Leaving Care Worker Job Purpose
We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Leaving Care Worker to support young people aged 16–25 as they transition from care into independent adulthood.
The successful candidate will act as a key point of contact, providing reliable, flexible and coordinated support to care leavers. They will work directly with young people, their families, peer networks and partner agencies to ensure individual plans are delivered effectively and that young people have access to the resources and opportunities they need to achieve positive outcomes.
The role focuses on helping young people develop independence, maintain stable accommodation, access education, training and employment, and achieve positive physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities
- Build positive, trusting relationships with young people leaving care, providing consistent and flexible support tailored to their individual needs.
- Coordinate and implement individual plans, bringing together support from relevant agencies and services.
- Support young people aged 16–25 to develop independent living skills and successfully transition into adulthood.
- Help young people access and maintain suitable accommodation, education, training and employment opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with families, peers, social care, adult services and other partner agencies to improve outcomes.
- Advocate for young people and challenge agencies or wider support networks where necessary to secure appropriate services and lasting change.
- Engage with young people who are reluctant to access support or are considered harder to reach, building relationships and identifying opportunities to improve their life chances.
- Deliver targeted interventions to young people experiencing increased levels of risk, including concerns around antisocial behaviour, employment, accommodation or mental health.
- Provide information, advice and guidance to help young people make informed decisions and develop the skills needed for independent living.
- Recognise safeguarding concerns and work with relevant agencies to ensure young people receive appropriate support.
- Participate in the team duty service, responding to young people experiencing crisis and ensuring their immediate needs are assessed and addressed.
- Work in line with the Council’s Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy, promoting safe, healthy and positive outcomes.
Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience working with young people, particularly care leavers or vulnerable young people aged 16–25.
- The ability to build and maintain positive relationships with young people who may be reluctant to engage with services.
- Experience coordinating support and working collaboratively with multiple agencies.
- Knowledge of the challenges young people face when transitioning from care to independent adulthood.
- An understanding of accommodation, education, training, employment and wellbeing needs.
- The ability to identify risks, respond to challenging situations and provide appropriate support.
- Strong communication, advocacy, organisation and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to deliver targeted, person-centred interventions and support young people to achieve their individual goals.
- An understanding of the services available across both children’s and adult services.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team, including contributing to a duty service and responding to crisis situations.
Key Attributes
- Empathetic, patient and committed to improving outcomes for care leavers.
- Proactive and flexible in responding to changing needs.
- Confident in engaging hard-to-reach young people.
- Resilient and able to manage challenging situations professionally.
- Collaborative, with the ability to build effective relationships with young people, families and partner agencies.
- Focused on promoting independence, safety, stability and positive life outcomes.
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