US Active Casual Keyworker
US Active Casual Keyworker at US Active
Contract Type: Casual
Role Type: Employment
Hours: Part time
Application deadline:
Based: Home-based
Salary: £13 Per Hour
Salary Type: Fixed Salary
Location: Tyne and Wear
Role description: Officer
We are seeking to increase our team of fantastic Keyworkers whose role is to empower our young people to get active to improve their mental health.
Background to Post
US Active was established in April 2016. It is a North East based children and young people’s charity which funds a range of sport, fitness and other physical activities for individuals and small groups of young people experiencing mental health difficulties and / or are neurodivergent.
Agencies from the health, care, education, justice and voluntary sectors introduce young people to US, whilst some young people and their parents self-refer.
The Post Keyworkers will support young people throughout their US journey: meeting with and identifying needs and interests, successfully supporting in to an activity, monitoring progress and providing progression support. Keyworkers may: support US Active groupwork sessions, facilitate a young person engaging with an US trainer, or accompany a young person to attend a sport / fitness activity in their community, across Tyne and Wear. They will check that young people are travelling safely to and from activities, and where applicable support the young person to develop their confidence to travel and engage independently.
The keyworker will build a face to face, professional working relationship with the young person and will liaise closely with the Referrals and Activities Co-ordinator, referring agencies and parents/carers as appropriate.
Prior to commencing employment or contracting with US, the successful candidate must hold an Enhanced DBS clearance and provide satisfactory references. Applicants should ideally have a background in one or more of the following: sport and fitness: health and social care; education and youthwork.
Successful applicants will become part of a team of casual workers who will be offered hourly paid work as activities demand. In order to meet the needs of the young people we work with hours could be any day of the week, but are most likely to be weekday afternoons and early evenings, weekend daytimes and school holidays.
There is no central US office and so any administrative duties would be completed at home. Sessions with young people will be across Tyne and Wear, dependant on where the young person lives. Travel and work-related expenses will be paid.
APPLICATION METHOD
Please apply in the following way emailing your application to info@usactive.org.uk
- Provide a detailed CV including your education and work experience, qualifications and names and contacts of two referees including your last/current employer. (References will be taken up if a conditional offer is made, and return of satisfactory references will be required for a full offer to be confirmed)
- Provide a detailed statement explaining why you are applying for this post and why you’ll be successful in its delivery.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The US Active Keyworker will:
1. Working face to face, meet and engage young people at programme start and as appropriate on-programme
2. Identify young people’s particular needs, concerns, interests and personal goals
3. Monitor progress on programme with both young person and provider
4. Proactively work with the young person and their support network, including providers, to keep or re-engage them in activities.
5. Support young people with their chosen exit strategy be it to another uS or community activity as appropriate
6. Support providers delivering groupwork
7. Contribute to the evaluation of activities / engagements with young people by completing and returning feedback forms
8. Accompany young person to sport / fitness activities in the community e.g. a Zumba class
9. Ensure that young people are travelling safely to and from activities, and where applicable support the young person to develop their confidence to travel and engage independently.
10. Take proactive action, in line with policies and procedures, should safeguarding issues arise
11. Gather feedback from young people to encourage engagement, and to support programme development.
12. Liaise closely with the US Referral and Activities Co-ordinator, referring agencies and parents/carers as appropriate
13. Use and contribute to ICT packages to record and monitor work with young people
14. Attend relevant meetings
15. Attend relevant training
16. Promote the benefits of exercise and fitness of mental well-being
17. Carry out other reasonable duties requested by the Chief Operating Officer
PERSON SPECIFICATION
KNOWLEDGE
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults - Essential
Children and Young People’s Mental health and Neurodevelopment difficulties - Desirable
QUALIFICATIONS
A relevant Level 3 qualifications: e.g. youth work, care, education, sport and fitness, mental health - Essential
Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English - Essential
A relevant Level 4/5/6 qualification: e.g. youth work, care, education, sport and fitness, mental health - Desirable
ICT qualifications at Level 2 - Desirable
EXPERIENCE
Experience of working with children and young people - Essential
Experience of providing support in a range of settings in the community and schools - Essential
Experience of partnership / multiagency working - Essential
Experience of working with children and young people with complex needs - Desirable
Experience of working in a not for profit organisation - Desirable
Providing young people with Information, Advice and Guidance - Desirable
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
The ability to engage and motivate young people - Essential
The ability to work successfully and in partnership with other organisations and agencies- Essential
The ability to support successful and safe activities for young people - Essential
The ability to monitor the quality of provision/delivery and take remedial action when necessary - Essential
Good oral communication skills - Essential
Good written communication skills- Essential
Good IT skills- Essential
Demonstrates integrity and upholds values and principles - Essential
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
The ability to work confidently, effectively and calmly with challenging people and in challenging environments - Essential
Able to work using one’s own initiative - Essential
Able to recognise when it is important to consult and inform others - Essential
OTHER
Must either have or acquire enhanced DBS clearance - Essential
A commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults - Essential
Own car and clean license insured for work- Desirable