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Parent Carer Support Worker (Key Worker)
carers' support service
  • Salary £21,748 per year pro rata
  • Location Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire (On-site)
  • Job Type Permanent, Part-time, Temporary, Full-time
  • Category Support Worker , Social Work
  • Sectors Social Welfare
  • Job Reference :

Job Description

No day is the same when supporting Carers.

Parent Carers share many of the rewards and challenges of caring that any other Carer would experience, but caring for a child with additional needs comes with its own unique experiences. We are looking for someone with some understanding of the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and what this can mean for their parents and guardians.

You will be a confident communicator, able to work effectively with both parents and professionals. Some knowledge and experience of Children’s Services and working with schools in North East Lincolnshire is a must for the successful candidate.

You will be a caring and compassionate team player with a practical and solution focused approach to supporting people.

You will recognise the importance of Carers accessing information, advice and support to help them manage their caring role. You will also recognise the value of Carers having a collective voice and the positive impact this can have on the provision of services and support for Parent Carers and their children.

The post holder will provide efficient and effective support to Parent Carers. You will be determined and resilient when supporting and enabling Carers to work with relevant organisations, and navigate their caring role.

You will have a part to play in supporting all Carers, but you will play a key role in ensuring Parent Carers are able to continue caring for their children with additional needs safely and confidently, and that Parent Carers have a voice in North East Lincolnshire.

This post has two key functions:

  1. Support Parent Carers as a Parent Carer Key Worker.
  2. Grow the Parent Carer voice in North East Lincolnshire via the creation, development and support of an active Parent Carer Forum.

Duties and responsibilities (Key Worker – 22.5 hours per week):

  • Take Carer referrals from the wider community and colleagues from schools and children’s services and support them to identify their needs. You will work with Parent Carers to explore their strengths and resources from within their families, networks and communities.
  • Enable and empower Parent Carers to access appropriate services from the Carers’ Support Service and their local community. You will ensure Carers feel supported and help them to access support to meet their needs.
  • Key workers provide time limited support when Carers have specific challenges relating to their caring role, so where there is a need, you will add to the case load of Parent Carers you keep in regular contact with.
  • Work with Parent Carers and support them to feel empowered to advocate for themselves and their child. You will develop an understanding of what the Carers’ Support Service can provide a Parent Carer and what is the responsibility of other professionals and services.
  • Support Parent Carers to build their resilience by providing quality information, advice, guidance and support.
  • Support Carers to apply for individual Carer grants that support them with their caring role
  • Provide information and support via telephone contact and face to face support. You will enable Parent Carers to take control of their lives and support them to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and the person they care for.
  • Operate within the principles of empowerment and community development whereby all Carers will be supported to become involved wherever possible, in the development and delivery of plans and services.
  • Play a key role in raising awareness and supporting the inclusion of Carers across North East Lincolnshire by conducting community outreach.
  • Provide regular telephone contact with a case load of Carers in your identified specialist area (Parent Carers) where the support needed is ongoing for a period of time.
  • Act on behalf of Carers where necessary by making telephone calls, writing letters and attending meetings in order for them to access the appropriate services and support.
  • Support Carers to navigate social care systems and access community resources in the right way at the right time.
  • Work with colleagues to promote support services and signpost appropriately both internally and externally.
  • Engage with, make contacts and build good working relationships with schools, children’s centres and children and family services.
  • Organise and deliver Carer Awareness training, talk to teams and ensure information and displays are kept up-to-date as part of community outreach.
  • Via outreach activity, support communities to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of Carers.
  • Develop a network of Carers Champions within the community by providing information, advice and training.
  • Maintain a record of outreach using an online database for use by you and the team.
  • Actively find out about services and support available to Carers.
  • Share information with Carers and colleagues and keep information up to date.
  • Support the team to ensure the effective support of Carers.
  • Support learning and training activities for Carers at the Carers’ Support Centre and in the Community.
  • Be involved in the planning and implementation of activities for Carers Week and Carers Rights Day.
  • Actively engage in the development of the charity and highlight any development opportunities by making the management team aware.
  • To adhere to and consistently follow all policies and procedures.
  • Undertake any other duties as required.

Duties and responsibilities (Parent Forum Coordinator – 7.5 hours per week):

  • Be the initial point of contact for Parent Carer Participation in North East Lincolnshire.
  • Engage with Parent Carers, with a view to recruiting Parents of Children with SEND on to a new Parent Participation Forum (PPF).
  • Work closely with and delegate tasks to ‘Contact’ associates (an organisation that supports Parent Carer engagement), who will support you with the development of a new PPF.
  • Work with PPF steering group members to establish Terms of Reference and new work streams.
  • Assist the PPF steering group to work with local, regional and national organisations ensuring:
    • PPF members are informed and aware of local, regional and national issues
    • Professionals and key strategic decision makers are aware of the PPF, and view them as a professional group to consult and work with on all matters relating to Parent Carers.
    • PPF members are aware of channels via which they can appropriately question and challenge.
  • Seek and promote parent engagement and participation opportunities.
  • Manage and maintain the PPF website, social media pages, mailing list and database of members.
  • Facilitate engagement and communication between organisations/professionals and the PPF.
  • In your support of the PPF, you will appropriately utilise resources, services, support and training opportunities provided by the Carers’ Support Service.
  • Provide administration support for the PPF and be directed by its members. You will ensure the Forum has the necessary support, tools and resources to carry out their work and meet their aims and objectives.
  • Help ensure the PPF steering group is representative of Parent Carers in North East Lincolnshire by supporting the collection of Parent Carer views and opinions by its members, and facilitate monthly PPF meetings.
  • Support and encourage PPF Members to communicate and engage with the Parent Carer population of North East Lincolnshire, and explore effective ways of doing this, including via information and engagement events.
  • Manage the PPF’s budget and keep an up-to-date record of members and assets.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.