Activity Support Worker - Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom - Friends and Places Together

Description

Friends and Places Together is a Southend based charity helping vulnerable young people to see their friends and to make new friendships outside of school and college.

The aim is to offer young adults the chance to be inclusive and to have the same rights as other young people.

Our charity motto is
"everyone has the right to friendships and a right to a social life." We have been established for the last nine years and have successfully supported over 100 young adults to develop many friendships and relationships.

• We are growing, and our clients require the support of other young people who share similar interests such as football, bowling, cooking, shopping, cinema, gym, walking, gaming, swimming, snooker, pubs, crazy golf, adventure island & many more. We even arrange holidays both in the UK and abroad.
• We support people from home to gain confidence to meet outside; we offer community based activities and we have a venue in the Victoria shopping centre with cooking and leisure space.
• We enable young people to develop social skills outside of the education environment to maintain lifelong friends. Most importantly, to be able to problem solve and have empathy and patience when friendships don't work.
• To keep the young people we support safe. A lot of the people we support cannot go out in the community on their own due to their vulnerability and people exploiting them.

• We are looking to recruit young people who are energetic (aged You will need to show you have the ability to be creative with the support time and to be able to help build confidence and selfesteem.
• We support young people with basic everyday life skills and to go out and have fun.
• We provide support during the week, weekends and evenings. The position is parttime with the opportunity to build hours as new clients are referred or their hours with us increase.
• Being a driver is an advantage, however all applicants will be considered.
• Full disclosure (DBS) is required, and we cover that cost. If you decide to leave within the first 3 months we will retract the cost of the disclosure.
• You will be required to spend 1 week volunteering as part of the interview process, to shadow staff and meet our young people. This is an opportunity to ensure you're the right person for the role. We will cover the cost for travel expenses and £5 towards lunch daily, receipts must be provided.
• If successful you will be offered the position and then complete a paid 1 week induction process (hours to be confirmed) this will require more shadow shifts with our current staff.

• To work with a team of young people committed to helping young disabled people go out with their friends.
• To involve the young people in planning their support time, ensuring its person centred and works to the best of their interest.
• To contact and communicate with parents/guardians or care providers.
• To use WhatsApp to communicate with the staff team and clients within the guidelines set out in the handbook.
• To help support 1:1 and in small friendship groups.
• To go on holidays, day trips or short breaks with the group.
• To keep receipts and expenses as part of your role.
• To take cashless payments using Sumup.
• To write simple reports.
• To participate in family, social worker & other service providers review meetings.
• To work with the young people to update their Personal Development Plan to show and evidence outcomes.
• To keep the coordinator informed of changes or concerns with the young people.
• To inform the coordinator or CEO of any safeguarding concerns immediately.
• To complete relevant forms in regard to incidents or safeguarding.
• To maintain clear professional boundaries with the young people, staff team & Health care Professionals.
• To inform the coordinator of any changes needed to your rota or changes you have made.
• To complete all training to the deadlines set.
• To familiarise and adhere to the guidelines set out in your handbook.

• Belief in the importance of support which recognises and understands individuals.
• To support young adults to have a life of their own.
• To respect the decisions and choices of others, even when they are different from our own.
• To be positive and enthusiastic.
• Likes making a difference to others.
• Likes helping others. Understands the hardship for disabled people.
• Expected to be committed to the job training and to build up skills and ability.
• Be reliable and demonstrate good time keeping.

We are seeking people who want to go to work and feel that they are valued and who want to make a difference.

We offer support, a chance to build up skills and experiences and you will be part of making someone's life truly inclusive.