Scope of the post:
As a Senior Children’s Support Worker, you will provide high-quality care and support to children and young people in our home. You will play a key role in leading a team of support workers, ensuring the well-being and development of each child, and promoting a positive, inclusive environment. Embed our ethos of shared core values, delivering high-quality holistic care.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervise and support staff, providing guidance and mentoring to ensure high standards of care.
- Assist in training new staff and facilitate ongoing professional development.
- Work closely with children to support their daily living activities, personal care, and development of life skills.
- Implement individual care plans, regularly reviewing and updating them in collaboration with the team.
- Provide emotional support and encouragement to children, helping them manage their behaviours and develop coping strategies working with managers and children to develop a personal Positive behaviour plan.
- Use their positive behaviour plan to promote a safe and supportive environment.
- Plan and facilitate engaging recreational and educational activities that cater to the individual interests and needs of each child.
- Encourage participation in group activities to promote social skills and teamwork.
- Maintain accurate records of children’s progress, incidents, and daily activities, contributing to reports and assessments.
- Support the implementation of quality assurance measures to enhance service delivery.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, safeguarding policies, and Ofsted regulations to maintain a safe environment for children and staff.
- Report any concerns regarding health, safety, or well-being to the management team promptly.
- Work in partnership with colleagues, inside and outside the organisation to ensure positive communication for all involved in the care of the child.
- Work with outside agencies to help and provide support for the children in our care.
- Ensure staff are working to their full potential, observing and providing guidance where knowledge gaps appear.
- Promote the core values of the home, embedding them in the culture of the staff and everything we do.
- Step in, at times for the deputy, attend meetings, and appointments for the benefit of the children and the home
- Support the Registered manager and the Deputy in the smooth running of the home.
- Contribute to the home’s development plan and direction of the vision of the home to be “outstanding”.
- Work within the parameters of safeguarding, acting accordingly with whistleblowing, safeguarding, and complaints are raised.
Person Specification: Senior Children’s Support Worker.
Essential Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent
- Previous experience working with children in a residential setting, (at least 1 year) particularly those with learning disabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team, with experience in supervision or mentoring roles.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with children, families, and professionals.
- Experience with positive behaviour management strategies and techniques.
- Ability to drive, and have a clean licence
Personal Attributes:
- Empathetic and Understanding: A strong commitment to advocating for children’s rights and needs.
- Proactive and Innovative: Ability to think creatively and implement new ideas for service enhancement.
- Ethical and Professional: High standards of integrity and professionalism in all aspects of work.
- Compassionate and Patient: A genuine desire to support and advocate for children with learning disabilities.
- Resilient: Ability to manage challenging situations and maintain a positive, solution-focused attitude.
- Organized: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
- Reflective Practitioner: Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development, willing to learn from experiences.
Desirable Criteria:
- Further Qualifications: Additional training related to learning disabilities, autism, or therapeutic approaches.
- Crisis Management Skills: Experience in managing challenging behaviours and crisis situations effectively.
- Cultural Competence: Sensitivity to the diverse needs of children from various backgrounds.
- Administrative Skills: Proficiency in maintaining records and documentation with strong attention to detail.
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.
