UASC Senior Pracititoner

This role has a starting salary of £38,746 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

Surrey County Council embraces agile working and therefore we offer hybrid working arrangements where you are expected in the office at least 2 days a week.
We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Practitioner to join our fantastic Asylum-Seeking Care Leaving team. The team is based at Quadrant Court in Woking and will sit within the Looked After Children and Care Leaving Services. This team is being created in response to increasing numbers of both Unaccompanied Minors and Young People claiming Asylum whom Surrey County Council are responsible for.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Workers can apply for flexible working arrangements such as 9 day fortnights

About the Team

Our service strives to make every young person and child count and this has been recognised both locally and nationally as recipients of the "PA Team of the Year" award by the National Care Leavers Bench Marking Forum alongside a Personal Advisor winning a "Star of Surrey" award. Our service embraces a learning culture where we aim to learn and develop each other through support and training opportunities. Our teams have stable staffing and team members are valued for their hard work.

About the Role

In this role you will case hold high risk and complex young people and participate in the assessment and preparation of Pathway Plans for those who are eligible. The Pathway Plan sets out the young person's aspirations regarding education, accommodation, health, social relationships and specific needs. For asylum seeking young people, we look at how their immigration status may impact on these areas.

Working with the Team Manager and the wider team, you will 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. Alongside this, you may be responsible for representing the Leaving Care Service at working groups, such as participation events and at Care Council meetings. You will also chair and lead the review of the Pathway Plan according to statutory requirements, including liaising with partners for young people living out of Surrey County Council.

You will be able to recommend services that the local authority maybe required to pay for, and while you would hold no direct budget responsibilities, you would be required to have an understanding of the finance policy.

In addition, you will also hold some management responsibilities, including supervising Personal Advisors and deputising for the Team Manager. You will contribute to wider project work and be seen as a leader and role model for excellent practice within the team. Alongside your caseload, you will be required to carry out duty on a rota basis.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• An ability to develop and sustain good working relationships with young people including those who may be disengaged.
• Experience working with asylum-seeking young people and an understanding of the issues they face, plus a good working knowledge of relevant legislation (The Children Act 1989, Children Leaving Care Act 2004, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Children and Social Work Act 2017.)
• An ability to work to the reporting standards of the department, ensuring that reports are structured, evidence based and in accordance with the Directorate Quality Assurance Standards.
• An awareness of current issues relating to socially excluded young people including young people claiming asylum and/or subject to immigration control.
• Knowledge of Housing legislation, Department of Work and Pensions Benefits, and Immigration Policy.
• Experience of managing leading and/or mentoring others in previous roles.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Elaine Andrews by telephone on .

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 09/05/2024.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.