Wellbeing Practitioner Flexible

Wellbeing Practitioner

This is an exciting and innovative role for 2 community-minded individuals to join our established and evolving charity. This role provides an opportunity to engage with and offer advice and support to children, young people and their families across Guildford Borough through undertaking assessments and delivering a range of evidence-based interventions.

What would I be doing? 

The role of Wellbeing Practitioner is to engage with and offer advice and support to children, young people and their families using a combination of 1:1, group, online and telephone interventions. This role will work cover Guildford Borough, working alongside the Matrix Youth Team and the wider Surrey Wellbeing Partnership. As a practitioner, you will work as part of a team, undertaking assessments and delivering a range of evidence-based interventions for children and young people and their families.

What do we expect from you? 

At the core of Matrix our work is about building relationships to catalyse change for young people and their families. This role will contribute to this by supporting them in a variety of ways including, but not exclusive to:

• Assessing the needs and strengths of the referred young person and help him/her identify individual goals to achieve desired change
• Designing, delivering and evaluating interventions for young people which aim to improve mental health and well-being, build on existing strengths and increase levels of resilience
• Recording and collecting data with various tools such as goal-based outcomes (GBO’s) and use this to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
• Taking responsibility for own caseload of young people and families some with complex and multiple needs
• Involving young people and their parents in the co-production of programmes, activities and services
• Working collaboratively with Surrey and Borders NHS Partnership, Surrey Children’s Services, local CAMHS teams and other community-based services to provide the most effective service for children, young people and families
• Keeping accurate records of individual engagement, evidence of change and celebrate progress with children and young people
• Providing record and report the appropriate data to ensure support programmes can be accurately monitored and evaluated
• Applying safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Providing written case studies as evidence of the effectiveness of individual interventions
• Working as part of a team and attend team meetings, training events and participate fully in one to one, peer and group supervision
• Raising the positive profile of Matrix by building professional relationships in a multi-agency environment including through networking events in the relevant local area, such as meeting with the community safety wardens, local schools, churches, Police and PCSO’s
• Representing Matrix by providing a positive role-model to children, young people and families

Team Expectations

Matrix is a small, established, but fast evolving and growing charity and there is therefore an expectation on all staff to be proactive and a fully-invested team player, supporting others in their busier seasons and the charity as a whole across the year.

We expect you to: 

• Fit in with our values: positive, relational, innovative, collaborative and fun
• To work from within the Christian ethos (see ethos statement)
• Be committed to and passionate about the mission to catalyse change in young people’s lives
• Be a pro-active member of the Matrix team and get involved in projects which benefit the mission of Matrix (e.g.: fundraising activities/events or prayer spaces)
• Take part in whole team projects such as Ready 4 Action (annual cross-church social action project, first bank holiday weekend in May)
• Work across agencies and Matrix teams

Due to the nature of the work you may be expected to work some evenings and occasional weekends. All hours will be based at the Matrix office, working across the Borough as previously agreed. Any specific changes to your working week will be cleared through your Matrix line manager.

What we offer you

– 5 weeks paid holiday, plus bank holidays and the office shuts between Christmas and New Year

– A mentor from a local church

– A training programme that develops your skill base, including First Aid and Mental Health First Aid training

– Peer supervision

– Regular line management and supervision from a senior staff member

– Flexible working arrangements, where possible

– A nurturing and supportive team

Who are we looking for? 

ESSENTIAL 

• Education to a good standard (level 3 or above)
• Knowledge of the wider social impact of “at risk of negative outcomes” on young people, their parents and their families
• Minimum of two years’ experience of working with children, young people and their parents both 1:1 and in groups
• An ability to relate well to children, young people and parents and build trust
• A strong commitment to the co-production of service and activities which aim to build resilience
• An ability to design and implement creative and varied programmes of activities which address themes such as self-esteem, relationships and managing anxiety
• Ability to assess the needs and strengths of individual children, young people and parents
• Ability to keep accurate records of engagements and evidence of change
• An ability to record outcomes using an agreed goal-based outcome tool
• Good communication skills including listening skills, a clear written style and IT proficient
• A strong commitment to collaborative working with a range of other agencies
• Ability to travel to different locations within and outside the borough to attend meetings, training and home visits
• Willingness to work flexible hours as well as outside normal office hours whenever necessary

DESIRABLE

• Qualification relevant to working with children, young people and families gained in education, social care or health
• Diploma in Youth Work (JNC recognised)
• Experience of working in different youth work settings (centres, detached)
• Experience of working with other partners and agencies in developing and implementing joint programmes
• Experience or willingness to work in depth with children, young people and their parents using a solution focused approach
• Ability to motivate and enthuse colleagues and contribute positively to a team commitment
• Ability to manage own caseload of children, young people and parents some with multiple and complex needs

To request the application pack please email hr@matrixtrust.com