Secure Children's Home Support Worker

Hampshire County Council; Winchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority in the UK seeks dedicated individuals to work as therapeutic parents in a secure residential home for children. This role involves forming trusting relationships with vulnerable young people and engaging in their development through fun activities. Candidates should possess emotional intelligence and resilience, and experience with children is preferred but not essential. A competitive salary and training support are provided.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Training and personal development programmes

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children in a residential or secure setting is an advantage.
• Physically able to undertake the role and training.

Responsibilities

• Act as a ‘therapeutic parent’ and a role model to children.
• Form positive, trusting relationships with children.
• Engage in fun activities with children and staff.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Resilience

Patience

Empathy

Ability to handle challenging behavior

Job description

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.