Job Title: Complex Needs Advocate (Youth)
Post Number: 008063
Working Hours: 37
Salary Range: £32909 to £36298pa pro rata for hours worked
Contract: Fixed Term to 31 April 2024
Location: Stevenage
As a representative of Stevenage Borough Council, you will manage a caseload of 15-20 clients to provide an intensive support to address an individual’s complex needs this includes mental health issues, learning difficulties substance misuse, offending and “life clients”.
Working co-operatively with partners to develop a support programme tailored to the individual client, agreeing contact dependant on clients’ needs, including outside of normal business hours
To actively challenge relevant issues and help remove the barriers including mental health and learning difficulties that prevent people from tackling their substance misuse and changing their behaviours.
Provide practical and emotional support, applying the principles of effective casework when supporting clients and signpost clients for support and guidance to partner agencies.
To represent The No More Service and Stevenage Borough Council at internal and external meetings including Multi Agency Risk Management Meetings, Persistent Prolific Offender meetings, Prison meetings, Safeguarding Meetings, Child Protection Conferences and Professional Meetings.
The post holder should have an understanding of relevant law and practice relevant to this area of work.
This role requires a satisfactory clearance of an Enhanced DBS
Key tasks, duties, responsibilities and accountabilities of the post
• Undertaking full assessments of clients referred to the service to ensure that they comply with the referral criteria. Develop and agree a multi-agency action plan and individual support plans to
address the clients’ needs, involving health teams, police, probation, adult care services, mental health, children services, prisons, courts, domestic abuse service, benefits, CAB, housing associations,
drug and alcohol services and other voluntary sector services as required by each individual client. This may include risk assessments from the mental health team, probation and the prison service
• Maintain accurate file notes of action and support provided. Provide accurate and concise case management information and assessment of each client onto the REACT data base, including the
services delivered by partner agencies.
• Utilise a range of tools including rewards and consequences to motivate clients to take positive action to make changes to their lives. To help the client to be motivated to set goals to reduce their
substance misuse and or offending. Help them to develop their life skills, self-confidence and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
• Make referrals to specialist service providers where required, including signposting for assistance in tackling alcohol addiction, drug treatment, mental health and criminal activity.
• Prepare, collate and present reports to the Senior Housing Officers’ Panel when required.
• Collect and record data in relation to clients, to help formulate the No More Service Action Plan and strategy.
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
• Pension Scheme: We offer a career average pension scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
• Flexible working: available upon request, subject to operational requirements.
• Part time and Job share: all our full-time vacancies are open to job share unless otherwise stated.
• A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave, maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.
• 25 days holiday rising to 31 days (depending on Local Government service)
• An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
• Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticket loans and discounts for public transport
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Stevenage Credit Union: secure savings, free life insurance and access to cheap loans.
• Employee Discounts: via monthly paid membership of the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)
• Discounted Health and Fitness membership
• Trade Unions: For a small fee, all employees have the opportunity to join a Trade Union.
Application Details
For an informal discussion about this role please contact
Name: Catherine Davies
Job Title: Complex Needs and Community Safety Operational Manager
Email: Catherine.Davies@stevenage.gov.uk
To apply online, please visit https://jobs.stevenage.gov.uk/StevenageBorough/Home
Closing date for receipt of applications: 23 May 20223
Interviews will be held week commencing: 29 May 2023
Please note that if we receive a large volume of applications for this role, we reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of the published closing date
Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, volunteers and recruitment candidates to share this commitment. SBC shall take all reasonable steps to employ staff who are safe to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. For posts identified with regular contact with these groups applicants will be required to undertake a Value Based Interview. The council supports the legislative requirements for employing and maintaining safer staff and the guidance specified by Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board
Stevenage Borough Council is committed to Equal Opportunities for All. For further information please click https://www.stevenage.gov.uk/about-the-council/jobs-and-careers/equal-opportunities
