Senior Practitioner - Asylum Care Leavers Team

The starting salary for this role is £35,382 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

We have a vacancy for a Senior Practitioner in the Leaving Care Team. We are a busy and supportive team working with care leavers who were unaccompanied asylum seeking children. This senior role includes being the allocated worker for young people as well as being a lead practitioner within the Care Leavers Service in Surrey. You will act as mentor for colleagues and take a lead in the induction of new staff. You will be expected to lead and develop areas of work within the team.

This is a permanent role within the NE Asylum Care Leavers Service, with the Senior Practitioner being responsible for managing a caseload of young people ages 16-25 including those with complex needs and ensure there is effective provision of services to meet young peoples' needs. The young people will have ceased to be looked after by the local authority and will be making their transition to adulthood as per the Children Leaving Care Act 2000. and/or The Children and Social Work Act 2017 that allows them to achieve their potential as they make their transition to adulthood.

You will coordinate services according to statutory requirements, for Asylum Seeking Care Leavers living insider and outside of the county of Surrey that the local authority may be required to pay for, in line with the finance policy. The devised support package will be recorded and monitored via the young person's pathway plan. The Pathway Plan provides information and guidance on asylum, financial capability, housing options, education, training and employment opportunities, support in finding and sustaining employment, general information about leisure, sporting and cultural opportunities to enable care leavers to enjoy and participate in community life. You will also support and assist the well-being of individual Care Leavers previously looked after by Surrey to ensure they are supported to make the transition into adulthood to independent living through the Pathway Plan.

You will be responsible for key/lead area and have specialist knowledge in order to support the rest of the team on this subject. You will also be responsible for representing the Care Leavers Service at working groups such as participation events and at Care Council meetings and required to co-ordinate specific projects as directed by the Team manager. You will carry out joint working on cases from 16 - 18 years with social workers and participate in the assessment and preparation of Pathway Plans and assessments for looked after children.

You will mentor and induct new members of the North East Asylum Team and will work with the team manager and the team to make a personal contribution to a collective endeavour, to create the conditions for success and actively contribute to the development and success of the service whilst representing Surrey County Council.

You will also take responsibility towards supervision, undertaking Reflected Supervision with other members of the team, and undertaking a supervisory role with 1-2 less experienced colleagues.

You will need extensive experience of direct work with young people leaving care, together with knowledge of Immigration Legislation and Case Law, as well as Leaving Care and Homelessness Legislation. You will need to have experience of carrying out Human Rights Assessments.

You will be a good team player and have experience of supporting colleagues. You will be keen to develop and share your knowledge and skills. Experience of delivering training will be an advantage.

You will have excellent recording and report writing skills. You will need to be able to gather and interpret data in order to monitor trends and assist the Team Manager in developing the work of the team.

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For more information please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 31st May 2022.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Christopher Everest by e-mail at christopher.everest@surreycc.gov.uk.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.