Development Mentor
Young Carers Development Trust
| Name: | Development Mentor |
| Organisation: | Young Carers Development Trust |
| Location: | |
| Type: |
Part Time
This is a commitment of an average of 4 hours per month for 4-5 years.
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Description
The Young Carers Development Trust (YCDT) was created to provide a support program for exceptional individual Young Carers (YCs), aiming to provide them with educational, financial and mentoring support to enable them to achieve their full potential.
Young Carers develop a sense of responsibility and maturity beyond their ages as a result of the circumstances they find themselves in. However, they rarely fulfil their educational potential because of the conflict between their family responsibilities and their education. Often they lack encouragement or are unable to study due to their caring commitments.
The YCDT Award is designed to help Young Carers achieve their educational potential through:
● The provision of financial support for specific items (such as for extra coaching, course or tuition fees, important pieces of equipment)
● The support of individual mentors as appropriate, available both locally and nationally
● Webinars on topics related to being a young carer
● An annual Young Adult Carer (YAC) Aspirations Conference
● Events and activities to network with peers and have a break from caring
The Trustees are now seeking to engage individuals as Development Mentors who will support our Young Carers and build a personal relationship, enabling them to achieve a potential beyond their own expectations and assist them to achieve their personal and career goals.
Our Development Mentors will meet with their young carer and jointly prepare a development plan to realise these goals, including costing for any anticipated expenses and resources. The overarching aim is to put in place processes and procedures, and a support structure to allow the Young Carer to achieve their goals. Accordingly it may well be necessary to gain the support and commitment of these aims from family members, and to liaise with other mentors, support agencies and the Trustees to leverage their contacts and resources and find networking opportunities.
The Development Mentor will need to be sensitive to the particular issues and challenges that our Young Carers face, and must have the ability to build a personal trusting relationship with them, their family and the relevant support groups. Experience of working with Carers, and in related community support groups would be an advantage but experience and skills gained in a pastoral, professional or educational role may be viewed as equally relevant. The Trustees believe that an understanding of the disadvantages that Young Carers face, flexibility in communicating and meeting with them, coupled with a sense of humour are all qualities that help to gain and sustain this trust.
It is expected that the time commitment, face to face or by telephone, with Young Carers would be about 4 hours per month. You would also be asked to communicate with, and sometimes attend Trustee meetings, supervision and training sessions as appropriate and maintain appropriate records. All candidates will be DBS checked.
The Trust pays an honorarium to Development Mentors, as well as reimbursing travelling expenses. The honorarium depends on the level of support provided, up to a maximum of £500 per Young Carer per annum.
Request Organisation Contact Details
Organisation Description
Young Carers Development Trust (YCDT) is a charity that supports Young Carers. Young Carers are children and young people who care for someone, often at home, with a disability, long-term illness, problems with addiction or their mental health. They often have much more responsibility than their peers, frequently looking after the running of the home and their loved ones. This means they miss out on opportunities and life chances that are available to other young people. Statistically, Young Carers are twice as likely to suffer from mental health problems themselves, obtain two or more grades lower than their peers at GCSE (in each subject!) and are doubly as likely to be NEET (not in education, employment or training) after year 11. We are currently aiming to fight this for Young Carers living in Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire and Swindon.
When
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Cause / Interests
- Children
- Education and Literacy
- Youth
Types of Activity
- Mentoring
- Youth Work
Skills and Qualifications
Requirements
What we are looking for
Someone with good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others, particularly young carers. Someone who is flexible yet committed to support the young person they mentor. A background in education or youth work is helpful but not essential. We are really looking for someone with transferrable skills to build rapport and help the young carer achieve their educational aspirations.
Benefits
This is an extremely rewarding role as it is unique given the amount of time you have to develop a relationship with the young carer you support. You will see them grow and develop and go on to achieve their potential in life which is an amazing experience.
Additional/Specific Suitabilities
| Minimum Age: | 25 | |
| Maximum Age: | NA | |
| Disabled Access: | No | |
| Wheelchair Access: | No | |
| Expenses: | All expenses are reimbursed plus an optional annual honorarium of £500 paid quarterly. | |
| Restrictions: | NA | |
| Induction: | September 2022 | |
| Insurance Cover: | NA | |
| Special Needs: | NA | |
| Offer: | Regular training and supervision. | |
| Training: | A minimum of four times a year to include safeguarding. | |
| Other: | NA |
Recruitment Method
Application form, DBS Check, Interview, References