We are looking for a Support worker to join our team, working in one of our beautiful Ofsted Registered Supported Accommodation homes (supported living) in Torquay, South Devon.
You'll be supporting young people aged 16 to 18, who for whatever reason are unable to live at home with their families.
The Role
No two days are the same! This role requires someone who is kind, confident, clear-headed and who will remain calm. You’ll receive all the training you need to do the role as well as on-going training to expand your skills and deepen your knowledge and you’ll have the option to undertake a qualification if you wish to.
All our homes are staffed 24 hours a day, so you'll be working a shift which is 16.5hr, and the typical pattern is 2 days on and 4 days off. On average, you'll be working a minimum of 9 x 16.5 hr shift per month.
OTE Salary is £33,971.20.
Incentives include:
* 28 days paid holiday
* Induction Training and on-going personal development training including funded apprenticeship qualifications.
* Pension Scheme
* Excellent career prospects.
* Paid overtime.
* Wellbeing and Mental Health benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme.
* Company-wide events
* Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave (*subject to criteria)
Essential Requirements
* Eligible to work in the UK (unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship)
* Over 21 years old.
* To have a clean driving license and use of vehicle with business insurance.
Desirable Skills
* Strong written and communication skills
* Have a natural ability to care and to be able to empathise and to look beyond the individual or their challenging behaviours.
* To be confident, composed and level-headed.
* To be able to work as part of a close team.
Responsibilities
Ensure the safety & wellbeing of our young people and to ensure all safeguarding concerns are reported quickly and appropriately.
Work directly with our young people to support them with the development of their personal, social, health and educational needs.
To support and encourage our young people to identify and engage in a range of positive activities.
To provide opportunities for our young people to increase their self-esteem and engagement within the community.
Recognise each individuals’ strengths and then support them to identify and build on those strengths. This will involve identifying individual motivators and supporting the individual to maximise their potential (both young people and staff alike).
Advocate for our young people as appropriate, encourage our young people to advocate for themselves. Ensure that our young people are able to express their views, and are involved in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of services.
Act as a positive role model, recognising your own strengths, interests, or activities that you enjoy engaging in.
Develop and follow support plans and assessments. Contributing towards new assessments including risk assessments as required.
Undertake administrative work as directed by your line Manager.
Support our young people to engage with appropriate professionals’ organisations.
Establish and maintain relationships with community groups, in order to create positive opportunities for our young people.
An effective communicator, both verbally and in written form. To keep records up to date and write reports as required.
To work with different approaches to positive behaviour management including de-escalation strategies.
Have a good understanding of the companies’ policies and procedures, including Safeguarding. All staff must keep the welfare and safety of children/vulnerable adults as paramount in their working practice.
Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the welfare benefit system.
Attend all training sessions as directed by your line manager or other more senior members of staff.
Take part in the staff rota, working at different times of the day including undertaking sleep-in duties at night. All staff are expected to show flexibility and help cover sickness, annual leave and other absences as required.
Work as a part of a team. Both attending and when required, running staff meetings, supervisions, and training sessions.
Have a good understanding of equal opportunities and work within anti discriminatory policy.
Attend and actively engage in your own supervision & training sessions.
Carry out any other reasonable duties.
Equality and Diversity
Promote equality and value diversity by interpreting equality, diversity, and rights in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures and relevant standards.
Identify patterns of discrimination and take actions to overcome this and enable others to promote quality and diversity and a non-discriminatory culture that supports people in exercising their rights.
Safeguarding
Next Step Independence is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its homes. We apply robust safer recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment