Secure Children'S Home Support Worker

Shared Services Partnership; Southampton; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Swanwick Lodge is a specialist, secure residential home in Southampton caring for up to ten children with complex needs. You will join a dedicated team providing a structured, therapeutic environment and support to vulnerable young people.

The role focuses on forming trusting relationships as a therapeutic parent, with a shift pattern including alternate weekends, early/late shifts, and sleep-ins. Induction and mandatory training are provided.

Qualifications

• Emotionally intelligent and resilient with patience, empathy and understanding.
• Experience of working with children, young people or adults within a residential, secure or similar setting is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as a 'therapeutic parent' and role-model to children, forming positive, trusting relationships with them.
• Work with on-site education and health and wellbeing teams and engage in activities that interest both children and staff.
• Maintain consistency, kindness and respect even in the face of challenging behaviour.

Job description

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC622196
Salary Range: £32,780 - £35,564 per annum, inclusive of £5,000 per annum Market Supplement, plus Enhancements for Evenings and Weekends
Work Location: Swanwick Lodge, Southampton (commutable from Winchester, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Fareham)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent

The Role:

Swanwick Lodge is a specialist, secure residential home looking after up to ten children with complex attachment, mental health and behavioural needs; it provides a safe, secure and therapeutic environment for some our most vulnerable young people.

This is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling role where you can help children recover from difficult life experiences. You will be joining an exceptional team of dedicated and supportive professional carers, working together to provide a highly structured, stimulating and caring environment within our well-appointed home.

What you'll do:

Your focus will be to act as a 'therapeutic parent' and a role-model to our children, forming positive, trusting relationships that enable them to feel safe and cared for. Working with our diverse on-site education and health and wellbeing team, there's also the opportunity to engage in fun activities that interest both the children and the staff. You will need to have a great deal of patience, empathy and understanding, with the ability to be consistent, kind and respectful, even in the face of extremely challenging behaviour.

You will have the opportunity to work a shift pattern of alternate weekends with a mixture of early and late shifts and sleep-in duties, to suit your home-life balance. Flexible working requests can be considered.

When you start your job with us, the first four weeks of the role will see you complete a thorough induction programme that includes mandatory training.

What we're looking for:

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping children. Emotionally intelligent and resilient, you will also need to be physically able to undertake the role and the training. Experience of working with children, young people or adults within a residential, secure or similar setting it is an advantage but not essential.
You will be provided with all the training you need as well as our regular ongoing training and support to develop both your personal and professional skills.
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK before applying.

Why join us?

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance. We invest in you through our internal development programmes and training and offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Additional Information:

Secure Children's Home Support Worker Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Swanwick Lodge Team on 01489 581913

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.