Parent Partner

JOB TITLE:                                Parent Partner

RESPONSIBLE TO:                  Peer Services Lead for England                              

HOURS OF WORK:                  As per individual terms

GRADE/SALARY:                     Grade 2.4/ £24,479

LOCATION:                               Home based

TYPE OF CONTRACT:              Permanent

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Provide peer support services via the transition service for One Adoption. You will support individual families with peer to peer goal-based intervention service  deliverable via 6 sessions of support (1-1).

Provide peer support services via dedicated support phone line, bookable sessions & email cover. This will be delivered via rota’d  sessions for the Eastern Region Peer Support Line.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct 1-1 support

• To work with families to achieve agreed goal-based outcomes.
• To work to a plan for transition.
• To signpost families to relevant support.
• To provide 6 online support sessions of 1 hour via TEAMS covering the programme topics agreed within timescale.
• To follow a programme of support and monitor progress regularly.
• To empower families to work closely with schools, settings and relevant professionals encouraging them to build and strengthen relationships.
• To complete admin and paperwork relevant to the family including evaluation paperwork.

Support Line

•  Following a scheduled work pattern, respond to adopters calling in to a  live phone line, providing a listening ear & signposting to relevant resources/information.
• Following a rota ensuring bookable sessions are responded to, listening & signposting where required.
• Monitor & respond to emails within your scheduled shifts.
• Ensure feedback texts are sent at the end of each interaction with a caller.

General

• Retain accurate records in accordance with Adoption UK policy and practice, complying with GDPR legislation.
• To ensure compliance with appropriate Adoption UK policies and procedures
• To carry out such other duties as may be deemed necessary.
• Ensure all admin tasks are carried out within a timely manner, Evide updated.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & KNOWLEDGE

• Personal experience of adoption. (essential)
• Sound knowledge of current adoption issues, or a strong interest in developing such knowledge (essential)
• Experience within the education setting (desirable)
• Experienced mentor or similar support role. (essential)
• Experience of supporting families in group settings as well as 1:1 (desirable)
• A good understanding of One adoption RAA(s) systems and adoption landscape (desirable)
• Safeguarding – understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures (essential)
• Good working knowledge of how to use social media and a range of online platforms with confidence. (essential)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Work and act on own initiative (essential)
• Work to deadlines and tight timescales and reporting around progress (essential)
• Flexible and able to work purposefully from home (essential)
• Excellent communication skills or verbally and written (essential)
• Group facilitation skills (essential)
• Good empathic listening skills, able to deal with issues in relation to significant trauma and loss (essential)
• Ability to organise and hold meetings, including by telephone and online (essential)
• Excellent IT skills including Teams, Outlook and Zoom or a willingness to learn (desirable)
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times. Aware of GDPR, particularly around holding information at home (essential)
• Ensure that internal policies and procedures are complied with. (essential)

BEHAVIOURS

• Supports, encourages and motivates adopters and families (essential)
• Values transparency and consistency (essential)
• Understands the role of individual and collective accountability (essential)
• Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities (essential)
• Approachable and friendly (essential)
• Confident in 1:1 and group settings (desirable)
• Ability to empower and work in partnership with families (essential)
• Shares skills and knowledge appropriately (essential)
• Offers outstanding service to service users (essential)
• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders (essential)
• Willingness to learn new skills (essential)