Personal Advisor - Leaving Care

We are seeking a dedicated and empathetic Personal Advisor to join our Leaving Care Team. The role involves providing practical and emotional support to young people transitioning from care to independent living. As a Personal Advisor, you will be responsible for helping care leavers aged 16 to 25 develop the skills and confidence to live independently, while ensuring they have access to the necessary services and opportunities to succeed in adult life.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support Planning: Develop and implement personalized pathway plans for each young person, outlining their goals and the support they require in areas such as education, employment, housing, and health.

• Advice and Guidance: Provide ongoing advice, guidance, and emotional support to young people transitioning from care, helping them navigate challenges and access the services they need.

• Independent Living Skills: Assist care leavers in developing essential life skills, such as budgeting, managing finances, cooking, and maintaining a home, to prepare them for independent living.

• Advocacy and Empowerment: Act as an advocate for care leavers, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes, and empowering them to take control of their future.

• Multi-Agency Collaboration: Work closely with social workers, housing officers, education providers, healthcare professionals, and other agencies to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach to supporting care leavers.

• Housing Support: Assist young people in finding and maintaining suitable accommodation, and work with housing providers to ensure their housing needs are met.

• Education, Employment, and Training (EET): Support care leavers in accessing education, training, and employment opportunities, helping them to achieve their career aspirations and become financially independent.

• Health and Well-being: Promote the physical and emotional well-being of care leavers by facilitating access to healthcare services, mental health support, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

• Risk Assessment and Safeguarding: Carry out risk assessments and work with other professionals to ensure the safety and well-being of care leavers. Report and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with statutory guidelines.

• Monitoring and Reviewing: Regularly review the progress of young people against their pathway plans and make necessary adjustments to ensure their needs are being met.

• Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all interactions, support plans, and progress in compliance with legal and organizational standards.

Qualifications:

• Education: A qualification in social care, youth work, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent experience will be considered.

• Experience: Previous experience working with young people, especially those leaving care, is essential. Experience in education, employment support, or housing is also beneficial.

• Knowledge: A good understanding of the challenges faced by care leavers, relevant legislation (e.g., Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000), and local services for young people.

• Skills: Strong communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with young people. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases effectively.

• Personal Attributes: Compassionate, resilient, and motivated by a desire to support vulnerable young people to succeed in their journey to independence.

Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.

Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.