ONLY Qualified - NVQ LEVEL 3 RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE REQUIRED
Support Worker
Overview
Ideally you will have experience of working with children and young people with moderate to severe learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities, Autism, ADHD, sensory impairment, and associated behavioural challenges and/or complex care needs.
To provide advice, assistance, and support to young people. To attend to their practical, physical, and emotional needs. To act as an appropriate role model and to work closely with them to enable them to address their difficulties and achieve their optimum potential.
Equal Opportunities All young people are equally entitled to have their needs met in a fair and balanced way. Team Leaders 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.
Accountable To- Director, Registered Manager and Responsible Individual.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
* To maintain a high quality of care and support which meets the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and cultural needs of children and young people within the care of Inspirations. Working from the guidelines from the 1989 Children's Act, National Minimum Standards, Every Child Matters, and any other relevant legislation
* To provide a caring, supportive, and nurturing environment in which children/young people can feel secure and free from harm.
* Establishing positive relationships with young people and always offering them unconditional and positive regard.
* Helping young people gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.
* Ensuring that each young person's care plan is followed and amended as appropriate to reflect their changing needs.
* Attending to practical matters in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning, general maintenance around the home etc).
* To act as a key worker or co-worker for a young person to ensure that the young person's care plans are up to date and that all their care needs are being met.
* To provide a positive role model to be able to offer advice, guidance, and assistance where appropriate.
* Establishing relationships which young people perceive to be positive, warm and rewarding.
* Providing advice, assistance, and support on a 1:1 basis to enable young people to address past and present difficulties.
* Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress
* Being ambitious for young people, helping them achieve their goals and optimise their potential.
* Providing support for young people in their education and extracurricular activities, this may include supporting them in the classroom if necessary.
* Keeping accurate records and providing written reports on young people for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager.
* Empowering young people and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future.
* Acting as an advocate at meetings where the young person is the subject of discussion.
* 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
* Being aware of the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them.
* Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them.
* Actively contributing to the development of the team.
* Receiving and storing information to improve communication.
* Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers.
* Being aware of childcare plans for all young people and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans.
* Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties.
* Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the National Minimum Standards.
* Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing).
* Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them.
General Responsibilities
* Attending young people's meetings and contributing to them.
* Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures).
* Receiving training appropriate to the role and maintaining an up-to-date training profile.
* Responsibility for the accurate maintenance of financial records appropriate to the duties of the post.
* Responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the requirements of the organisational Health and Safety Policies.
Education and Qualifications
* Demonstrate commitment to obtain a Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare
* Willingness to work towards further qualifications as required. Undertake group induction training on commencement.
* Level 3 or 4 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent.
* Working towards a level 4 or level 5 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent.
* Person Requirements / Knowledge and Experience
* A positive 'can do attitude' and a willingness to work with children and young people.
* Committed to continued professional development.
* Experience of working with children that present challenging behaviour.
* Experience of working within a residential setting.
* Experience of working shift patterns
Skills and Abilities
* IT literate. Ability to navigate around Microsoft Office applications efficiently.
* Good communication skills – verbal and written.
* Ability to work independently and part of a team.
* Commitment to working with families and professionals.
* Ability to deal with complex and challenging behaviour.
Special Conditions
* This post requires the holder to do varying shifts, which include early morning and late evening work, sleep-in and an on call rota system. The post holder also is required to work weekends as part of a rota and Bank Holidays when required. Sleeping-in duties are also required for which an additional payment is made.
* On occasions you may be requested to change your rota at a given notice as per your contract, to ensure the contingencies of the service are covered. This may also include covering an additional sleep-in duty as an emergency measure.
* In accordance with the guidelines on Health and Safety, to accept responsibility for working within these guidelines and reporting any concerns to the Registered Manager.
* To undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade of the post and the needs of the Home such as decorating, gardening in order to develop and maintain service delivery.
* This post requires the holder to have a clear Criminal Records Bureau check at all times Changes to personal circumstances which may affect this must be notified to your line manager immediately.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.50-£14.00 per hour
Benefits:
* Flexitime
* On-site parking
Education:
* GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
* Residential Childcare: 1 year (preferred)
* Support Environment: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
* NVQ LEVEL 3 RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE - REQUIRED (preferred)
* Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person