Haven has an exciting opportunity for a Children and Young People’s Practitioner to join our team. Practitioners work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver high-quality innovative support to meet the needs of children, young people and their families affected by domestic abuse.

Established in 1975, Haven is an independent charity that provides specialist services in Sheffield, supporting over 500 individuals each year. Our mission is to take action and deliver creative solutions that adapt to the ever-changing needs of children and young people (CYP) affected by domestic abuse. We work hard to break down barriers, intervene early, and provide the necessary support guided by a trauma-informed and child-centred approach.

Please take a look at our website to find out more about the work we do – www.havenorg.uk

“It’s a real privilege to support children and young people at Haven. Being able to make a difference in their lives makes every day at work worthwhile. And to do it with a great team of people who put them at the centre of everything we do in a trauma-informed way is amazing.”
— Ruth, Children and Young People’s Practitioner

Key areas of responsibility include:
• Developing and delivering a range of needs-led, one-to-one, group (and other) interventions, using a trauma-informed approach, that places CYP participation at the heart of the service and support.
• Working cooperatively with other agencies to improve and/or develop access to services and support.
• Creating safe spaces for CYP to express their feelings and emotions, have fun and build positive memories.

Essential requirements:
• Have a passion for making a difference to the lives of children and young people and reducing the impact of domestic abuse.
• This role requires Wednesday to be a standard working day some evening, and weekends are required, where the needs of CYP and/or the role/organisation requires this.
• We deliver our services across Sheffield, therefore driving is required for this role. You will need to hold a clean driving licence and have access to your own car for work.
• The appointment of this role is subject to satisfactory checks, including right to work in UK, medical assessment, qualification review, driving licence and DBS check.

Job Description and Personal Specification

Support for Children, Young People and Families
• Manage a caseload of CYP/families, meet contracted targets for delivery and keep accurate and effective records.
• Develop and deliver needs led and child focused support (one to one, group and other interventions), that meet the complex needs of CYP affected by domestic abuse with the aim to reduce risk, improve physical and emotional safety and work towards their recovery and development.
• Utilise a trauma informed approached and ensure that CYP voices are heard and listened to, through enabling CYP participation, self-advocacy and co-production of support/service delivery where possible.
• Contribute to the development of new, creative and innovative responses to CYP (and families) affected by domestic violence/abuse.
• Provide support to the child’s parent/carer with the aim of improving outcomes for CYP.
• Work cooperatively with other agencies to improve and/or develop access to services and support. Advocate for CYP views and needs within their families, schools and with other agencies as appropriate.
• Ensure services and support is delivered within an equal opportunities/ anti-oppressive framework and is responsive to the needs of CYP/families from disadvantaged groups and marginalised communities.
• Prioritise the safety and wellbeing of CYP and identify and act on CYP safeguarding and child protection issues following Haven’s Safeguarding Policy and local procedures, ensuring that CYP have a voice in the process and that interventions are empowering and effective.

Community Development
• Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of organisations engaging with children and young people, such as: schools, youth centres, activity organisations (e.g. Scouts, holiday clubs etc). Actively seeking opportunities for collaborating and working in partnership with other agencies that share Haven’s values and that add benefit to Haven’s work.
• Provide support, advice and guidance to other stakeholders providing support to CYP affected by domestic abuse.

Administration
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the quality, benefit and impact of the service to CYP, their families, stakeholders and the broader community.
Policies
• To contribute to the review and development of appropriate policies and procedures and the development of best practice.
• Implement the policies and procedures of Haven.
• Maintain confidentiality throughout on all issues, complying with GDPR requirements for data protection.
• Comply with internal and external regulations, procedures and other requirements in relation to the organisation, its services and facilities.

Personal and Professional Development
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings and supervision.
• Complete the organisation induction programme and undertake other relevant training and professional development.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of the law and practice relating to: children’s services, domestic abuse, trauma, family support, child protection and other relevant areas.

Other
• Work collaboratively with and provide day-to-day support to colleagues, volunteers and students.
• To implement Haven’s philosophy of working in a cooperative, trauma informed, and empowering way underpinned by feminist principles, equality and children and young people’s human rights.
• To undertake duties as required by managers / Board commensurate with the grade of the post.

Personal Specification
1. Knowledge, Experience, Education and Training
1.2 At least 2 years’ experience (paid or unpaid) of working directly with children and young people who have multiple needs on an individual and/or group work basis.
1.3 Awareness of equal opportunities and an ability to address discrimination.
1.4 An awareness of the issues, impacts and subsequent needs of children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse, including the particular issues faced by marginalized groups, e.g. disabled people, asylum seekers and refugees.
1.5 An awareness of the policies and procedures required within a service that provides support for children, young people and their carers.
1.6 Experience of developing and delivering training to professionals.

2. Skills and Abilities
2.1 Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a positive ‘can do’ and problem-solving approach.
2.2 Ability to develop in partnership with CYP coordinated packages of support and create and deliver exciting and relevant activities/events for CYP that meet identified needs.
2.3 Ability to operate flexibly to manage and prioritise a varying workload often under pressure.
2.4 Able to manage disclosures, maintain personal and professional boundaries and understand confidentiality.
2.5 Excellent communication skills and the ability to represent Haven, collaborate and work in partnership with other agencies, maintaining effective and professional relationships at all times.
2.6 Resilient and self-motivated with the ability to work on own initiative in a constantly changing internal and external environment.
2.7 Ability to utilise a trauma informed approach and work in a participatory and empowering way.
2.8 Ability to respond to difficult situations, work with and respond appropriately to conflict.
2.9 Ability to maintain effective and appropriate records.
2.10 Competent in the use of Microsoft Office programmes e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel etc.
2.11 Ability to communicate verbally and in writing clearly and effectively.
3. Additional Criteria
3.1 Passion for making a difference to the lives of children and young people and reducing the impact of domestic abuse.
3.2 A relevant qualification (minimum level 3) e.g. Play/Art Therapy, Domestic Abuse, Youth Work, Health & Social Care, Social Work, Teaching etc.
3.3 Hold a clean driving licence and have access to your own car for work.

Application deadline is Tuesday 8th April. Please note, we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and will invite applicants to interview as they come in if they meet the criteria. Therefore we may close this role should we find sufficient applicants with which to make our shortlist. As such, we would advise applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Interviews will be held in 2 stages. Stage 1 will be an online interview and short presentation. Stage 2 will be held face-to-face. Only if you are successful at Stage 1, will you be required to attend stage 2.

You can contact our Head of Services, Sarah Midgley, s.midgley@havenorg.uk who will be happy to help, if you would like an informal chat about the role or any further details.