Wellbeing Practitioner

Salary: 26,006.84 pro rata and additional distant island allowance of £1758 per annum,

Location: Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Contract/Hours: 30 hours per week, permanent.

Benefits: 

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave 
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities 
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages 
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover 
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailer’s discounts. 

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help 

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK. 

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive. 

Why Action for Children? 

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives. 

A bit about the role 

 Our Action for children Eilean Siar Wellbeing Service is dedicated to enhancing the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people across the Outer Hebrides. Our Wellbeing Practitioners are based in secondary schools but not managed by the education, AFC is an independent service based in schools. We provide support to promote early intervention support, which evidence shows is crucial for sustainable improvements and preventing the need for CAMHS or counselling referrals.

Based in the Western Isles on Benbecula in Sgoil Lionacleit/Liniclate School, our Wellbeing Service focuses on promoting wellbeing and resilience among Secondary School pupils. We offer regular supervision for all staff and access to relevant training resources, ensuring our team is well-equipped to provide the best possible support.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities for the Wellbeing Practitioner role are;

• Delivering wellbeing support, led by the needs of children/young people.
• We deliver 1-1 confidential support and run groups for the young people.
• Working directly with children and young people, who can self-refer, referred from guidance staff or from partner agencies, on a 121 basis as well as through group sessions.
• Focussing on resilience in relation to key themes such as anxiety, friendships, healthy relationships, attendance, behaviour, mental health, neurodiversity, physical health, impact of poverty as well as specific needs such as domestic violence and bereavement.
• Working with families as needed with accredited parenting programmes
• Using CBT-based programmes, Blues, Bounce back and Decider skills and Let introduce anxiety management LIAM (full training will be provided).

Let's talk about you 

• Ideally an HNC or degree in a relevant subject.
• An understanding of the mental health and wellbeing. 
• Knowledge of safeguarding.
• Ability to advocate for young people to ensure their feelings and wishes are represented in meetings and record keeping.
• Experience of working within a multi-agency environment.
• Experience in lone working.
• Experience in support Children or Young people.
• Knowledge of working to accredited programmes.
• The ability to produce written reports to agreed standards and formats.

Good to know 

Application Process

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Contact: Jessica Jarvis email us at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13841

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. 

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

[For Children Service roles only: Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.]  

Don't meet every single requirement? 

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family. 

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Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement