Residential Childcare Support Worker

Polaris Community; Penrith; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 16,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team as a Residential Childcare Support Worker, where your passion and commitment can make a significant difference in the lives of young people. This role involves supporting daily routines, promoting personal development, and creating a nurturing environment. You'll have the opportunity to inspire and guide children aged 6-18, helping them recover from early life experiences. With a strong focus on teamwork and communication, you will play a vital role in their growth and happiness. This established children's service offers comprehensive training, flexible shifts, and a supportive work culture that values your contributions.

Benefits

Sleep-in allowance

Up to 6 weeks holiday

Meals provided on duty

Company pension

Employee Discount Scheme

Wellbeing programmes

Comprehensive training programme

Access to qualifications

Promotion opportunities

Monthly supervisions and support

Qualifications

• Must hold or be willing to work towards a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
• Flexibility for sleep-in shifts and understanding of care issues is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support daily routines and promote personal hygiene for children.
• Act as a Keyworker to build strong bonds and create special opportunities.
• Complete daily paperwork and maintain hygiene standards.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Listening skills

Flexibility

Teamwork

Understanding of issues facing young people in care

Education

Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma

Children and Young People's Workforce/NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

Job description

Residential Childcare Support Worker

Full Time/Permanent: 20 hours per week

Unqualified Basic Salary: £14,603.68 pro rata (£27,084.52 FTE) per annum (including sleep ins)

Qualified Basic Salary: £15,071.68 pro rata (£28,067.52 FTE) per annum (including sleep ins)

(The above salaries are based on a 20 hour contract, and include sleep in shifts. Qualified Care Worker salary is based on the proven existing completion of a Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare)

Location: Penrith

North Lakes Children's Services is a well-established local provider of residential care and education for boys aged 6-18. We improve the resilience, self-esteem and abilities of all the young people we work with.

As a Residential Support Worker, there is a high expectation placed on you to be "strong, committed and passionate" about your role. The young people are at the centre of everything we do - both for and with them. You are a role model, a listening ear, a warm and approachable person and potentially someone who could inspire and make a massive and significant impact on a young person's life, their choices, who they are and who they can be! You need to promote, support and facilitate the creation of "happy memories" and have fun with them to do so.

We are currently seeking permanent Support Workers to join our team who have a warm and approachable manner, and feel they can make a significant impact on a young person's life in how they recover from early life experiences.

Main Duties

In each home we have detailed shift planners/diaries/handover documents that will outline the specific daily duties and tasks that you will be required to complete. The following is a summary of some of your duties during term-time:

• Supporting all of the boys daily routines, including getting them up, promoting personal hygiene routines, meals, either school runs or activities.
• Supporting room cleans/developing of life skills/independence, promoting socialisation and supporting bed-time routines.
• Attending medical/other appointments.
• Supporting the plans on the activity planners.
• Completion of day sheets for the boys and working with them on their targets.
• Completing handover documents/tasks.
• Completion of all daily paperwork.
• Completing budgeting requirements.
• Completion of daily room checks and daily housecleaning tasks.
• Completing any food/other shopping needs, including meal preparation and kitchen hygiene/laundry duties.
• Completion of any specific checks such as COSHH, Fire Checks/Car checks.
• Liaising and building appropriate relationships with the families, working to find out about special dates for boys and ensuring these are noted/marked, sorting and planning family time contacts.

As well as completing the daily tasks, your role will also include being a Keyworker. This should be a privileged role for you with our boys, try to think out of the box and do that little bit extra to help create special occasions and opportunities for them, build strong bonds, show and display warmth, empathy and genuine care.

All Applicants must have:

• Flexibility in your availability is a must as the role will involve sleep in nights and shift work of 14 hours - typically 2 full days on, 2 days off. Rotating start times of 08:00, 12:00, 14:00.
• Have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care.
• Hold Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma/Children and Young People's Workforce/NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent - or be willing to work towards a required qualification.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Be willing to learn.
• Be able to work well as part of a small team.
• Be willing to undertake a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position. Your DBS check shall be paid for by ourselves.
• Experience with Emotional Behavioural Disorder, Social/Residential Work or Youth Work would be advantageous.

This is a wonderful opportunity to join an established Children's service who will offer you:

• A sleep-in allowance of £62.64 per night - potential extra earning of up to £3257.28.
• Up to 6 week's holiday per year.
• A rota pattern of 2 days on, 2 days off, with staggered start times ranging from 8am, 12noon or 2pm (i.e. 8am-10pm, 12pm-10pm or 2pm-10pm).
• All meals on duty are provided.
• Company pension.
• Access to our Exchange Employee Discount Scheme.
• Access to wellbeing programmes via our Exchange Provision.
• Comprehensive training programme, followed by a comprehensive and ongoing CPD Programme.
• Access to qualifications (Including Diploma 3/Diploma 5).
• Promotion opportunities.
• Monthly clinical and professional supervisions, access to therapeutic support.

North Lakes Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.