Personal Advisor

This is an exciting time in Dorset Council as we are investing in and strengthening the service to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children brought in to the care of the Council and supported through to young adulthood.  A new team of Social Workers and Personal Advisers has been created and is continuing to develop. An opportunity is now available for someone seeking a role as a Personal Adviser.  This is a position of 37 hours per week for a fixed-term contract period of 18 months.

PAs will support young people aged between 16 and 25 years going through the asylum process.  You will deliver the full range of statutory responsibilities through the Leaving Care Act 2000. This involves providing young people with advice and guidance.  You will be working collaboratively with all partners to identify and meet individual’s needs, assisting young people to participate in pathway planning to ensure that their plans properly reflect their individual strengths, aspirations and needs. You will be working in young people’s homes, their communities, in Council offices and you will have the option to do some work from home. In this team, there will be liaison with solicitors and the Home Office and travel may be required throughout the UK.

• You will have experience of providing high quality services to children, young people and families or others with multiple vulnerabilities.
• You will be used to working in a fast-paced environment and able to adapt to changing situations and respond appropriately. 
• You will be an effective communicator and be creative in your work to produce innovative solutions.
• You will have knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation and guidance and the issues affecting young people leaving care. 
• You will need to be self-motivated and able to work on your own and as part of a team.
• You will need to be able to use IT to support accurate case recording and management information, as required by service standards.
• This post has a significant travel requirement, both locally and nationally, and you are contractually required to have a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) available for use as required.
• This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please refer to our policy on the employment of ex-offenders for further information.