Permanent Support Worker Jobs in Bristol
Title: Adventure Programme Support Manager
Reports To: Director of Programmes & Development
Salary: £29,000 - £31,000 per annum, depending on experience
Location: Home-based, flexible with easy access to the Wiltshire area
Contract: Permanent
Holiday: 25 days per annum, plus public holidays
Application: Application Form
Closing Date: Friday 26th April at 9am
The Charity
The Youth Adventure Trust is a youth development charity working with vulnerable young people aged 11 to 16 years old from Wiltshire and Swindon. Our outdoor activity based YAT Adventure Programme enables young people to challenge themselves, experience success, learn to go beyond their own expectations and grow in confidence. Through a series of residential camps and day activities they are able to build resilience, self esteem and develop social and life skills. The YAT Resilience Programme works to the same outcomes through a year long programme of monthly activities, home-based challenges and reflective practice. Our Mentoring Programme works with those young people in need of some additional individualised support at the end of our other programmes. The Trust’s Bursary Programme is open to all those young people who have completed an initial programme, in order to assist their next steps into further activities. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by schools and other youth organisations to take part.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and motivated Adventure Programme Support Manager to support both young people and volunteers on our Adventure Programme. Working alongside the Programme Managers you will act in a support function across the activity days and camps, and be involved in direct one to one support for young people. You will also work alongside the Volunteering Lead to recruit, manage and support the volunteers who are front and centre of ensuring our young people’s positive experiences and outcomes. This is a diverse role with the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young people both through direct work and supporting the wider team.
Programme Support
This aspect of the role includes;
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Attending residential camps and activity days throughout the year, assisting with organising and delivering the Adventure Programme.
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Ensuring the highest standards of support, safety and safeguarding across the programme and all aspects of the Youth Adventure Trust’s work.
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Carrying out direct work with young people to help support their needs and fulfil the Youth Adventure Trust’s aims.
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Supporting work with the young people’s families to promote full attendance, effective participation and ensure they have all the information they require.
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Supporting work with our referral partners to ensure they have an excellent understanding, relationship and experience with the Youth Adventure Trust.
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Contributing to ongoing feedback to young people, parents, carers and schools.
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Supporting the effective monitoring of the programme and measurement of young people’s developmental outcomes.
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Working with the Programme Managers to support young people moving on to the Mentoring Programme, and promoting take up of the Bursary Programme.
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Supporting the development of further opportunities for young people both during and after their YAT journey.
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Assisting the day-to-day administration and management of the programme. This may include maintaining a database, producing written communications and reports, information leaflets, website updates, budget monitoring, booking and negotiating with providers, and an array of detailed record keeping.
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Creating website and social media content to highlight and promote YAT’s work.
Volunteer Management
Volunteers are critical to the success of our programme for vulnerable young people; recruiting, supporting and developing capable, skilled, empathetic, engaging and committed volunteers is essential to the impact of our work.
This aspect of the role includes;
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Promoting volunteering opportunities and recruiting new volunteers to the organisation to ensure needs are met.
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Acting as a key point of contact for volunteers, maintaining communication and engagement with the charity.
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Administering all aspects of a volunteer’s involvement with the Trust, including completing the relevant checks and references, record keeping and database maintenance.
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Organising, preparing and information sharing with volunteers to ensure they are ready to fulfil their role.
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Supporting volunteers in their role on our Adventure Programme, facilitating opportunities for informal supervision and debriefing. Our volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the young people get as much as possible from their time with the Youth Adventure Trust, and often deal with challenging and impactful situations.
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Developing and coaching volunteers in their role through working alongside them as they support young people on our Adventure Programme residential camps and day activities.
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Creating and delivering training opportunities for new and existing volunteers.
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Creating website, newsletter and social media content to promote volunteering and engagement with the charity.
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Supporting our Volunteer Committee in their functions which include organising awareness raising and social events.
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Developing opportunities for a diverse portfolio of volunteering roles within the organisation.
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Supporting the fundraising team through providing feedback, reports or event support.
Across the role you will;
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Be involved in sector networking and awareness raising on behalf of the Trust.
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Act as an ambassador for the Youth Adventure Trust at all times.
The post is subject to a six months’ probationary period.
The Candidate
To be up to the challenge you’ll need an excellent understanding and a proven track record of relevant experience working with vulnerable and challenging young people. You’ll need demonstrable skills at building effective relationships with young people, parents/carers, and professional organisations. In addition, you’ll need an excellent understanding of volunteering and relevant experience working with and managing volunteers. You’ll need strong influencing and motivational skills; the capacity to get the best out of people and confidently deal with issues. You’ll be an excellent communicator, planner and problem solver, a strong team player and an exemplary role model.
We need someone with:-
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Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
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Relevant experience of working with young people aged 11 - 14 years old, preferably in a residential environment as well as outside of this.
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Relevant experience of working with volunteers in the Third Sector, including recruiting, supporting and managing volunteers.
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Knowledge of volunteering issues and legal requirements.
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Experience of delivering training and strong facilitation skills.
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Experience in working in partnership with other professional organisations.
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Strong team skills with the ability to motivate and support a wide range of people.
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Self-motivation with the ability to work on their own initiative to plan and manage their workload.
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Strong IT skills including experience of MS Office, databases and social media.
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Knowledge of marketing and promotion, with an ability to use those skills to promote opportunities effectively.
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Excellent administrative skills and a methodical and thorough approach.
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
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The ability to perform well and problem solve in high-stress and changing situations. Ability to be flexible and dynamic in approach.
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A positive attitude, high energy and enthusiasm for the work of the Youth Adventure Trust. A personal interest in and an understanding of the positive impact outdoor adventure, especially for vulnerable young people, and a desire to help inspire young lives.
In addition:-
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The ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings, weekends and a handful of residential trips as required is essential - if you are looking for a predictable Monday to Friday, 9-5, work environment throughout the year, this won’t be the right fit.
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A full clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle is required
Safer Recruitment
The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Please be advised;
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a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Disclosure with Children’s Barred List will be required for this post;
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we will seek references on shortlisted candidates before interview, and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications;
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if the applicant is shortlisted, any relevant issues arising from his or her references or application will be taken up at interview;
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in accordance with due diligence checks, online searches may be conducted as part of the selection process on shortlisted candidates;
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if the applicant is currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, his or her current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, including any in which the penalty is “time expired” (e.g. where a warning could no longer be taken into account in any new disciplinary hearing), and whether the applicant has been the subject of any child protection concerns, and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If the applicant is not currently working with children but has done so in the past, then contact will be made with that employer who will be asked about these issues; and
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applicants should note that providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected, or dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police.
Please review our Safeguarding Policy available on the Youth Adventure Trust website.
How to Apply
Please complete the Application Form which includes the opportunity to outline why you think you are suitable for this role, making specific reference to the Role and Candidate Specifications above.
The Application Form should be returned to:
Tessa Woodrow, Director of Programmes and Development
Applications Closing Date: Friday 26th April 2024 at 9am
Interview Date: Friday 3rd May 2024 in the Wiltshire area
The Youth Adventure Trust sincerely thanks all those who apply, however only those considered for an interview will be contacted.
Unfortunately we are unable to reimburse interview expenditure incurred.
Data Protection Statement
For information about how we use your data, please see the Privacy Policy on our website.
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement
The Youth Adventure Trust is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment.
Additional documentation:
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Application form
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Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy
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Example Reference Questions
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Advocate
Service: Coram Voice
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 17.50 per week
Salary: £11,150.50 per annum (£22,301 FTE)
Location: Worcestershire (Home Based with Travel Across Counties)
About Coram:
Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.
Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
About Coram Voice:
Coram Voice is a national independent children’s charity established in 1975 and has grown to become one of the leading organisations for children and young people in the UK.
Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold systems to account, to challenge and support them to do their jobs properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
Coram Voice strives for a society which recognises, and willingly accepts, its responsibilities to children and young people, where the inequalities and discrimination they currently face have been eradicated. Where those children and young people are fully engaged in all decisions that are made about their lives. Where the views, needs and feelings that they express are at the core of those decisions.
Our Advocacy services we provide advocacy direct to children and young people in a variety of situations. Advocates around the country support children and young people to get their voice heard in decisions about their lives. This may be through the telephone helpline or through an advocate working directly with a child, for instance, to support them at a review meeting or to help them make a complaint about their care. Coram Voice provides visiting advocacy services to most of the secure units nationally, to Secure Training Centres, Juvenile Young Offender Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, residential special schools and children’s homes.
About the Role
We are looking for an Advocate to join our team in Worcestershire. We are seeking applicants who have transferable skills, a willingness to learn, a desire to promote the rights of children and young people or already have an IAP City and Guilds Level 3 or IAQ City and Guilds Level 4 in Advocacy.
You will work directly with care experienced children and young people and those on Child Protection Plans providing them with advocacy support in the community and a variety of settings.
You will empower and support them to ensure their voices are heard within decision–making processes that effect their lives.
You will be a capable ambassador for Coram Voice with the ability to engage effectively with professionals, carers, other stakeholders and most importantly children and young people.
If you have the necessary experience and skills and a commitment to promoting the rights of young people, we would like to hear from you.
What you will receive
We wish to reward and recognise the valuable contributions our staff make to the organisation and offer an attractive benefits package to do so. Coram Voice benefits package includes a competitive salary, a matched pension scheme up to 5% of salary, generous leave entitlements of up to 25 days’ annual leave and an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and New Year. A supportive work environment fostering a good work/home life balance and a suite of family friendly policies, which promote employee wellbeing.
You will get a genuine opportunity to make a difference every day.
Recruitment process
Our Children’s Rights Managers will undertake Shortlisting. Successful candidates will be invited for interview. The interview process comprises of a written exercise and a panel interview. Successful candidates will have a further one to one interview in accordance within Warner recommendations. Internal candidates will need to notify HR of their interest in the post and they will provide further information on the internal application process.
Returning your application:
· We cannot accept general CVs.
· When completing your application form, you need to address each point of the person specification and demonstrate how you meet it.
· Applications must be fully completed.
· If you are a current Coram Voice employee you may submit a supporting statement only addressing the person specification requirements for the post.
Closing date: 3rd May 2024 (23.59pm)
Interview date: 14th & 15th May 2024
General consideration for applications:
· DBS checks: all posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.
· Training: All successful candidates are required to complete our compulsory training programme which includes training in Advocacy (Being a Voice) Safeguarding and Diversity
· Conflict of interest: the independence of the service is important to Coram Voice. Prospective applicants need to raise any other potential conflicts of interest when initially contacting Coram Voice about this post.
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Advocate
Service: Coram Voice: Swindon & Out of Area
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 12 per week
Salary: £7,646.06 per annum (£22,301 FTE)
Location: Swindon (Home Based with Travel Across Counties)
About Coram:
Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.
Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
About Coram Voice:
Coram Voice is a national independent children’s charity established in 1975 and has grown to become one of the leading organisations for children and young people in the UK.
Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold systems to account, to challenge and support them to do their jobs properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
Coram Voice strives for a society which recognises, and willingly accepts, its responsibilities to children and young people, where the inequalities and discrimination they currently face have been eradicated. Where those children and young people are fully engaged in all decisions that are made about their lives. Where the views, needs and feelings that they express are at the core of those decisions.
Our Advocacy services we provide advocacy direct to children and young people in a variety of situations. Advocates around the country support children and young people to get their voice heard in decisions about their lives. This may be through the telephone helpline or through an advocate working directly with a child, for instance, to support them at a review meeting or to help them make a complaint about their care. Coram Voice provides visiting advocacy services to most of the secure units nationally, to Secure Training Centres, Juvenile Young Offender Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, residential special schools and children’s homes.
About the Role
We are looking for an Advocate to join our team in Swindon. We are seeking applicants who have transferable skills, a willingness to learn, a desire to promote the rights of children and young people or already have an IAP City and Guilds Level 3 or IAQ City and Guilds Level 4 in Advocacy.
You will work directly with care experienced children and young people and those on Child Protection Plans providing them with advocacy support in the community and a variety of settings.
You will empower and support them to ensure their voices are heard within decision–making processes that effect their lives.
You will be a capable ambassador for Coram Voice with the ability to engage effectively with professionals, carers, other stakeholders and most importantly children and young people.
If you have the necessary experience and skills and a commitment to promoting the rights of young people, we would like to hear from you.
What you will receive
We wish to reward and recognise the valuable contributions our staff make to the organisation and offer an attractive benefits package to do so. Coram Voice benefits package includes a competitive salary, a matched pension scheme up to 5% of salary, generous leave entitlements of up to 25 days’ annual leave and an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and New Year. A supportive work environment fostering a good work/home life balance and a suite of family friendly policies, which promote employee wellbeing.
You will get a genuine opportunity to make a difference every day.
Recruitment process
Our Children’s Rights Managers will undertake Shortlisting. Successful candidates will be invited for interview. The interview process comprises of a written exercise and a panel interview. Successful candidates will have a further one to one interview in accordance within Warner recommendations. Internal candidates will need to notify HR of their interest in the post and they will provide further information on the internal application process.
Returning your application:
· We cannot accept general CVs.
· When completing your application form, you need to address each point of the person specification and demonstrate how you meet it.
· Applications must be fully completed.
· If you are a current Coram Voice employee you may submit a supporting statement only addressing the person specification requirements for the post.
Closing date: 3rd May 2024 (23.59pm)
Interview date: 14th & 15th May 2024
General consideration for applications:
· DBS checks: all posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.
· Training: All successful candidates are required to complete our compulsory training programme which includes training in Advocacy (Being a Voice) Safeguarding and Diversity
· Conflict of interest: the independence of the service is important to Coram Voice. Prospective applicants need to raise any other potential conflicts of interest when initially contacting Coram Voice about this post.
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Homebased – Yorkshire & North-East
Hours: 14 hours per week (Thursday & Friday)
Contract - Permanent - Part-Time
Salary: £10,395.60 per annum + £300 per annum homeworking allowance
As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. TACT invests all surplus income into staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to establish expert in-house support services such as our TACT Health and Education Services and create TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for care-experienced young people and adults. New staff will join us as we embark on a journey to become a wholly trauma-informed organisation with the aim of increasing our effectiveness and improving outcomes for the children and young people in our care.
We pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, an extensive wellbeing programme, and our benefits package, all curated to support a healthy work-life balance for all our staff. We will also invest in your learning, supporting you to grow and develop during your employment with TACT. You will be encouraged to attend personal and professional development opportunities and will have access to learning and resources to empower you to advance your knowledge and skills.
We are currently the 4th Best Charity to work for and the 16th Best Mid-Sized Company in the UK according to The Best Companies criteria and our survey results have evidenced “outstanding” levels of engagement amongst staff in recent years. You can view our Best Companies summary video here.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated individual with experience in administration within the social care field to work with us as a Family Finding Worker. This role is home-based, and it will cover placements for our Yorkshire & North-East areas.
The Family Finding Worker is responsible for receiving placement requests for children who need to be looked after and matching them to our foster carer in cooperation with the Duty Social Worker. The role requires exceptional communication skills and discretion, sensitivity and the capability to deal with conflicting priorities at times.
In this role, you will be responsible for…
- Processing referrals received from the Local Authority requesting a place for a child
- Building and maintaining positive relationships with Local Authority Placement Teams
- Liaising with appropriate parties regarding discussion of potential matches
- Reviewing sensitive and confidential documents
- Establishing professional relationships with colleagues, carers, and the children they look after to ensure the best outcomes for the children and young people in our care
You will be suited to this role if you have…
- Experience in a social care & health setting
- Experience of working with children/young people
- Knowledge of current safeguarding procedures.
- Excellent communication skills
- The ability to build a rapport and a positive working relationship with external partners.
Please see the Job Information Pack and Job Description for further information.
TACT Yorkshire and North East team are also currently recruiting for a part-time (21 hours per week) Children and Young People's Wellbeing Practitioner role, which is advertised separately. We would welcome applications from candidates who feel able to meet the requirements of both posts and would be interested in full-time employment (35 hours per week) with a combined role comprising both posts. Any applicants interested in combining both roles will need to be based within the North East region, in order to meet the travel requirements of the Wellbeing Practitioner role.
A standard DBS clearance is required for this role, which TACT will undertake on your behalf.
- Closing Date: Friday, 26 April 2024
- Interview Date: Thursday, 9th May 2024 (via Microsoft Teams)
Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.
TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
TACT reserves the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.
Salary: £15,593 per annum + £450 Home Working Allowance per annum
Hours - 21 Hours per week - 3 days
Contract:- Permanent Role
Location: Home-based in the North-East, able to travel throughout the region to visit and offer support to children and families in Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, Sunderland, Tyneside and Northumberland.
As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work-life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.
As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults, as well as our expanding TACT Education Service and our new Health Service. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma-informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.
TACT achieved 16th place in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results in 2023, with 91% of employees acknowledging that the organisation is run on strong values and principles and 94% stating they feel proud to work for this organisation.
If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT, apply now.
Overall Duties of the role will include:
- Being an accessible point of contact for the children living with our carers and to our young people, keeping them up to date with the facilities and opportunities available with TACT
- Providing support to children with emotional welfare and mental health needs
- Supporting interventions and activities to ensure stable placement arrangements
- Being able to transport children and young people to events, appointments and meetings (mileage reimbursed)
- Organising and participating in virtual and face-to-face events and occasional residential meet-ups
- Managing all paperwork associated with events and activities
- Willingness to work flexibly, according to deadlines and needs of our families which may include some after-school, evening and weekend work
- Undertaking trauma-informed direct work with children and young people
The successful candidate must also be willing and able to travel to the Yorkshire area quarterly for face-to-face team meetings, training, and wellbeing events with the potential for occasional travel to other areas around the UK to facilitate children's residential stays.
The TACT Yorkshire and North East team are also currently recruiting for a part-time (14 hours per week) Family Finder position, which is advertised separately. We would welcome applications from candidates who feel able to meet the requirements of both posts and would be interested in full-time employment (35 hours per week) with a combined role comprising both posts.
TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:
- 31 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
- Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
- Family friendly policies.
- Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
- Perkbox – retail discount scheme.
- Stakeholder pension scheme (salary sacrifice).
- Fantastic learning and development opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions).
- TACT is a home based workforce. We recognise the benefits that flexible home working creates for both the employer and the employee.
As a remote working organisation, we are committed to working with our staff to enable consistent inclusion and engagement across the organisation to ensure the optimum standards of service for our carers and children.
An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.
Closing Date: Friday, 26th April 2024
Interview Date: Thursday 9th May 2024 (via teams)
Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.
We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.