Vacant job

Do you want to support a young person on their way to independence and self-sufficiency?

SOS Children's Villages runs youth programs in Stockholm and Gothenburg for young people aged 16 to 25 who are leaving or about to leave placements within social care (HVB homes, foster homes, institutions, supported housing, or equivalent). The purpose of the program is to support this target group in the transition to adulthood with the goal of increasing their chances of independence and self-sufficiency.

Leaving childhood and stepping into independent adulthood is a critical period in every young person's life. For those who have been separated from their families and have grown up in the care of society, the challenges are particularly great. These young people often lack stable and engaged adults who remain present over time and can provide support both before, during, and after the transition to adulthood. Young people who have been placed in care are at a higher risk of issues such as homelessness, mental and physical health problems compared to their peers. Many lack a complete high school education and are thus further from the job market. Due to the increased risks of social exclusion for this target group, we at SOS Children's Villages work to provide free support to them.

Young people who are about to finish or have already finished their placement in social care can turn to us for support in the following areas of life:

• Health
• Society and Housing
• Networks and Contexts
• Work and Studies

Each young person participating in the program receives individually tailored support to achieve their own goals and a support person who helps, supports, and guides them.

About the role of the support person

As a support person, you are employed on an hourly basis, and your role involves supporting a young person through individual meetings. Together, you will work on the different areas of life with the aim of increasing the young person's knowledge of how society works, from how to search for housing to how to book an appointment with the dentist or write a CV. You and your young person will meet at times and places that suit you both, usually after school hours/business hours, evenings, or weekends. You will meet approximately once a week for up to 12 months.

The employment form as a support person in our national programs is flexible; in other words, you are not guaranteed hours. We match our support pairs based on the needs of the young person/family and your experience. When you are asked about a role, we will check if you are available to start and the extent of the assignment. Typically, an assignment involves about 10 hours/month and is carried out in addition to your regular employment.

Before starting the role, you will undergo training organized by SOS Children's Villages. As part of each support person assignment, monthly reporting and supervision are included. Before employment, a background check from the police will be requested, and references will be taken.

We are looking for someone who:

• has education in social work or is currently studying, or has acquired equivalent knowledge in another way
• has experience working with children and young people
• has good knowledge of the Swedish society and its structure
• has a good ability to express oneself verbally and in writing in Swedish
• is at least 25 years old
• is a suitable, reliable, and stable adult without ongoing dependency issues/substance abuse of drugs/alcohol or other illegal activities

Meritorious

• Experience working with children and young people in vulnerable life situations, placed children and youth, the target group of unaccompanied minors, and work as a contact person in municipal, private, or non-profit sectors.
• Degree in social work as well as experience working in social services.
• Proficiency in one of the following languages: Dari, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic, or Ukrainian.

As a support person at SOS Children's Villages, you have a responsibility to adhere to and follow our Code of Conduct and Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy with associated guidelines. This means that we work from a risk-aware perspective and that the individual worker is responsible for ensuring that their work does not put children and young people at risk of harm.

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