Children's Home Carer

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Portsmouth is looking for a caring individual to work at Beechside Short Break Service, providing accommodation and support for children with disabilities. The role involves direct caregiving and collaboration with other professionals to ensure each child's needs are met. Applicants must have a QCF Level 3 Diploma in residential childcare or be willing to work towards it, along with the ability to build warm relationships with children. This position requires a compassionate person to create positive experiences for the children served.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in a residential children's setting is required.
• Ability to understand pressures affecting children today.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day care for children with complex needs.
• Work within a team to manage care and attend meetings.
• Support children to achieve their individual developmental needs.

Skills

Forming positive relationships with children

Listening skills

Flexible approach to workloads

Ability to work under pressure

Ability to engage children

Education

QCF Level 3 Diploma in residential childcare or equivalent

Job description

The Service

Beechside Short Break Service provides care and short break accommodation for up to six young people aged between 5 - 18 years. The service is tailored to meet individual children's needs that have a learning or a physical disability, often alongside communication needs. The aim of our service is to support children, providing them with a home away from home where they can develop confidence and flourish.

The Role

The key part of the role is working directly with children and young people. The role requires a child centred approach and ability to build warm, strong and positive relationships with our children and young people. You will be responsible for the day‑to‑day care of up to six children with a range of complex needs.

You will be expected to apply relevant legislation, policies and procedures and guidance relating to residential childcare. You will be expected to work alongside other professionals such as social workers, schools and therapists to provide a consistent team approach to manage care & risk and attend meetings with young people or represent the team at meetings.

You will work alongside children by helping them to achieve their specific individual needs and improving their future outcomes.

The ideal candidate

You will need to have/be

• A QCF Level 3 Diploma in residential childcare or equivalent qualification. If you don't have this qualification, then you will be required to work towards within 2 years of employment
• Professional experience of working in a residential children's setting.
• Have the ability to form warm and positive relationships with children to support their development and positive experiences. Be able to effectively engage and build relationships with children.
• Understand the issues and pressures affecting children today.
• Have the ability to actively support children and encourage children to grow and flourish to their full potential.
• Have good listening skills and be able to remain calm and focused when working under pressure.
• Have good written skills to write contact sheets and reports.
• Be willing to use your initiative and make decisions around the needs of children on a day‑to‑day basis. Be flexible in being able to adapt to changing workloads of the team.
• Be able to work alone and as part of a team
• Be able to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English. This is essential for the post.
• Awareness of the needs of children with learning and physical disabilities - Desirable
• Knowledge of how to safeguard and support children in a short‑breaks service - Desirable
• Have a driving licence and a Midas qualification - Desirable

Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Sam Stokes, Registered Manager, [e-mail] , 023 92 688 039

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

About Portsmouth City Council

What we can offer you:

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [e-mail] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800