Young Person's Service Coordinator

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead our well established and respected Young Persons Service (YPS). The YPS is available to children and young people across the city of Leeds.

This service supports children and young people up to 18 years old who are bereaved of a significant person through a palliative illness. The service also supports families in preparing for a death by offering safe and supportive conversations, often involving exploring feelings through art, play and active listening.

As the Coordinator for the Young Persons Service, you will be expected to:
* Be a qualified Social Worker with a Social Work England registration.
* Have experience and understanding of pre and post bereavement needs of children, young people and their families.
* Be able to sit with distress, whilst also having proven skills to manage your own wellbeing.
* Lead on all children and young people safeguarding concerns that arise within YPS and the wider St Gemmas services.
* Coordinate and deliver both group and 1:1 support for children and young people and their families.
* Line manage staff, students and volunteers in the YPS service, offering supervision, support and training.
* Ensure a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Promote and deliver meaningful children and young persons participation in shaping and improving our services.

St Gemmas Hospice is one of the leading hospices in the UK. The Hospice provides expert palliative and end of life care, in a quality environment, for thousands of local people each year. Its a prominent and respected charity at the heart of the local community with a large range of specialist services to support patients, their families and friends.

Working for St Gemmas can offer a rewarding career in a friendly environment. Over 280 staff across a 4 acre site, Retail Hub and 27 Charity Shops work together to ensure that patients and their families have the best possible experience and receive the highest quality of care, totally free of charge.

To lead high quality, comprehensive pre and post bereavement support services to children and young people and their families and carers. To work as a member of the Family Support Team and the wider Hospice multi-disciplinary team.

See the attached Role Profile and Personal Specification.

• * Substantial social work experience with children, young people and families.
• * Experience of supporting bereaved families or those experiencing terminal illness.
• * Experience in multidisciplinary team working.
• * Experience in leading safeguarding decisions regarding children, young people and families.
• * Experience in planning and facilitating a variety of therapeutic groups and events for children, young people and their families.
• * Experience of outreach work in schools, homes and community settings.
• * Experience in compassionate line management of staff, students and volunteers.
• * Experience of working with different cultural contexts.
• * Experience in creating and delivering training.
• * Experience in assessing quality assurance and auditing client services.

• * Degree or diploma in Social Work with current Social Work England registration.
• * Post graduate qualification in further work with children and families, for example CBT, Family Therapy, Play Therapy, Art Therapy or Counselling.

• * An understanding of palliative care and bereavement and how these life experiences can impact children, young people and their families.
• * Comprehensive knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation and good practice.
• * Knowledge of modern bereavement theory and models and the ability to put these appropriately into practice.
• * Ability to work holistically with multiple family members, managing complex dynamics in a sensitive way.
• * Ability to manage own caseload, including effective record keeping and IT skills.
• * Evidence of effective team working skills. Be able to work across disciplines with an ability to manage inter-disciplinary tensions and foster good working practices.
• * Able to work autonomously and as part of a team .
• * A commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility of services for all.
• * Ability to work and make decisions under pressure.
• * Proven record of being calm, confident, innovative, creative and assertive.
• * Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in accordance with service priorities.
• * Ability to sit with distress and engage in positive self-care and reflective supervision to maintain resilience.
• * A full clean driving license and access to a vehicle. The successful applicant will be required to travel around the geographical area.
• * The flexibility to work up to one Saturday per month.
• * Knowledge of modern bereavement theory and models and the ability to put these appropriately into practice.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be…