Ohana Lead

Job Title: Ohana Lead
Starting Salary: £38,220 progressing to £41,771 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37.0
Location: Countywide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

The Family Group Conference Service is actively looking to recruit a dynamic and organised individual, who has extensive experience of developing positive working relationships with young people, families, professionals and volunteers, within the Safeguarding, family support or voluntary arena.

We have been successful in securing extra funding to expand our Lifelong Links Project, for Young Parents who are Care Experienced. This service is called Ohana

"Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."

Ohana offers a range of opportunities for parents and children including:

• Regular - Face to Face and Online Peer support groups.
• Individual support and signposting for parents.
• Ohana Champions (volunteers) - who offer emotional and practical support to parents and their children.
• Relationships with partner organisations and donors.
• Access to social and educational activities e.g. Paediatric First Aid, Parenting Programmes, Trips to the Zoo, Money Advice Sessions, and Lifelong Links.
• Participation at local and national events for care experienced parents.

About the role

Alongside the existing team main responsibilities include:

• To manage a Volunteer Scheme, providing volunteers to young people (care experienced parents).
• To promote the scheme, by liaising with young parents, volunteers, Children’s Services and other departments, using methods including social media, newsletters and websites.
• To write volunteer role descriptions, job adverts and any related communications in consultation with young parents.
• To prepare materials for new volunteers, including handbooks, instructions, badges, time sheets, reference forms etc.
• To recruit and induct volunteers, ensuring that all HR procedures are followed and that all volunteers have a satisfactory DBS and references.
• To develop and deliver a training programme for new volunteers as well as retaining ongoing oversight of training updates required for existing volunteers.
• To manage, monitor, support and motivate volunteers to provide a quality service, by being the first contact point.
• To manage enquiries and act as first point of contact for young people (parents) requesting a volunteer, Lifelong Links or support group.
• To provide guidance and case direction to volunteers on any safeguarding issues that arise from their work.
• To undertake assessments of young people (parents) and volunteers to establish needs and wishes, in order to make plans that match these safely and appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records on volunteers, including DBS references, training completed, and hours volunteered.
• To support young people to build positive relationship and to develop and run a Young Parents Support Group.
• To liaise with budget holders regarding volunteer resources, including the reimbursement of any expenses.
• To gather feedback and present information to colleagues and management on the successes and challenges of the volunteer scheme.
• To collect and collate relevant data and information to maintain relevant databases.
• To be aware of and comply with all relevant policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Confidentiality and Data Protection and report all concerns to the appropriate person.
• To keep up to date with legislation and policy related to volunteering and make any necessary modifications to accommodate changes.
• To support Young People in building positive relationship and plan and run the Young Parents Group weekly.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. The post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.

About you

Essential:

• Knowledge of child protection/safeguarding procedures.
• A commitment to anti-discriminatory practices in employment and service provision.
• Experience of undertaking direct work with children and young people.
• High level of computer literacy.
• Commitment to embedding innovative ways of working.
• Excellent communication, listening, liaison and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours in line with the needs of the children and young people and their networks. This will include some evenings and some weekends.
• This is an essential car user post. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use.
• Willingness to travel across Hertfordshire

Desirable

• To have worked independently and within agreed time constraints.
• Experience of working with a young person led approach.
• Experience of working in a trauma-informed way.
• Experience and knowledge of working with cared for young people who are now parents
• Using initiative and a proactive approach to develop and run group activities
• To have had experience in working in a partnership with other professionals.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC10 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Gemma Andrew (gemma.andrew@hertfordshire.gov.uk)

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.