Support Worker

Polaris Community; London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job description

Salary: Basic salary £21,876.40 with a potential to earn up to £27,492.40 with sleep in shifts

LCS are looking for committed and enthusiastic Support Workers to work full time (35 hours plus 2 sleep ins per week) with the opportunity to work additional hours. You will be working on a rota basis which may include evenings and weekends. Flexibility in your availability is a must.

Our vision is to make a positive and lasting difference to young people who have been in care and are moving towards independence. We provide young people with accommodation/housing, as well as support them to move towards independent living and educational achievements.

As a Support Worker, your role involves engaging, motivating, and encouraging young people placed in their individual flat or shared house. Young people supported by LCS are vulnerable, and you are responsible for ensuring that the home in which you are working provides a safe, welcoming, and healthy environment for the young person living there.

Main Duties:

• Offer practical support and guidance to young people in line with their individual care plan to enable them to develop skills needed to live independently and to achieve in their education
• Maintain positive working relationships with young people, staff, and professionals by communicating effectively at all times.
• Support a young person in Education, Employment, and Training, who is working towards an accredited learning qualification, by evidencing work completed and submitting this to the relevant instructor.
• Maintain appropriate links in the community – e.g., educational provisions, sports centers, youth clubs.

All applicants must have:

• Flexibility in their availability as the roles involve shift work – sleep-in nights, evenings, and weekends
• Ideally 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 study towards this
• Experience of working with attachment and trauma is desirable
• Experience of working with challenging behavior and/or mental health issues is desirable
• Have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care
• Be willing to travel; a full driving license and access to a vehicle is desirable, although good public transport links are available in this area should you have no access to a vehicle
• Computer experience to an intermediate level

What we offer:

• On-the-Job Accredited Training
• Opportunities to gain NVQ Qualifications
• Access to accredited online courses/qualifications
• Regular Supervisions
• 28 days’ Annual Leave (including bank holidays)
• Cost of travel is covered above £5 to support with commute
• A potential extra earning of up to £5616 with sleep-in shifts (£54 per sleep-in shift)

LCS is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. LCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. You must be willing to undertake a DBS check at an enhanced level if successful for the position.