Main purpose of the Job:
To provide advice, assistance and support to young people, safeguarding their welfare at all times.
To attend to their practical, physical and emotional needs.
To act as an appropriate role model and work closely with them to enable them to address their difficulties and achieve their optimum potential.
Equality & Diversity:
All young people are equally entitled to have their needs met in a fair and balanced way. Residential Care Workers are responsible for promoting equal opportunities for all and for challenging any behaviour or practice which discriminates against any young person or colleague on the grounds of race, religion, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation or any other perceived difference.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide care for young people through:
1. Attending to practical matters in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning etc)
2. Establishing positive relationships with young people and always offering them unconditional and positive regard
3. Meeting the physical, emotional, behavioural, cultural and educational needs of young people
4. Acting as a role model and demonstrating appropriate pro-social ways of dealing with problems
5. Helping young people gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.
6. Ensuring that each young person’s care plan is followed and amended as appropriate to reflect their changing needs
To act as a key worker through:
7. Taking responsibility for a small number of young people and ensuring that their needs are fully met
8. Establishing relationships which young people perceive to be positive, warm and rewarding
9. Providing advice, assistance and support on a 1:1 basis to enable young people to address past and present difficulties
10. Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress
11. Being ambitious for young people, helping them achieve their goals and optimise their potential
12. Providing support for young people in their education and extra-curricular activities
13. Keeping accurate records and providing written reports on young people for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager
14. Empowering young people and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future
15. Acting as an advocate at meetings where the young person is the subject of discussion
16. Encouraging the young person to develop links with the community, attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network
To work as part of a team through:
17. Being aware of the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them
18. Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them
19. Actively contributing to the development of the team
20. Receiving and storing information to improve communication
21. Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers
22. Being aware of childcare plans for all young people and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans
23. Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties
24. Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the National Minimum standards
25. Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing)
26. Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them
General:
27. Attending young people’s meetings and contributing to them
28. Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures)
29. Receiving training appropriate to role and maintaining an up-to-date training profile
30. Responsibility for the accurate maintenance of financial records appropriate to the duties of the post
31. Responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the requirements of the organisational Health and Safety Policies
32. To carry out all other reasonable tasks as directed by the line manager
New staff must be comfortable using an electronic care recording system on a daily basis to document, monitor, and update children and young people’s records accurately. Experience with Clearcare is an advantage, but not essential, as full training will be provided. However, all staff are expected to confidently use digital systems as part of their day-to-day role.