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 currently in or about to leave care placements (such as residential care homes, foster homes, institutions, supported housing, or similar). The purpose of the program is to support this target group during their transition to adulthood, with the goal of increasing their prospects for independence and self-sufficiency.

Leaving childhood and taking the step into an independent adult life is a critical period in all young people's lives. For those who have been separated from their families and grown up in the care of society, the challenges are particularly great. These young people often lack stable and committed adults who remain present over time and can provide support before, during, and after the transition to adulthood. Young people who have been placed in state care face a higher risk of, for example, homelessness, mental and physical health issues compared to their peers. Many lack a complete upper secondary education, which places them further from the labor market. Due to the increased risks of exclusion faced by this target group, SOS Children's Villages works to provide free support to them.

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

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

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

About the role of Support Person

As a support person, you are employed on an hourly basis. Your assignment involves supporting a young person through individual meetings. Together, you work on the different life areas with the aim of increasing the young person's knowledge of how society functions, covering everything from how to apply for housing to how to book a dentist appointment or write a CV. You and your young person meet at times and places that suit you both, usually after school/office hours, in the evenings, or on weekends. You 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 a set number of hours. We match our support pairs based on the young person's/family's needs and your experience. When you are asked about an assignment, we check if you have the possibility to start and the scope of the assignment. Typically, an assignment involves approximately 10 hours per month and is performed in addition to your regular employment.

Before starting the assignment, you will undergo training organized by SOS Children's Villages. As part of each support person assignment, monthly reporting and supervision are included. Prior to employment, extracts from the Police Register will be requested, and references will be checked.

We are looking for someone who:

• has education in social work or is currently studying it, or has acquired equivalent knowledge in other ways
• has experience working with children and young people
• has good knowledge of Swedish society and its structure
• has good verbal and written communication skills in Swedish
• is a suitable, stable, and secure adult without ongoing personal dependency issues/substance abuse or other illegal activities

Merits

• Experience working with children and young people in vulnerable life situations, placed children and young people, the target group of unaccompanied minors, and experience as a contact person in municipal, private, or non-profit sectors.
• A degree in Social Work as well as experience working within 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, including associated guidelines. This means we work from a risk-aware perspective, and the individual employee is responsible for ensuring that their work does not in any way expose children and young people to the risk of harm.

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Open to All
We focus on your competence, not your other circumstances. We are open to adapting the role or workplace to your needs.