Keyworker Assistant

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Keyworker Assistant to support CYP with learning disabilities/autism and their families within the CYP LD/A Keyworker Team.

You will help gather information, advocate for families in MDTs, and provide emotional support while developing communication, including Makaton/PECS as needed.

The role emphasises flexible working and close collaboration with social care, NHS, education and voluntary sector colleagues.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 / BTEC National or equivalent in childcare, social work, youth work, counselling or education
• Experience providing care or support to families and CYP with LD/ASD is preferred
• Training in LD/ASD knowledge or related areas is desirable

Responsibilities

• Support step-down clients moving from amber to green under the CYP LD/A Keyworker Team guidance
• Ensure family and CYP voices are represented in care discussions
• Gather information to support stabilisation and engage appropriate services
• Provide practical and emotional support while maintaining resilience
• Escalate changes in need to keyworkers and participate in MDT meetings

Skills

Empathy & communication

Multichannel communication

Time management

Prioritisation

Verbal & written skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 / BTEC National or equivalent in childcare, social work, youth work, counselling or education

Tools

Lorenzo

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A Keyworker Assistant will receive step-down clients from the CYP LD/A Keyworker Team at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare to address those moving down to amber and those flagging as green on the Dynamic Support Register. The Keyworker Assistant should have the ability to bring the Parents or Childs viewpoint into every care discussion, either from their own personal experience or on behalf of the family they are representing.

Keyworker Assistant experiences are varied though may come from:

Direct experience of caring or living with a child or young person who has either a learning disability, autism or both

Experience of being a Parent or carer for someone with a learning disability, autism or both

Experience of working to support people who present behavioural challenges in the community.

The Keyworker Assistant functions will be supporting families to achieve:

A voice to ensure families and CYP are sewn into all discussions around them and have a high level of empathy and tact.

Gather information and feedback to further support their ongoing stabilisation

Gather the right information to ensure the right services are engaged with and are involved

Offer practical solutions

Emotional support, to be able to offer that support whilst maintaining resilience.

Escalate to keyworkers if there is a change in need and requires a change in rag rating.

Establish and maintain good relationships with the CYP, their Family and carers and with the providers supporting the CYP (For example Social Care, NHS, Education and the Voluntary Sector Colleagues)

Advocate for the families and CYP in keyworker team meetings, and Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings and also Meetings by Exception DSR)

Highlight with your Team Lead any issues that you are aware of where services fail to deliver agreed care packages to children and young people with learning disability/autism or both.

Proactively work with step-down ambers and those flagging as green on the DSR- as directed by the Team Lead. The Postholder will hold own caseload.

The post holder will work closely with the Keyworker Team and Team Lead to ensure safe transition of clients stepping down from key working and in the safe discharge and/or stepping up of clients as appropriate.

The post holder will be able to use tact and persuasive skills and have experience in situations that require these.

The post holder will be willing to adapt their communication style to meet the need of the CYP, i.e. Makaton/PECS/Social Stories, and will have the skills or willing to be trained in this. For example, when the CYP is in crisis they will need to manage conflict, and deal with heightened emotions. Need tact and to be able to think on the feet.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• A minimum of a NVQ Level 3 / BTEC National, Certificate/Diploma, Vocational A-LEVELS/ An ONC (Ordinary National Certificate) / OND (Ordinary National Diploma) qualification in one of the below: - childcare, social work, youth work, counselling or education

Desirable criteria

• A relevant apprenticeship, such as the Early Intervention Practitioner or Children, Young People and Families Practitioner apprenticeships

Experience

Essential criteria

• Good understanding of the pilot and of the needs of LD/A children, and young people, including their parents/carers
• Experience in responding effectively in emails, letters and documents, to parents, professionals and the operation of Lorenzo which is the trust database.
• Experience in Learning Disabilities and Autism, with evidence of training.
• Experience (paid or voluntary) of working with families and children in either a health, social, education or voluntary role.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working/caring for CYP with a LD or AS diagnosis.
• Experience of dealing with Parents in person on the phone.
• Experience of facilitating multi-disciplinary

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Good organisational and planning skills Empathy in good communication and written form.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work. Excellent IT skills essential including MS office and zoom/Teams/Skype.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload to achieve agreed deadlines with a minimum of supervision.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of issues concerning CYP with learning disabilities and autism.
• Knowledge of social media platforms.
• A level of training in nonverbal communication or willingness to participate in the training. For example, PECS, Makaton, tac pac.

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity. We offer a variety of flexible working opportunities for both full and part time staff. Job Share applicants will be fully considered and applications are particularly welcomed from current and previous service users

All correspondence at each stage of the process (including any offer packs) will be sent to you via the email address you applied from, please ensure you check your emails regularly.

Please check your junk / spam email folders for any further communication from us (NHS Jobs)

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POINTS

• In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated above in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

• Priority will be given to NHS staff across the region who are at risk of redundancy, where the vacancy is at the same band or one below their current band and candidates meet the essential criteria for this post.
• All employees new to the Trust will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.
• All clinical staff bands 2-4 that are new to the Trust will be required to complete a Care Certificate.

Canvassing of members of the Trust or of any Committee of the Trust directly or indirectly for any appointment under the Trust shall disqualify the candidate for such appointment. The Trust does not pay travel expenses for candidates attending interviews.

ALL POSTS INVOLVING ACCESS TO PERSONS IN RECEIPT OF HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE SUBJECT TO A DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE DISCLOSURE.

Please provide full contact details for all referees, especially their email addresses where possible. Failure to do may result in significant delays in your application. There may also be a requirement to provide additional referee details.