Childrens Support Worker

The Protective Care Group; Billingshurst; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A supportive care organization in Billingshurst is seeking compassionate Support Workers. You will provide trauma-informed care to vulnerable children, engage in their hobbies, and manage challenging behaviours. Candidates should hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or have significant experience with young people in need. This role offers a starting salary of £32,000 plus shift uplifts, fully funded qualifications, and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Generous shift uplifts and sleep-in pay

Fully funded qualifications

Paid annual leave that grows with service

Sick pay, company pension, employee wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Must have significant experience working with young people, especially those who have experienced trauma.
• Willingness to work towards required qualifications if not currently held.
• Possession of a full UK manual driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma informed care to young people.
• Engage in hobbies and activities with young people.
• Manage challenging behaviours effectively.
• Work flexible shifts across various locations.

Skills

Empathy

Resilience

Flexibility

Engagement with young people

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Did you know there are thousands of children across the country in incorrect or unsuitable care placements? That’s thousands of children who do not have access to the care and support they need to thrive, thousands of children being let down repeatedly and thousands of children who are misunderstood.

Protective Care Group exists to provide what is missing. We use a trauma informed approach, look past the challenging behaviour and recognise that beneath everything, there is a child who desperately needs the specialist support that our teams provide.

All the young people in our care receive:

• Robust, consistent, trauma informed care.
• Staff who won’t give up, no matter how challenging it gets.
• Truly person-centred care in solo residential placements.
• Care delivered by professionals trained in safeguarding, de-escalation, and therapeutic approaches.

To date, we have never given up on a young person, this has only been possible due to the hard work, understanding, experience and dedication our teams show daily.

Requirements

What are we looking for in our Support Workers?

We recently asked one of our young people what they want in a support worker — they said ‘someone that is kind, someone that will help them and someone who will get involved in their hobbies.’ As we are person centred it’s only right we take their lead.

Due to the level of care that we provide, we are looking for people that fit the following requirements:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) – AND/OR –
• Have significant, relevant experience working with young people, particularly those who have experienced trauma or require high levels of support.
• If you don’t yet hold a qualification, you must be willing to work towards it as part of the role (with support and funding provided)
• Empathetic, curious and able to engage with young people in a supportive, age-appropriate way.
• Resilient and able to manage challenging behaviour such as severe physical aggression, verbal aggression, sexualised behaviour, CSE and CCE vulnerabilities, self harm and absconding.
• Flexible and able to work anywhere within the West Sussex area on a varied shift pattern of 5 on 5 off (including day shifts, waking nights, and sleep-ins – this could be for the whole of your rotation, so be prepared to stay away from home if needed)
• We carefully match Support Workers to the young people and teams where they’ll be the best fit, which means your placement might not be the one closest to home.
• In possession of a full UK manual driving licence.

It’s important that you understand all aspects of the role before applying, like the working hours, possible working locations and the types of challenges you may encounter. Please follow this link to find out more: protective-care.co.uk/careers/careers-faqs/

Benefits

What you’ll get:

The ultimate reward is knowing you have made a difference to a child however, all our support workers also receive:

• £32,000 base salary + generous shift uplifts & sleep-in pay.
• Fully funded industry recognised qualifications
• Clear pathways for internal career growth
• Paid annual leave that grows with service
• Sick pay, company pension & employee wellbeing support (including free counselling)

More information: protective-care.co.uk/careers/careers-faqs/