SLA12904 - Peer Mentor

Job Description

South Lanarkshire Council is an ambitious, high performing organisation with a clear vision and programme of action which is designed to improve the lives and prospects of everyone in South Lanarkshire.

The aim of Social Work Resources is to promote social welfare and provide effective care and support to meet the needs of vulnerable people in South Lanarkshire.

In partnership with community planning partners, voluntary and independent provider organisations, we offer a range of services designed to enable, support, improve and protect the health and social care of people using our services.

Requirements

Vacancy: Fixed term for 23 months

An exciting and innovative opportunity has arisen within South Lanarkshire Council’s Children and Justice Services. We are looking to employ a Justice Support Assistant who has their own lived experience of the Justice System and is keen and motivated to support other young people who may have found themselves in conflict with the law. The successful applicant will be involved in working across the area of South Lanarkshire and will predominantly be working with young people aged 16-21, who may have experienced previous trauma and who may also present with challenging and often complex high-risk taking behaviours within the community.

The successful candidate will work as part of our dedicated social work team and will form part of a group of people around the young person to offer support that is tailored to meet their individual needs. The post holder will be expected to provide intensive supports engaging with both the young person and their family/support networks and care givers as and when required. They will also work in partnership with all other relevant partner agencies and services. Tasks and duties will include developing good working relationships with young people who are in contact with our services and to provide support, advice and guidance as well as opportunities that enable a rights and strengths-based approach.

The successful applicant will support young people to access any relevant services and organisations within the local community and will promote and support positive outcomes and citizenship. The Whole Systems Approach team, work with young people who may be detained within custodial/secure settings, as well as young people who require support within the community. Many of the young people we work with will be subject to interventions relating to Diversion from Prosecution, Structured Deferred Sentence, Community Payback Orders, Compulsory Supervision Orders as well as those on Bail Supervision and Electronic Monitoring (EM). The successful applicant will work in conjunction with a range of services and partner agencies including Police Scotland, Scottish Court and Tribunal Services (SCTS), the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) undertaking this work.

Applicants as detailed will require to have a level of lived experience and be a good communicator with an ability to develop good relationships with young people. They will support the young people to achieve positive outcomes and destinations. The successful candidate will require good organisation and time management skills and applicants should be good at working under pressure; particularly when faced with adversity and challenging behaviours. Due to the nature of this role, it would be important to have a level of flexibility as there may be occasions when working later and at weekends may be required to support the young people linked with our service.

Responsibilities

Foreign Police Check

Candidates should be able to detail any gaps in employment and provide a foreign police check where applicable for any periods living or working abroad.

Legislative Information

This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003.

Regulated Work with Protected Adults

This post is considered Regulated Work with Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with protected adults.

Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made by South Lanarkshire Council.

Please refer to http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.

Fixed Term Vacancy 

Additional information for Internal Applicants – As this is a Fixed Term position, prior to making your application, please discuss your potential application with your current Line Manager.  In the event that you are being considered for this post, your release to undertake this internal fixed term opportunity would need to be agreed in advance and managed by the service/s or resource/s. 

The Individual

As an employee of the Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• Up to 33 days annual leave which will be calculated into hours on commencement of the role.
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Occupational sick pay
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave, enhanced leave
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)

Please apply online.

All correspondence will be via your email address registered with myjobscotland.

Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant

South Lanarkshire Council are Equal Opportunities employer and encourage applications from all members of the community. As a user of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum behaviour requirements for the position.

South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans are guaranteed an interview who meet the minimum requirements for the position.