West London Zone Link Worker - Job Description - April 2021

West London Zone Link Worker
       Job Description – April 2021

Registered charity number 1160947 Private Limited Company number 08991196

LINK WORKER
 Role details
    ●   Member of the Delivery Team
    ●   Managed by a Link Worker Manager
    ●   Permanent and maternity cover contracts available
    ●   Full and part time contracts available
    ●   Anticipated start date 23 August 2021
    ●   From £26,000 per annum (pro rata for part time staff)
    ●   West London Zone (WLZ) Head Office is Freston Road, W10, and Link Workers are
        based in both Head Office and schools within the Zone
    ●   You can find our benefits listed on our website

 Role Summary
 Link Workers work with families, WLZ colleagues, teachers and partner organisations to plan, co-
 ordinate and deliver a two-year programme of support for children and young people. WLZ aims
 for every child to achieve good wellbeing, confidence, positive relationships and improved
 academic achievement.

 There are six key components to the Link Worker role:

    1. Build positive relationships with children, young people and families, developing a
       detailed understanding of each child on the WLZ programme
    2. Plan, manage and quality assure the programme of support delivered by WLZ’s partner
       organisations, ensuring that it complements what is on offer in the school, runs smoothly
       and supports children’s progress
    3. Plan and deliver tailored support programmes for individuals and small groups,
       responding to changing needs over the course of the programme
    4. Regularly engage with parents and carers and pro-actively connect families to
       opportunities in their community by listening to them and linking them to organisations,
       events and activities
    5. Support the children, young people and families to engage consistently with the
       programme of support so that they make progress towards positive outcomes
    6. Working with local services to ensure families get the additional support they need
       should they need it

 Job Responsibilities and Duties
 Supporting children and their families

    ●   Act as a trusted adult and role model in the lives of the children, young people and
        families
    ●   Engage with children/young people in order to build and maintain trusted relationships
    ●   Motivate and inspire children and young people to engage positively with additional
        support as part of the WLZ programme
    ●   Accurately assess the strengths and needs for each individual on the WLZ programme
        informed by work with children, young people, parents and professionals

Registered charity number 1160947 Private Limited Company number 08991196

●    Create robust individual support plans to meet the needs of children and young people,
           using a Skills Framework and SMART goals to monitor and review progress
      ●    Deliver 1:1 and small group engagement sessions to children and young people, which
           support their progress towards goals, consistent with WLZ policies and procedures
      ●    Support school classroom delivery through one to one support with certain children
      ●    Plan and act as trip leader or assistant leader on a range of educational trips and visits
           for children and young people in the after school, at weekends and in the school holidays
      ●    Maintain regular communication with parents and provide opportunities for home
           learning where appropriate

 Recording and evidencing programme impact

      ●    Ensure that all relevant data related to programme engagement, attendance and
           children’s progress is recorded using the WLZ data system, Salesforce, in a timely and
           accurate way
      ●    Maintain detailed case notes, including instances of engagement, and gather relevant
           data on children, young people and families to evaluate situations and develop
           responses to complex problems
      ●    Ensure that school data is collected, the WLZ wellbeing survey is completed and consent
           for participation in WLZ support is obtained from all families in a timely way.
      ●    Monitor children’s progress throughout the programme by using data and the WLZ
           Skills Framework to develop and review each child’s plan of support plan by sharing
           information between WLZ, schools and delivery partners
      ●    Support and undertake any activity required for WLZ’s external evaluation in an
           organised and timely way

 Planning and coordinating specialist support for children

      ●    Using data, school feedback and an in-depth knowledge of each child plan a tailored
           programme of support which delivers WLZ’s “core commitment” standard for every
           child
      ●    Co-ordinate and manage the seamless delivery of specialist support by delivery partners
           both during and after the school day in line with WLZ and school policy and procedure
      ●    Work collaboratively with the WLZ Partnerships team to ensure delivery partners
           deliver high quality support which meets children’s needs, develops their skills to
           achieve their goals and therefore make progress towards positive outcomes
      ●    Build good working relationships with delivery partner facilitators and key school staff
           to ensure good and effective communication at all times.

 Community engagement

      ●    Establish links with key representatives from local agencies and organisations also
           working with the families WLZ is supporting, to ensure that WLZ support is aligned with
           statutory support, to include Early Help family practitioners, social workers and health
           visitors
      ●    Hold events and represent WLZ at local network meetings to forge positive
           relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration with other organisations
      ●    Play a key role in organising and delivering the WLZ local community fun days to build
           relationships with children, young people and their families

Registered charity number 1160947 Private Limited Company number 08991196

Other

      ●    Demonstrate commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as expressed in WLZ’s
           EDI policies and strategy
      ●    Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding children and young people in line with WLZ
           Safeguarding Framework and the DFE’s Keeping Children Safe in Education
      ●    Any other duties as reasonably required

 Training, Development and Support
 We are really focused on your development to enable you to excel at your job and achieve the
 most for children in our Zone. WLZ is an award-winning charity with a growing reputation for the
 high quality of our programme, and as a Link Worker you will play a role in its strategic
 development.

 From day one you will be supported to develop the skills needed to excel at your new role,
 including:

      •    Leadership – you will drive the WLZ programme in your school(s)
      •    Management – you will manage a complex caseload and partner delivery programme in
           school
      •    Senior Communication and Negotiation – you will develop influencing skills, working
           with senior leaders in schools
      •    Regular Clinical Supervision – you will receive regular supervision sessions with a
           qualified clinician to support your work with children and families
      •    Opportunity to develop the Link Worker role – Link Workers are encouraged to bring
           individuality, creativity and innovation to the role and the wider organisation

 As a Link Worker, your role can be challenging so we make sure you are fully supported by
 providing;

      ●    Weekly 1:1 line management
      ●    Clinical supervision -1:1 - monthly
      ●    Collective learning and working groups to inform programme design and refinement
      ●    ‘Buddy’ system to learn from and share practice with another Link Worker

 We also have a comprehensive programme of training that will support your professional
 development which includes;

                ●    Solutions Focussed Practice
                ●    Trauma Informed Practice
                ●    Advanced Safeguarding
                ●    Data Analysis and Caseload management
                ●    Child Relationships and Attachment Styles
                ●    Special Educational Needs
                ●    Mental Health First Aid
                ●    Basic counselling skills
                ●    Shadowing other Link Workers in their settings
                ●    First Aid and Trips and Visits planning training

 Person Specification
 Essential skills

      ●    Pro-active, keen to get stuck in, self-starter

Registered charity number 1160947 Private Limited Company number 08991196

●    Passion and drive to change the lives of children and young people
      ●    Able to work independently to solve problems
      ●    Ability to manage relationships and work collaboratively across multiple settings with
           different people
      ●    Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills; able to communicate
           professionally and flexibly with a wide group of stakeholders
      ●    Able to plan work and manage competing priorities in a busy, fast paced environment
      ●    Able to build positive relationships with children and families from a range of
           backgrounds and experiences
      ●    Able to learn new systems and ways of working quickly, adapting and flexing where
           needed
      ●    Able to use and understand data to inform and plan work with children and families

 Essential experience

      ●    Relevant professional experience or significant voluntary experience, e.g. family support
           work, education, early years, social work, youth and community work, mentoring,
           counselling or similar
      ●    Degree or other equivalent qualification
      ●    Confident and competent using IT (experience with Microsoft Office suite including
           Excel, Word, and Google Apps and management information systems)
      ●    Good understanding of safeguarding legislation and best practice in relation to children
           and young people

 Essential values

      ●    Understanding of WLZ CLEAR values and how these should be applied in our work
      ●    Understanding of and commitment to inclusion
      ●    A commitment to best practice in safeguarding the welfare of our young people

 Desirable attributes

      ●    A connection with West London
      ●    An understanding of the demographic and inequalities in West London
      ●    Experience of working in schools

 How to apply
 To apply, please read our Safer Recruitment Policy and complete the online application form.

      ●    The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 30 May 2021.
      ●    We expect to hold first round interviews in an online, group format in week commencing
           7 June 2021.
      ●    Successful candidates will then be invited to 1:1 interviews with the Delivery Director,
           Head of Link Work, and Deputy Head of Link Work. These are predicted to take place in
           week commencing 14 June and will be either in person or via video call, in line with the
           most up to date government guidance.
      ●    Final interviews will be held in week commencing 21 June.

 If you have any questions please contact our friendly HR Team by email:
 recruitment@westlondonzone.org

Registered charity number 1160947 Private Limited Company number 08991196