Young Carers Express Project Lead

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

We re searching for a dynamic and innovative project leader who is skilled in supporting marginalised young people and who is able to forge a new approach to meeting their needs.

Westminster City Council, Young Westminster Foundation and John Lyon s Charity are working with DreamArts to help join up services for young people with caring responsibilities. The Carers Express Project Lead will be responsible for leading Carers Express, DreamArts flagship project for young people with caring responsibilities living or studying in Westminster.

You will be responsible for producing and delivering creative and therapeutic activities for the Juniors (7-11) and Seniors (12-18) Carers Express cohort. The project should be thought of with a strategic and long-term vision that supports young people to use creativity to explore and extend meaning to the challenges they face, build a sense of belonging with peers sharing their experience and be supported with their emotional wellbeing. This will include projects in school holidays, residentials (e.g. attending the UK Young Carers Festival) and phases of evening/weekend workshops. You will act as lead facilitator and will be supported by a freelance Wellbeing Practitioner.

You will also manage a caseload of Young Carers aged 11-16, providing 1:1 support to newly identified carers and/or young carers experiencing key life transitions, e.g., primary school to secondary school. Where possible, you will assess and respond to individual needs, build positive mentoring relationships, and signpost or refer young people to appropriate support services within DreamArts or external partner organisations. Outside of your case load, you will build relationships with all Carers Express participants and their families to sustain their engagement through regular check-ins.

The role includes training and development in therapeutic approaches applied within DreamArts, including the PACE attachment model, and you will receive regular reflection spaces with our Therapeutic Consultant to process your work and therapeutic lens sessions exploring approaches for supporting the wellbeing needs of young people in your planning, delivery and evaluation.

MAIN ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Producing, delivering and managing the ongoing Carers Express project to meet the needs and interests of Young Carer participants with a strategic and long-term vision.
2. Coordinate with facilitators and partner organisations to deliver engaging and relevant sessions. This includes conducting team planning and debriefs and working with the Young Carers Programme Manager to ensure the team has the necessary skills and training to deliver the project.
3. Ensure that Carers Express maintains a high standard of quality and is managed and delivered within the context of DreamArts Theory of Change, including implementing monitoring and evaluation systems
4. Ensure the project and its delivery are underpinned by autonomous participation and equality of opportunity. This includes engaging young people at every level of the programme, identifying and responding to their needs and interests, and positively challenging and expanding their knowledge and experience.
5. Apply a relational approach underpinned by the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy. Training in PACE will be provided.
6. Deliver outreach activities to increase awareness and referrals to Carers Express.
7. Liaise with referral partners, including Westminster Early Help Service, schools, professionals and partners to identify Young Carers and inform them of participants development.
8. Lead and line-manage a Wellbeing Practitioner who will support the pastoral needs of the group.
9. Manage resources, including ensuring venues are booked and collating all expenditure receipts.
10. Implement safeguarding and welfare and ensuring the project adheres to DreamArts Safeguarding Policy.
11. Take responsibility for Health and Safety within the project, including risk assessments, incident reporting and accident reporting.
12. Provide support for young people who may be facing particular challenges. This includes managing a caseload of young carers aged 11-16, providing tailored 1:1 support through home visits or online sessions with the aim of integrating them into the wider Carers Express project and Young Carers Pathway offer.
13. Aid the Young Carers Programme Manager to produce qualitative and quantitative data on the Carers Express Project for the end-of-year Young Carers Impact Report.
14. Keep abreast of developments in the young carers sector, identifying strategies, partnerships and key individuals. This includes initiating and responding to collaborative projects with other agencies.
15. Supporting the development of other aspects of the Young Carers Programme. This may include contributing to the delivery of Young Carers Awareness Training, providing relevant content for newsletters and other social media content, and cultivating/maintaining relationships with partner schools using our Young Carers Schools Package.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

1. Proven track record of supporting the development of marginalised young people.
2. Proven track record of building relationships with young people and families.
3. Experience of organising and producing youth programmes for children, young people and/or communities.
4. A proven track record of delivering creative activities and a developed practice in facilitating for young people.
5. Strong interpersonal and communication skills
6. Experience of cultivating relationships with community groups, senior internal and external colleagues and voluntary sector organisations.
7. Working knowledge of current issues facing Young Carers, and within the arts/cultural sector.
8. High level of initiative and leadership qualities.
9. Available to work during unsociable hours, including monthly Sunday sessions and a monthly evening session for our Juniors cohort.
10. Ability to listen, show empathy and support young people through different challenges.
11. Good IT skills and confidence with Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft Office Apps.

DESIRABLE

1. Experience of working with Young Carers.
2. Experience of working within London.
3. An understanding of or qualification in therapeutic practice.
4. Basic understanding of Canva.
5. Experience of collecting and presenting qualitative and quantitative data for project reports and outcomes.