Young carers Schools Development Co ordinator

Fixed Term, Full Time

Up to £26,800 Per Annum - Subject to pay review

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 09/02/2021

2 Yr Fixed Term Contract (until 31st March 2023)

Mobile working is an essential requirement. There is an ongoing need to work remotely with schools and colleges across Essex despite the current restrictions.

This position will initially, in line with current government guidance be PARTIALLY based from home rather than the office, with an expectation of being home based for the foreseeable future. However, if / when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, whilst retaining some flexible working options.

Job Purpose

The Schools Development Co-ordinator will work with all Essex primary, secondary and special schools as well as FE establishments, to raise awareness and improve procedures and practices that better support young carers.
The role will work with school leadership, governors and staff to share good practice and help them achieve Healthy Schools Award benchmarks and National Young Carers in Schools Award, and thus improve outcomes and life choices for Essex young carers.

The role requires excellent communication skills with an aptitude for building and maintaining relationships with schools and colleges in Essex as well as regionally/nationally, and with National Organisations, other LA commissioners and Healthy Schools Co-ordinators. A flexible approach and the ability to find creative solutions to respond to school situations and young carers needs are essential in this role.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

• Responsible for developing and managing external relationships with schools and colleges to ensure the development and implementation of appropriate policies and good practice for supporting and safeguarding young carers; creating and using creative and positive resources to demonstrate the need to better support young carers and share good practice to achieve better outcomes for those students and the school as a whole.
• Responsible for working with Essex Schools and FE colleges to ensure the improved identification of young carers in line with ECC's statutory duty as defined by the Children's and Families Act 2014.
• Responsible for championing the benefits to schools and FE colleges of better supporting young carers, through improving attainment/attendance, reducing bullying, and meeting OfSTED requirements to enable young carers to have the same life chances as their peers.
• Responsible for increasing the number of Essex schools engaged with the National Young Carers in Schools Award and aid them through the process of meeting the criteria and being awarded the Bronze Award.
• Responsible for developing and managing external relationships with National Organisations, other LA commissioners, Healthy Schools Co-ordinators and other schools locally, regionally and nationally to gather and share good practice that improves outcomes for young carers in education settings.
• Responsible for raising awareness of the Essex Young Carer Key worker service supporting individual young carers, and the wider support/provision offered via the voluntary sector to ensure all young carers receive appropriate support outside school and college to reduce the impact of their caring role, and support their life choices.
• Responsible for working with schools/FE colleges to identify and assist in training and awareness raising sessions e.g. student assemblies, staff development sessions, Governor meetings.
• Responsible for managing and maintaining effective tools for collecting evidence of successful outcomes including submitting all paperwork and systems in accordance with Youth Service processes and procedures to meet reporting requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that ECC policies, procedures and practice for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people are implemented.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A relevant professional qualification which is focussed on working with young people (e.g. LDSS, Social work, Youth and Community, Teacher, Careers) or equivalent or demonstrably equivalent experience with evidence of continuing professional development, with good knowledge in relevant professional area.
• A broad understanding of the issues affecting young carers and young people, opportunities for learning and the services provided by the partner organisations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proven experience of positively engaging with schools and colleges that increased opportunities and outcomes for students.
• Experience working collaboratively with other agencies at a local level.
• Ability to work in a solution focussed manner, achieving results in a timely and resource efficient manner with the ability to prioritise workload.
• A flexible approach with excellent time management skills and ability to work creatively in order to respond to school development needs.
• Ability to use databases to manage outcomes evidence data, with an understanding of management of personal data.