Personal Family Support Worker

Role: Personal Family Support Worker

Location: Episkopi, Cyprus  

Salary: £23,690

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Benefits:  30 days Annual Leave (increasing to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays.  Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme 

 About Us

Polaris Children’s Services is part of the Polaris Community of companies and delivers statutory and non-statutory social care services the UK and to military communities overseas.

Since 2014 we have provided social work services to the Ministry of Defence in Germany and in October 2019 expanded our overseas work with the British military and associated civilian personnel and their families across Europe, Canada, Kenya, Belize and the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

From 1st July 2020 we expanded our services to include the British Forces Social Work Service in Cyprus and the South Atlantic Islands. 

While all under the management of Polaris Children’s Services we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each service within our community of military social work services. 

An opportunity has arisen in the Polaris Children Services, British Forces Social Work team in Cyprus for a full time Personal and Family Support worker.   

About the Role

Working for Polaris Children’s Service is all about making a positive difference to the personnel within the military community. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work within a military environment.  You will ideally have practical experience of working within an Adult and/or children and family setting, supported by excellent interpersonal, organisational and administrative skills.

Experience in supporting people with a range of needs from debt management to short tour reports,

Isolation, relationship support.  Full details found in the job description.

If you have excellent organisational skills, are able to meet deadlines, have excellent communications skills, and have an understanding of military life, then this is the ideal role for you.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE: but not exhaustive

• Accept referrals from service authorities, civilian agencies and self-referrals via Single Point of contact
• Establish and maintain links with relevant external statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance the support available to the service community both on island and the UK
• Compile reports in accordance with Polaris Children’s Services policies, procedures, and practice guidance
• At the direction of the Line Manager, undertake work for the Registration and Pre Inspection of Childminders to include recruitment, training and support
• Provision of services to vulnerable adults in command
• Undertake referee’s interviews (Fostering, Adoption, Day Care Staff, including Childminders)
• Assist with the coordination of Community Volunteer Projects including attendance at fetes
• Attend the in-service committee meetings and provide written reports to the meeting.
• Provide advice and guidance around low mood, anxiety, isolation, drug/alcohol misuse, debt management (list not exhaustive).

Requirements:

• Level 3 Safeguarding Certificate
• NVQ Level 3 in Social Care or similar qualification
• Understanding and experience of working within a military environment
• Computer literacy skills
• Experience of report writing to a high level
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively across Cyprus and the UK (including occasional nights away)
• Ability to work flexibly, including some weekends and evenings
• Full driving licence for manual cars
• This is a full time, permanent position. The hours of work are 37.5 per week
• Successful candidate must have the right to live and work in the Republic of Cyprus or the European Union
• Applications are welcomed from UK nationals. However in line with local legislation, priority will be given to those who already have the right to live and work in Cyprus / EU.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of duties and you may be asked to undertake such other duties that are required commensurate with the role. As outlined in the job description

Polaris Children’s Services is committed to equality in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.  We have also been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by the Jobcentre plus. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert without notification.  The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.