Headstart Youth Practitioner
Headstart Youth Practitioners x 3
JNC 21-24 £34,173 - £37,134
Fixed term until July 2022
Newham Dockside, E16 2QU
Deadline for applications: 30/09/2021
ABOUT US
*For the purposes of this job advert, the abbreviation CYP refers to a child or young person or children and young people
HeadStart Newham is a mental health service improving lives for young people and families in Newham. The service is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and delivered in partnership with The London Borough of Newham.
Working closely with schools and the community, HeadStart offer young people and their families, opportunities to recognise the strengths they already have and develop new skills so they’re able to overcome challenges and bounce back from tough circumstances.
HeadStart delivers interventions and support that test and evaluate approaches to promoting emotional resilience in order to prevent the development of mental health disorders in adolescents and improve their educational and life chance outcomes.
Co-production is at the heart of the Headstart approach and we are led by the voices of our stakeholders. Person-centred thinking, planning and action is at the heart of what we do.
Apply now, and be part of our success.
ABOUT THE JOB
This is an exciting time to join Newham as our sustainability journey is beginning to take shape.
Reporting to the Mental Wellbeing and Resilience Managers, the Headstart Youth Practitioner will support the service’s overall aims by delivering Headstart interventions to vulnerable cyp of various ages (up to 25 for young people with SEND). Interventions are time-bound and outcome measured; designed to improve self-esteem, resilience and emotional wellbeing. By improving cyp’s quality of life when difficulties are first identified, we aim to reduce the likelihood of further deterioration in mental health and the need for more intensive support at a later stage.
Duties will include delivering both 1-1 and group interventions, on a weekly basis, to cyp in school, home and community settings. Our person-centred approach aims to ensure we meet cyp where they are at both physically and emotionally. As a result, you will need to maintain a flexible approach and feel comfortable being led by our cyp. Settings can include parks, libraries, schools, youth zones, swimming pools or even a walk around the neighbourhood! Life is never dull and every day is different.
Liaising with families and other professionals forms a key part of the role. You will be responsible for managing a case-load which will involve building trusted relationships with the people you support and their families. Familiarity with conducting assessments in both a formal or informal capacity is key. Talking to school staff, families, carers, key-workers, psychologists, social workers and therapists helps inform assessments and is essential in your role. Advocating for cyp and bridging the gap between services to ensure support for your cyp is seamless and effective is what we aim for.
This is a challenging but rewarding role within a supportive team who are committed to improving the lives of those we serve.
Please view Headstart Youth Practitioner jd
ABOUT YOU
‘People at the heart of everything we do’
We are looking for a Youth Practitioner with significant experience of working with cyp between the ages of 8 – 18 (up to 25 for those with SEND), who may present with early symptoms of mental health difficulties. Your expertise may include working with cyp in a formal education setting, in a youth work setting, in a case-work capacity or a related field. Experience of working 1-1 and with small groups of cyp is essential.
You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your communication style to suit your audience, whether it be cyp, parents or meetings with other professionals. Experience of working with CYP with SEND is highly desirable and additional expertise in alternative communication systems such as Makaton, BSL, PECS, and Objects of Reference/symbols would be welcome. We work to promote the rights of cyp with SEND to lead active, independent and fulfilled lives that are meaningful and fully encourage community participation. We believe that everybody has the right to live the life they choose and to have access to support services which meet their individual needs.
We’re looking for candidates who have knowledge on the issues and contexts that surround cyp with mental health difficulties within both a local context and the wider national context. Experience in providing effective support that aims to build resilience and self-esteem is desirable and if you can provide examples of having delivered interventions that have increased wellbeing and reduced the impact of mental health difficulties, we are excited to meet you!
The role requires an excellent level of written English and effective recording, time management and prioritisation skills. The Headstart Youth Practitioner will be comfortable creating session plans, conducting assessments, clarifying aims/objectives, planning outcome measurements and evaluating their work and its impact on stakeholders. This is how we ensure that what we do meets quality standards, is in line with local policies and government legislation/guidance and has real impact on the people we support. The ability to work autonomously, manage your time effectively and prioritise tasks to meet deadlines is crucial. If you are equally passionate about delivering high-quality, effective and evidence-based practice, this will be the perfect opportunity to exercise those skills.
We are a team here at Headstart and are diligent about creating a supportive and collaborative work environment. You will be able to work collaboratively with staff across the service and build relationships with a wide range of partners externally in addition to within the organisation.
We encourage reflection and critical thinking alongside enthusiasm and a proactive approach. If you have the ability to inspire others, strive for improvement, offer solution –focused ideas and can adapt quickly to challenging situations, this may be the role for you.
Job Context
- Full-time 36 hours