Outreach Support Worker - UASC Separated Children

About the Outreach UASC (Separated Children) team

The Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) team comprises skilled and qualified support workers dedicated to assisting minors seeking asylum in the UK. UASC young people often have limited English proficiency, and we receive minimal information about them, posing a challenge to building trust. Nonetheless, our resilient staff, equipped with expertise in handling complex issues, go the extra mile to ensure these young individuals receive top-quality support throughout their placement.

Currently, we provide support to over 100 young people in their homes, guiding them in acquiring essential skills to manage their tenancy and progress towards full independence. Our approach includes delivering ASDAN sessions, targeting independence skills such as budgeting, education, health and wellbeing, and effective home management.

For our UASC Separated Children, their dedicated support workers assist them in navigating their asylum claims, Home Office interviews/applications, and enhancing their English proficiency. This is achieved through comprehensive support, including ESOL classes at college to improve both verbal and written communication skills.

Due to the areas this role covers a car driver with a vehicle is essential.

About you

You will be passionate about this sector, looking to make a difference with our service users and will be looking for a challenging but rewarding role.

Experience:

• Previous experience supporting working with young people and children with high needs
• Experience working with Separated Children or with people seeking asylum
• Travel is essential so must hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle insured for business use
• Computer literate
• Good interpersonal skills
• Thorough knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children
• Have or be willing to work towards an NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification
• Fluency in additional languages is desirable

Key Duties:

• Managing a caseload of Separated Children Service Users, helping to build independent living skills
• Liaising with relevant professionals such as Social Workers, Healthcare practitioners and the Police
• Writing detailed reports which assess a service user's independent living skills
• Completely weekly inspections of Service User's properties
• Support with accessing and maintaining education/employment
• Promote physical, mental and emotional well-being, de-escalating challenging situations when they arise
• Signposting to appropriate services as required, including mental health, drug rehabilitation services, counselling and education

Please see the youtube link "Day in the life of a support worker" for an overview on Bedspace Outreach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjlN9TGBweo

At Bedspace, we are committed to safeguarding and protecting children and the people we care for and support in our work. As part of our recruitment, selection, and appointment processes we conduct a range of vetting checks including Enhanced DBS and reference checks, to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and those we care for and support are appointed.

Please note that at present Bedspace is unable to provide sponsorships.

About Bedspace

We are Bedspace. Our mission is simple - to transform the lives of the people we care for and support. Our team of 300+ people work to provide housing and support packages to our service users in asylum, young people leaving care, adults in social care and homeless families and individuals. 2024 sees us celebrate our 25th anniversary, during which time we’ve supported over 17,000 people to transform their lives.