Job Title: Senior Residential Childcare Worker
Location: Hertfordshire, EN11
Salary: £30K - £33K DOE
Shifts: Over Mon - Sun, including BH, 40hour per week excluding sleeps
Qualifications: Level 3 in Children Residential (or equivalent) or working toward this.
Experience: Min of 2 Years in Residential with Children or Young Adults
UK Driving Licence: Required
Start Date: April 2024
The Home: This is a new home, in a rural village. The home can accommodate 3 YPs who will be aged 7 to 17 on admission.
About the Provider:
Their commitment is centred around achieving the best possible outcomes for children. The primary goal is to establish a warm, nurturing environment that fosters the safety, growth, and development of the children in their care. The caregiving approach is influenced by the PACE model underpinned by Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Staff members are trained in attachment and trauma-informed approaches, shaping their understanding of children's behaviours and supporting engagement from initial assessment through to review and evaluation of intervention. The organisation's commissioned therapeutic partnership with Enabling Hope further supports the development of both children and staff teams through direct works and consultations.
Purpose:
The Senior Residential Childcare Worker (SRCW) assumes responsibility for ensuring that the physical, intellectual, emotional, psychological, and social needs of the children are consistently met to a high standard. The SRCW adheres fully to all statutory and regulatory guidance in conjunction with organizational policies, procedures, and practices. Working under the direction of the management team, the SRCW delivers therapeutic caregiving on a shift pattern, including days, evenings, waking nights (when/if required), weekends, bank holidays, sleeping-in duties, and, subject to risk assessment, lone working.
Accountability: Senior Residential Childcare Workers are directly accountable to the Deputy and Registered Manager.
Principal duties and responsibilities:
Care for Children:
- Demonstrably improving the lives of children and young people.
- Modelling relationship-based caregiving in all interactions with children and young people.
- Establishing caring, secure relationships with children that allow them to feel safe, develop trust in adults, and confidence in themselves.
- Implementing admission protocols to ensure that children feel welcomed and fully informed about what is expected of them and what they can expect from the organisation.
- Working closely with children and young people both individually and when required, as a group, to ascertain their wishes and feelings about all aspects of their welfare, recording and acting upon this in their interest.
- Fulfilling all the tasks outlined in children's care plans in line with agreed timescales.
- Ensuring the timely completion of all records, assessments, and reports in line with policies, procedures, and practices.
- Engaging children and young people in the role of key worker as assigned by the Deputy and Registered Manager.
- Undertaking direct work with young people and acting as an appropriate role model.
- Meeting consistently the health needs of children and young people by ensuring that they are registered with the appropriate health (physical and mental health) services and GP. Ensuring that the children are supported and enabled to access health services in line with their needs and plans.
- Meeting consistently children and young people’s education and training needs, ensuring that their needs are assessed and reviewed in a timely way and children are within provisions that best meet their needs.
- Engaging children and young people in a range of developmentally appropriate activities in which they can build competence, confidence in themselves, and trust in adults.
- Modelling and promoting respect for the caregiving environment, taking a lead in the practical tasks required to look after a home, e.g., cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc.
- Ensuring that all children and young people have access to advocacy and children’s rights services.
- Attending all meetings as required to support children and young people and/or advocate for them to ensure that their voice is heard, and best outcomes achieved.
- Ensuring the physical security of the home.
Leadership:
- Implementing policies, procedures, and practice regarding safeguarding and child protection.
- Delivering the approach to childcare.
- Engaging in probation, induction, supervision, staff meetings, learning and development, and appraisal.
- Modelling professional conduct in all aspects of the role.
- Working in partnership with social workers, education, police, health, probation, and all other professionals in line with children’s needs and interests.
To Manage A Care Team:
- Ensuring that each carer is aware of each child’s care plan and their responsibilities for its implementation.
- Providing supervisory control and direction in relation to carer duties and responsibilities.
- Taking responsibility for planning shifts and ensuring their smooth running when on duty.
- Providing consultation and informal advice and support to carers in relation to day to day matters.
- Offering 1:1 supervision to carers in line with Quality Standards & Regulations.
- Contributing to team meetings to facilitate good communication and carer development.
- Ensuring carers work within the home’s policies, procedures, and Quality Standards & Regulation.
- Chairing children’s meetings and facilitating consultation with young people generally.
- Acting as an appropriate adult at PACE interviews.
Regulations Requirements:
- Providing managerial control and direction in relation to carer duties and responsibilities.
- Assisting with the recruitment and retention of carers, including induction training for new carers into the home.
- Supervising new starters during their probationary period.
- Developing a management style that balances the need to exercise control and give direction with the need to offer carers the opportunity to make appropriate decisions.
- Identifying and progressing individual training and development needs of carers in the context of their personal development plans.
- Undertaking an annual appraisal of carers.
- Addressing issues in relation to conduct and competence of carers.
- Undertaking management investigations when required.
- Assisting the Registered Manager in promoting personal and professional development through the appropriate delegation of duties and responsibilities.
General Responsibilities:
- To assist the Registered Manager and/or the Deputy
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people and would like to join our client's professional and dedicated team, they encourage you to apply today.
Their commitment to safeguarding:
Our client is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone in their care. Therefore, this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, and suitable references will be sought prior to your employment start date.
To apply for this rewarding opportunity, click the apply button or contact us for more information.
SGS Care Ltd is a Recruiting Partner in collaboration with the Children's Residential Care Home Sector.
🙋🏽♂️ Samuel Goulden || 📞 0113 318 0595 || 📧 Email: samuel@sgscare.co.uk