Client: Local Authority
Location: Bootle
Hours per Week: 36.00
Length of assignment: Initial 3 months, with the possibility of extension
Working Hours: 09:00 - 17:30
Job Purpose: We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Missing from Home Worker to provide support and advocacy to children and young people who are reported missing, in line with the Missing from Home protocol and Statutory Duty. The primary goal is to contribute to the well-being and care planning for young people, offering a child-centred approach to ensure the best outcomes.
Key responsibilities will include conducting return home interviews, gathering intelligence, offering advocacy, and playing a key role in influencing care planning for children who experience missing episodes. You will be the crucial link between the young people, allocated social workers, and police, ensuring the needs of the child and their family are understood and addressed.
Main Duties:
- Engagement & Interviews: Proactively engage with all young people who run away, conducting child-centred interviews to identify the reasons behind their missing episodes.
- Care Planning: Record push and pull factors impacting the child or young person and ensure this information influences their care planning.
- Creative Engagement: Provide flexible and creative responses to engage with children and young people.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and detailed records of all work and interactions with young people.
- Prevention & Education: Educate young people on the dangers and risks of running away, providing preventative advice.
- Assessment & Review: Ensure effective assessments, planning, engagement, and reviews to help change behavior and improve outcomes for children and young people.
- Data & Activity Monitoring: Monitor and record service activity in accordance with statutory regulations.
- Family & Context Awareness: Ensure an understanding of the child’s needs within the context of their family and that the family's needs are met by the service providers.
- Positive Representation: Act as a representative of the service in a variety of environments, conveying a positive image of the service.
- Additional Support: Provide additional support as required within the scope of the service.
- Partnership Development: Promote and develop the use of Young Peoples Centres, encouraging other agencies and local partners to engage with the service.
- Proven experience working with children and young people, particularly those who are at risk.
- Knowledge of child protection procedures and the Missing from Home protocol.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage children and young people effectively.
- Ability to work independently, manage caseloads, and maintain accurate records.
- A flexible and creative approach to problem-solving and engaging with young people.
- Ability to work as part of a team and with a range of other agencies.
