Coach (Social Service Assistant)

**POSITION DESCRIPTION
**JOB TITLE: COACH (SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANT)**

**DEPARTMENT: SMALL GROUP CARE**

**REPORTS TO: HEAD OF DEPARTMENT**

**________________________________________________________________**

**Objectives**:The objective of PSGC is to provide trauma-informed care in a safe and nurturing environment to help the **Children & Young Persons **(CYPs) **recover from their past traumatic experiences and promote their overall well-being.

**Desired outcomes**:The desired outcomes for the CYPs in the PSGC are as follows:
**i. **Safety from abuse and neglect while in care;
**ii. **Improved emotional and behavioural functioning in residential, school and family settings;
**iii. **Experience of stability while in care; and

**iv. **Reintegration with their families (or other appropriate permanency options, i.e. fostering, stepping down to main Home/other Homes) within 18 months of entry into the PSGC.

**The Job**:
1. Help create and maintain a child-centred, homely therapeutic community that is responsive to the developmental needs of clients, where clients are enabled to grow holistically, work towards emotional stability and develop their full potential.

2. Familiarise oneself with the background, treatment plan and daily progress of all clients and help implement their treatment plans.

3. Provide individualised care and supervision of 1 - 2 CYPs, supporting the Supervisor/ Social Worker/ Psychologist/ Head of Dept in the intervention programmes carried out in the residential, school and family settings.

4. Conduct one face-to-face session (at least ½ hour) with their assigned CYPs every week, using therapeutic approaches and other intervention strategies such as OT and Positive Behavioural Plans.

5. Carry out the daily operational duties and supervise clients in their regular activities such as having their meals, going to school or attending programmes run by the SGC, and participating in these activities with the clients where appropriate.

6. Assist clients with any difficulties related to day-to-day issues in the dorm, and ensure their welfare and safety

7. Promote discipline among the clients and be a mentor or role model to them.

8. Assess and respond to crises or conflicts (including using MAPA skills) and escalate to supervisor or deputy head of the home when needed.

9. Provide feedback to the Deputy Head and Social Worker on clients’ behaviours and compliance with activities that are part of their treatment plan.

10. Participate in shift-to-shift communication, which includes completing daily documentation, reading the logbook and providing important handover information to staff at the change of every shift.

11. Liaise with clients’ parents / family regarding day leave or home leave (in consultation with the case worker / social worker).

12. Plan, implement and evaluate programmes that will complement the therapeutic goals developed by the Social worker.

13. Carry out structured activities according the PSGC’s schedule.

14. Organise events and outings for the clients.

15. Look into volunteer recruitment, training and scheduling.

16. Form partnerships with external agencies and vendors on the provision of value-add services to the clients.

17. To perform other tasks as assigned by Deputy Head, PSGC.

**Academic & trades qualifications**
- Min GCE “O” Well versed in English and a 2nd language (Chinese/Tamil/Hindi/Malay)

**Desirable**

A Diploma in Social Services/ Counselling/ Psychology

**Work experience & skills**

**Essential**
- Able to supervise & manage groups of challenging children
- Able to plan and execute programmes & activities for children
- Able to empathize, relate to and understand children

**Desirable**
- Has relevant experience or has worked in a child-centred environment
- Has experience with children & youths with trauma, challenging behaviour or special needs.
- Trained in first-aid and can perform first aid in case of emergency

**Personal qualities & behavioural traits**

**Essential**
- A Team player
- Has a strong passion for children, plenty of patience and wants to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and young persons.
- Can work independently, has a pleasant disposition and able to maintain good working relationships with other staff.
- Good interpersonal skills to provide psychological support for children
- Strong morals and ethics, along with a commitment to children

**Only Shortlisted applicant will be notified.