Job description

Job responsibilities

My job makes better lives by supporting vulnerable childrenand young people where there are multi-agency concerns about their ability toaccess emotional wellbeing and mental health support which could significantlyenhance their ability to reach their full potential. My role will be vital inengaging vulnerable children and young people across Surrey who are not ineducation or employment, have experienced inequality and cannot otherwise be supportedby services.

Job Overview

This role will be part of the AssertiveEngagement Pathway within the Reaching Out Service. The Reaching Out servicefocuses on engaging and supporting the most isolated and vulnerable childrenand young people through a multi-agency network. The Assertive EngagementPathway focuses on supporting those children and young people who are notcurrently in contact with services including those not in education, employmentor training, those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and those underYouth Offending Services.

The Reaching Out Mental Health Practitionerwill work with children and young people from the ages of 8 to 25 thatcurrently arent attending school or in employment. They will assist them to engagein education or training school, access support from appropriate services andultimately achieve and maintain their independence in the community. A key partof this role is building relationshipsand trust with children and young people. An important requirement of asuccessful candidate is the ability to creatively adapt their approach toengage with each individual and be approachable, friendly and tenacious.Through building a trusting relationship, the Reaching Out Mental HealthPractitioner will be able to develop a deeper understanding of the needs of thechildren and young people and being able to signpost or refer to moreappropriate services. This role will involve outreach into the community tomeet children and young people in their own environments.

Key Responsibilities

To hold an individual complex caseload.

Being comfortable lone working with children and youngpeople.

Ability to engage and build relationships with vulnerablechildren and young people, who will often have complex backgrounds.

Persistence and tenacity in building rapport andrelationships with children and young people, who struggle to communicate andtrust.

Being able to think creatively about how to engage withvulnerable children and young people.

Good understanding of broad age range, life stage, andability to adapt approach to suit needs.

Being a consistent and reliable advocate/voice for a youngperson.

Understanding a young persons needs/challenges andsignposting to appropriate services to support that young person.

Understanding of the school system and linking in with theschools and wider support networks to create an action to plan to re-engagechildren in school.

To liaise with colleagues and other professionals oragencies as required, including attending case conferences, planning meetingsetc.

Being able to work with families in a way which is helpfulto that young person.

Being willing to do outreach work and travel across thecounty to see young people within their environments such as home, park, cafes.

Must hold a current driving license and have access to a carfor work purposes.

IT skills including ability to use a computer.

Ability to accurately and concisely document notes and risksonto system after sessions.

Ability to conduct risk assessments, identify changes toclinical risk and implement actions to ensure a persons safety.

Knowledge of responsibilities in relation to the ChildrensAct.

Knowledge and awareness of Safeguarding procedures and theexperience of developing a plan of care to safeguard an adult or child.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 2-year post qualification experience of working in the community with young people with mental health difficulties and their families.

    • Experience

    Essential

  • Experience of and ability to undertake:
  • Mental Health Assessments.
  • Risk Assessment and implementation of risk management plans.
  • Use of outcome measures to evidence good practice.
  • Demonstrable expertise working with young people aged between 8 and 16

    • Desirable

  • Suitable for someone who has excellent communication skills and an adaptable, non-judgmental approach enabling them to establish rapport and trust with vulnerable children and young people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Lived experience or awareness of the broad range of challenges these vulnerable young people face such as bullying, risk exploitation, traumatic events, poor support, criminal activity, county lines and gang culture, is essential. Successful candidates will have the ability to work well individually and as a member of a multidisciplinary team whilst knowing their own limitations.

    • Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

  • 2-year post qualification experience of working in the community with young people with mental health difficulties and their families.

    • Experience

    Essential

  • Experience of and ability to undertake:
  • Mental Health Assessments.
  • Risk Assessment and implementation of risk management plans.
  • Use of outcome measures to evidence good practice.
  • Demonstrable expertise working with young people aged between 8 and 16

    • Desirable

  • Suitable for someone who has excellent communication skills and an adaptable, non-judgmental approach enabling them to establish rapport and trust with vulnerable children and young people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Lived experience or awareness of the broad range of challenges these vulnerable young people face such as bullying, risk exploitation, traumatic events, poor support, criminal activity, county lines and gang culture, is essential. Successful candidates will have the ability to work well individually and as a member of a multidisciplinary team whilst knowing their own limitations.