Personal Advisor PO1 - Social Care Non-Qualified

Personal Advisor – PO1 (Social Care Non-Qualified)

Location: London Service Area: Young Adult Service – Children & Young People Services Grade: PO1 Responsible to: Team Manager Working Arrangement: Hybrid working, with five office-based days every six weeks to undertake duty responsibilities.

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated, compassionate and motivated Personal Advisor (PO1) to join our Young Adult Service within Children & Young People Services in London.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about supporting care leavers and helping young people successfully transition into independent adulthood.

You will work directly with young people aged 18 and above, providing practical, emotional and social support to help them achieve positive outcomes, develop independence and build stable futures.

You will manage an individual caseload, develop and review Pathway Plans, coordinate support services and work collaboratively with young people, families, social workers, housing providers, education providers and other partner agencies.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to promoting equality, diversity, safeguarding and the rights and welfare of young people.

Working Arrangements

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with the expectation that the successful candidate will attend the London office for five consecutive or scheduled working days every six weeks, as agreed with the Team Manager, to undertake duty responsibilities.

During office-based duty periods, the Personal Advisor will provide frontline support, respond to urgent requests and enquiries, manage emerging situations and assist with the day-to-day operational needs of the service.

The postholder must also be flexible to attend meetings, undertake out-of-borough visits and work outside normal office hours where required by service needs.

Key Responsibilities

As a Personal Advisor, your responsibilities will include:

• Providing high-quality, person-centred support to care leavers to promote positive outcomes and successful transitions into adulthood.

• Preparing, reviewing, updating and implementing Pathway Plans in partnership with young people and the supervising manager.

• Managing an individual caseload and ensuring that the needs of young people are assessed, monitored and appropriately addressed.

• Coordinating access to services and ensuring young people receive appropriate support in line with their assessed needs.

• Maintaining accurate, timely and comprehensive records on the electronic case management system.

• Supporting young people to access and sustain suitable accommodation, maintain tenancies and develop independent living skills.

• Supporting young people to access education, employment, training and other opportunities that promote independence and financial stability.

• Ensuring eligible young people are supported to access welfare benefits and other financial entitlements.

• Working collaboratively with families, carers, social workers, housing providers, education providers and voluntary sector organisations.

• Supporting young people with complex needs, including mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, immigration issues and parenting responsibilities.

• Supporting young people with immigration matters, including accessing appropriate legal advice and maintaining links with relevant agencies.

• Undertaking assessments of need for eligible young people re-referred after the age of 21 who wish to resume education or training.

• Contributing to workshops and training sessions that develop young people's independent living, budgeting and life skills.

• Undertaking human rights assessments and ensuring the rights, wishes and welfare of young people are respected and promoted.

• Ensuring all financial expenditure relating to individual cases is appropriately authorised, recorded and monitored.

• Identifying safeguarding concerns and immediately escalating any concerns about the safety or welfare of a young person to the appropriate manager.

• Participating in team meetings, supervision, training and service development activities.

• Acting as a duty officer on a rota basis, responding to emergencies and urgent situations when allocated workers are unavailable.

• Adhering to relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local authority policies, procedures and safeguarding requirements.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience of working with young people, care leavers or vulnerable individuals within a social care, youth support or related setting.

• Understands the challenges young people face when transitioning from care into independent adulthood.

• Has knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, care leaver legislation and relevant social care practice.

• Can build positive, trusting and professional relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Has strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.

• Can manage a varied caseload, prioritise competing demands and work independently.

• Has experience of multi-agency working and coordinating support services.

• Can maintain accurate case records and confidently use electronic case management systems.

• Demonstrates empathy, resilience, professionalism and a commitment to achieving positive outcomes.

• Is flexible and willing to undertake office-based duty responsibilities, visits and meetings as required.

Job Purpose

To ensure that the diverse population of care leavers receive the necessary support to successfully transition into adulthood. To provide a high-quality service to care leavers, working in partnership where possible with families and other statutory and third-sector organisations.

To participate in team meetings, service meetings and activities as appropriate.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

The postholder will undertake all responsibilities outlined in the Personal Advisor job description, including pathway planning, case management, safeguarding, multi-agency working, accommodation support, education and employment support, financial monitoring, human rights assessments and duty responsibilities.

The postholder will also undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the grade and responsibilities of the post, as required to meet the changing needs of the service.

Important Working Requirement: The successful candidate must be available to work from the London office for five days every six weeks to undertake allocated duty responsibilities, alongside any additional office attendance required by the service.

For more information, please contact Shivashni Govender at LinsCare