Scope of the post:
As a Support Worker in our children’s residential service, you will play a crucial role in providing care and support to children with learning disabilities. Your focus will be promoting their independence, enhancing their life skills, and ensuring a safe, nurturing environment. Providing a high standard of care working as a team to ensure provide the best possible outcomes for our children. Work with us to embed our ethos of shared core values, delivering high-quality holistic care.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work as a team to provide a vital part of the support network for all our young people and children.
- To work on a shift rota system, this will include waking nights, weekends, and evenings on a shift pattern basis
- To demonstrate positive role model behaviour within the home environment.
- Provide professional, clear boundaries and high levels of care to young people and children.
- Have high expectations of yourself and the children, and be honest and respectable to your colleagues, young people and children.
- Activity Planning: Organize and engage children in recreational and educational activities that promote social skills, communication, and personal development.
- Emotional Support: Build trusting relationships with children, providing emotional support and encouragement.
- Personal Care: Assist children with daily living activities, meal preparation., attendance to school; this may include personal hygiene and dressing,
- Behaviour Management: follow the positive behaviour support plan and develop strategies to encourage appropriate behaviour and manage challenging situations.
- Health and Safety: Adhere to health and safety policies, procedures and legislation to ensure the safety and well-being of children at all times.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate records of children’s progress, incidents, and daily activities, contributing to care plans and reports.
- Collaboration: Work closely with families, healthcare professionals, and other team members to deliver holistic support tailored to each child’s needs.
- Training and Development: Participate in training sessions and team meetings to continually improve skills and knowledge related to learning disabilities and care practices.
- To act as a key worker to a young person, developing trusting, nurturing relationships with the child or young person, acting as the child’s primary point of contact, and advocating for their needs. Establish rapport through regular one-on-one sessions, ensuring the child feels safe and supported.
- Safeguarding and Protection: Adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures and ensure the safety and protection of the child at all times. Report any safeguarding concerns through the DSL.
Person Specification: Children’s Support Worker.
Essential Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:
- English and maths GCSE 4/5 or functional skills level 2
- Willingness to undertake accredited courses and mandatory training within the time set.
- Right to work in the UK
- How to care and support for others
- Have knowledge of the role and the understanding of the challenges and rewards it brings
- Have good verbal and listening skills
- Able to work under the guidance of senior staff
- Able to use own initiative
- Able to work as a team player and, at times, in challenging circumstances
Personal attributes
- Ability to work unsocial hours
- Have tolerance, patience and empathy
- Have a natural respect for our children, treating them with dignity and respect.
- Willingness to bring your whole self to work, share your hobbies, and engage in new activities and experiences.
- Willingness to ensure safeguarding is at the forefront of your mind and reporting where required.
- To be flexible, kind and caring
- Resilient: Ability to cope with challenging situations and maintain a positive outlook.
- Proactive: Initiative in identifying and addressing the needs of children.
- Reflective: Willingness to learn from experiences and seek feedback for continuous improvement.
Desirable Criteria:
- Relevant health and social care qualifications, child development, or a related field are preferred. Level 3 diploma in care or children and young people workforce
- Previous experience working with children with learning disabilities is highly desirable.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with children and collaborate with team members effectively.
- Patience and Empathy: A compassionate approach, demonstrating patience and understanding of each child’s unique needs.
- Ability to work well within a team, supporting colleagues and sharing knowledge.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
- Ability to problem solve, work as a team and be a team player.
- Ability to drive.