INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job Title: Futures Practitioner

Salary: PO3 £42,839 - £46,142

Hours: Various

Contract: Temporary Opportunity - Futures Practitioner PO3 Futures/Hold My Hand Service

There are 2 temporary job opportunities within the Futures/Hold My Hand Service to temporary cover

Job 1 Futures Practitioner for a period of 12 months- Full time

Job 2 Futures Practitioner for a period of 7 months- 30 hours

Location: Kernel House

These vacancies are internal only therefore are open to existing LCC employees only

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Futures/Hold My Hand team and work in truly meaningful and impactful ways with young people and their families. The service works to support young people aged under 25 years old who are experiencing a pre-birth assessment and/or have experienced the separation of their baby/infant within care proceedings. The service aims to reduce the likelihood of both initial and recurrent care proceedings.

The service is designed around the Leeds Practice Model, embracing the concepts of restorative approaches, evidence-based practice, formulation and outcomes focused supervision. Holistic care packages are informed by social, health and psychological need and guided by case formulation and support proportionate to need, which may vary from initial engagement work through to intensive therapeutic interventions. The team work intensively within a trauma informed approach, considering historical experiences and informed by attachment and systemic theories. There is a strong focus on multiagency working and partnership to ensure best outcomes.

To apply for these posts, you must be registered with a professional body (i.e. social work/nursing/ psychology etc).

As a Futures Practitioner you will manage a small caseload working to design ,coordinate and implement intensive and flexible packages of support to young parents (under 25s) who are experiencing a pre-birth assessment and young parents who are at risk of care proceedings or repeat proceedings for an infant .In particular where the young parent is at risk of poor long term social and health outcomes associated with domestic violence, substance use, and adverse life events.

These roles require a flexible approach and there is an expectation that you work flexibly to enable a response to young people between 8am and 8pm. Occasional weekend working according to need is also expected.

For information please contact Lead Practitioner Karen Kirby on Karen.Kirby@leeds.gov.uk

For information regarding the Specialist Support Worker please contact Specialist Practitioner Bridget Rode at Bridget.Rode@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: The Futures Practitioner will be an integrated member of the Futures team working to design ,coordinate and implement intensive and flexible packages of support to young parents (under 25s) where there is an assessed and measurable risk of care proceedings or repeat proceedings for an infant .In particular where the young parent is at risk of poor long term social and health outcomes associated with domestic violence, substance use, and adverse life events. The young parent may be a child themselves as such at risk of becoming looked after, having poor school attendance or becoming NEET (not in education, employment and training). The Futures practitioner works always to enable and empower parents to make positive life change.

Responsibilities:

Hold a small case load of parents and families and fully advocate for them throughout, always maintaining emphasis on achieving effective and sustainable outcomes
Work systemically as part of a team, to collaboratively develop and deliver effective assessment, formulation and plans of intervention with parents and families, this includes allocating and overseeing work to junior staff and supporting them in their own development to deliver this effectively .
Recognise the challenges young parents can face and use initiative and creativity to provide a responsive and flexible approach to engaging them in an approach that will work for them.
Work as part of a team that works outside of traditional hours and uses an assertive outreach approach.
Work as part of a team that works in partnership with other agencies and organisations, working always to develop relationships and networks and align professionals to the case formulation, so developing pathways and creating access to the most appropriate interventions and treatments at that point in time.
Utilising guidance and supervision fully implement the Leeds Practice Model, engaging in outcome focused supervision, using effective formulation and following the Leeds Practice Principles.
Deliver evidenced based treatments, interventions and approaches in your work that are most relevant to this client group e.g. Systemic working, CBT,DBT developmental theory, family working, strength focused approaches.
Engage in team and individual supervision, taking responsibility for own development.
Contribute to effective data collection and analysis to inform and improve practice.
Contribute to training and awareness events that promote the service.
Promote and safeguard the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults that you are responsible for or who come into contact with the service.
Maintain an up to date working knowledge of legislation, statutory frameworks and codes of practice, relevant to this work.
To comply with the requirements of the Social Care Staff Code of Conduct.
This is a developing service and as such is subject to changes in scope and operational delivery. The post holder will be expected to actively contribute to and be part of all ongoing developments
Be flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required, commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion and development programmes
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice
Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days and events as requested
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures such as child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all by working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures
The postholder is expected to work within the parameters of the council’s flexibility protocol
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post

Qualifications - Relevant professional qualification in related health or social care discipline . E.g. social work, nursing, allied health professional, therapeutic modality e.g. CBT .

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Effective communication and engagement skills
Able to work in highly distressing situations and a variety of settings
Able to be responsive and flexible to the needs of the individual within a context of restorative practice.
Able to stay with enduring issues and continue to apply a strength based approach
Able to engage in group and individual supervision and receive feedback on your work.
Able to work alongside partner agencies in delivering multifaceted plans of care.
Able to recognise and manage safety and safeguarding concerns for both children and adults
Able to work as part of team and a team approach that works intensively and flexibly .
Able to work autonomously and manage own time to prioritise workload and to achieve results
Car driver

Knowledge Required

Up to date professional and personal development and adherence to own professional standards and code of conduct
Awareness of this client group and the challenges they face in relation to individual development and potential experiences of adversity.
Understanding of formulation , goal setting and evidenced based/informed intervention
Understanding of trauma Informed practice , restorative practice and associated psychological theory.
Of pre-birth assessment process and care proceedings.
Working knowledge of effective multidisciplinary working and own contributions and accountability
Understanding of the principle of confidentiality including its limits in relation to protection of Children, Young people and particularly young adults .

Experience Required

Of delivering complex packages of care.
Of receiving supervision
Of working directly with young people and families in community settings who present with a range of complex needs e.g. mental health, social drug and alcohol problems, relationship difficulties and domestic violence
Of working in multidisciplinary and multi-agency way and developing effective partnerships.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Skills Required

Able to use formulation and apply to individual care planning
Able to apply a range of psychological and social theories and evidence based approaches e.g. CBT, systemic working, family working, social learning theory

Knowledge Required

Of professional training in specific psychological /mental health / drug and alcohol treatments or approaches
Of understanding of Restorative Practice and its driving principles
Of infant and child development and effective parent training/support approaches

Experience Required

Of delivering specific psychological /mental health/drug and alcohol treatments and approaches.
Of using Restorative Practices within own or partnership working.
Of child protection processes and court systems
Of working with young parents in first 1001 days

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