diversity, Core Values and Confidentiality Policies, the Employees Code of Conduct and in accordance with meeting Ofsted standards

Key Areas of Work: The post is full time but a degree of flexibility is required as delivery will vary according to the need of the actual programme / activities being offered at any one time. Evening and weekend work will form part of the service delivery.

To maintain the right resources so that all young people have equal opportunity to make choices, have friends and have access to services / activities that are planned with them and adapted to meet their specific educational and learning needs by implementing use of appropriate tools such as PECS and visual timetables. Support the team manager so that the team is skilled in meeting care needs such as personal care and medication / health needs.

Develop close working relationships with youth providers, with families and statutory and voluntary agencies, promoting effective working partnerships and so there are supportive, smooth and consistent transitions and communication systems in place.

of 6 To work with partners in universal settings to help their staff increase in confidence and knowledge in working with young people with SEND, modeling best practice and to support the Team Manager in providing training, advice and guidance as required.

Lead direct face to face work with young people modeling good quality skills; facilitating team work, inclusion, co-production and partnership approaches.

Support the Team Manager to implement effective planning that enables structure, routine, consistency and target setting for young people that is responsive to their ambitions and raises aspirations

Work with the Team Manager to maintain monitoring and evaluation processes to produce evidence of outcomes in order to be able to evidence the effectiveness of the service.

Support the Team Manager in the management the referral process for accessing services

Facilitate effective use of equipment and resources and facilities within the Westminster Society and with partners.

To liaise, by providing reports or attending meetings as necessary, with statutory and other providers in order to better support young people and families. In particular in areas of transition and in to adult services

To attend internal and external meetings and to represent the Team Manager when required

Support the Team Manager in managing staff rota’s so as to ensure that activities have appropriate team skills mix required and ensuring that staff have the ability to support young people with complex learning, communication and physical disabilities.

Administration and Finance Ensure a high standard of administrative efficiency which includes ensuring financial controls are observed in line with budget limits.

Develop and maintain necessary records in line with the Westminster Society’s standards, maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality

Ensure personal information records are kept up to date and all required monitoring is completed

Health & Safety: Ensure Health and Safety policies and all other policies, procedures and guidelines are adhered to.

Ensure the general well being, safety and security of everyone who uses the service and maintain high standards of health, safety and hygiene.

Participate in the development and implementation of health and safety policies and procedures.

of 6 To have a well informed and up to date knowledge of the London Safeguarding Children’s Board Child Protection Procedures and all issues and guidance relating to Every Child Matters, Youth Matters, Children’s ACT, Ofsted Standards and Children and Families Act and SEND Reforms

Supervision and Training Participate in individual supervisions and appraisals in line with the Westminster Society’s standards.

Assess and identify own training in order to plan and implement training strategies to address areas of need.

In order to deliver services effectively a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to the above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the post.

September 2015

of 6 Youth Team Leader for Islington

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualities Essential Assessment Criteria Education / Qualifications 1 A recognized youth qualification to NVQ Level 3 Application form, along with experience of working with young people qualifications with SEND. evidence references Experience 2 Delivering youth activities / programmes that enable Application form, young people with disabilities to be equal partners in assessment planning, design and delivery centre, written test 3 Experience of partnership working and the Application form, understanding of the needs that arise during assessment adolescence for young people with disabilities centre, written test incliding the issues that arise during transition in to adulthood / services Skills 4 Ability to model positive practice; supporting the Application form, team and universal youth providers to be motivated assessment and engaged while ensuring that all young people’s centre, individual identity is respected, maintained and written test enhanced and specific needs are met. 5 Time management skills; ability to organise own Application form, workload, work on own initiative and respond to assessment deadlines and meet targets as required. centre, references 6 Strong communication skills and a person centred Application form, approach; with the ability to communicate effectively assessment to a variety of different groups such as young centre, people, parents, and other professionals 7 Ability to involve and work with young people so that Application form, they can evaluate activities and shape further assessment centre progress Knowledge 8 Knowledge of the Children and Families Act and Application form, SEND Reforms, assessment centre 9 An understanding of health and safety requirements Application form, and an ability to ensure implementation of all assessment centre relevant health and safety policies, procedures and guidelines 10 Can demonstrate understanding of the London Application form, Safeguarding Children’s Board Child Protection assessment centre, Procedures, alongside knowledge of own and staff written test responsibilities and how to apply these.

of 6 Motivation and Disposition 11 Commitment to and understanding of equal Assessment centre opportunities, diversity and social inclusion and how to apply 12 Flexible, positive, supportive can-do approach and Assessment centre responsive in a crisis.

September 2015