We are seeking an enthusiastic Participation Mentor to support our work with children in our care and young adults leaving our care, within our Participation team. The views and experiences of children in our care and young adults leaving our care is very important to us; and this role provides direct support and mentoring of young people in our care in order to better understand their experiences and to facilitate their participation in activities, in our forums for young people, and in education, employment or training.
Suitable candidates will have experience of working with young people, mentoring in a school, college or local authority setting with specific insight into the experience and challenges facing children and young adults in care.
This is a unique role within the Transitions and Leaving Care & Participation service, with opportunity to collaborate and innovate. The Participation Mentor will provide direct support at our clubs, trips and activities for children in our care and young adults leaving our care as well as delivering some 1:1 mentoring or support. This requires some evening and weekend work (usually Monday afternoons, Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings), with flexibility to adapt the shift pattern to take account of this.
The successful candidate will be passionate about supporting and encouraging children in our care and young adults leaving our care to dream, believe and achieve with our support. The successful candidate will also support a number of projects within the service and work closely with the Participation Leader and Service Manager for the Transitions and Leaving Care Service in order to improve outcomes for children and young adults in our care.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds and diversity, which may also include lived experience of being in care.
Please note that the successful candidate will be required to be office based at least 3 days a week.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Maddy Gardiner, Participation Leader, 07891944972, [email protected]
Candidate Profile
The Participation Mentor will support the Participation Leader to deliver a monthly programme of participation activity that supports the learning and personal development priorities for children in our care and young people leaving our care. This will include contributing to planning, organising and sessional support that are delivered by the service (Monday Club, PJS programme, Conversation Club), or in collaboration with partner services (Cafcass Youth Justice Board, Youth Council, London CiCC, and other local and national CiCC events led by agencies including Coram, NYAS and Barnardos). The Participation Mentor will record outcomes from sessions in a range of ways including minutes, debrief notes, attendance registers, child voice and photos and video to inform sharing and reporting.
The Participation Mentor will support the Participation Leader with delivering a wide programme of training and outreach to a range of audiences, to help them understand what it means to ‘Walk a mile in my shoes’, and to bring the 5 Good for Me priorities from the Bexley strategy for children in our care and young adults in our care to life through Skills to Foster, Children’s Services Induction, Total Respect, Train the trainer and other training and corporate parenting events as required. This will include a special focus on ‘Becoming a child in our care’ and helping children and young people to have a softened landing when they come into care.
The Participation Mentor will work directly with children in our care and young people leaving care, using a relational approach to safeguarding, and supporting them with understanding what it means to be in care and how to make sense of their experiences as they prepare for independence. Direct work will be recorded in reports or case notes, and may take place in a range of settings including homes, schools and colleges depending on the needs of the service. The Participation Mentor will be skilled in providing learning support to children and young people as part of this work and will promote their active participation in their reviews, and access to support such as Independent Visiting and Advocacy.
The Participation Mentor will help the service retain and develop the identity of the children in our care councils; Positive Journeys and Positive Journeys Seniors which are a positive environment within which all children in care can be supported to engage, be given a voice in how services are delivered and know that their feedback is heard and valued. They will also support the training and development of the Young Director and Young Leaders, as required by the Participation Leader. The Participation Mentor will actively and strategically promote the views and feedback of children in our care and young people in our care, at meetings, briefings and events.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Working with and reporting to the Participation Leader, the Participation Mentor will:
Provide sessional practical support for a range of learning and participation activities, which require a contribution to planning, recruitment of participants, preparation and set up, responsibility for supervision of children and young people, and direct work, management of activity in line with appropriate policies and risk assessment plans, and participation in debrief and playing an active role in record keeping (minutes, registers, reports etc).
Deliver direct work with children and young people, using a range of direct work tools and strategies to promote their learning outcomes, participation and preparation for independence. This can be through 1:1 activity, small or large groups, formal learning settings, participation events or informal outreach and visiting. This work will support and promote children and young people’s participation in statutory plans and reviews and help them develop a good understanding of how to express their wishes and views on a range of issues, including family time.
For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.
Please upload your personal statement under the Relevant Experience and Skills section and ensure this fully aligns to the role criteria.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).