Support Worker

Leicestershire County Council; Quorn; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Leicestershire County Council is seeking a dedicated practitioner to work with children and young people and their carers, delivering trauma-informed interventions to help them build resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

You will assess needs, support transitions from residential care, advocate for the voices of children, and collaborate with foster families, residential staff, and partner agencies in a compassionate, flexible, and outcomes‑driven role.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 in Childcare or equivalent with CPD.
• Experience with challenging children and vulnerable young people in social care, education, youth offending or health.
• Knowledge of child development and diverse needs, cultural awareness.
• Understanding trauma's impact on development and relationships.
• Strong time management, organisational and planning, assessment, and case recording.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build trusting relationships with children, young people and carers.

Responsibilities

• Assess needs of children, young people and carers to inform care planning.
• Support transitions, especially from residential placements.
• Deliver risk-focused strategies and safety planning.
• Advocate for children in care and collaborate with carers and partners.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organisational skills

IT skills

Report writing

Empathy

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Childcare Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting and interesting opportunity to work within a creative, dynamic and energetic team? Make a Real Difference in the Lives of Children and Young People. Are you passionate about helping children, young people and foster families overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes? Join our dedicated team and play a vital role in supporting children in care, young people and their carers through meaningful, trauma informed and therapeutic interventions. This is a rewarding opportunity to work directly with children and families, helping them build resilience, strengthen relationships and successfully navigate important life transitions. Working collaboratively with carers, foster families, residential staff and partner agencies, you will empower children and young people to have their voices heard, advocate for their needs, support them to thrive both emotionally and practically. A key focus of the role is improving placement stability, helping children and young people experience safe, secure and sustainable care arrangements that enable them to thrive. If you are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people and want to be part of a supportive, skilled and passionate team, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

Working directly with children/young people and their carers, using targeted interventions, and a variety of resources and approaches, including joint work where appropriate. Assessing the needs of children, young people and their carers, in order to inform the planning and delivery of work that will meet the needs of children/young people, in order to sustain positive outcomes for them. Supporting young people making transitions, particularly when 'stepping down' from a residential placement, or rehabilitation home. Increasing carers' understanding of therapeutic parenting and trauma informed ways of managing children's behaviour. Supporting safety planning around a child or young person, by delivering strategies and interventions which address identified risk factors, and planning support that will meet the needs of an individual's care plan. Regularly monitoring and reviewing the purpose of work and making adjustments when required, dependent on the needs of children, young people and their parents/carers. Using a variety of methods and to help sustain improved outcomes, including putting parents/carers in touch with community groups and other support services as part of a care plan. Advocating for children in care, ensuring their voices are heard, and their needs are fully met, both physically and emotionally. Building effective and positive working relationships with foster families, and residential staff. Planning, delivering and evaluating group work. An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post. For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our .

• Have an NVQ level 3 in Childcare Diploma or Childcare Qualification, or evidence of continuing professional development.
• Have experience of working directly with challenging children and young people, as well as vulnerable young people in at least one of the following settings: social care, education, youth offending or health.
• Have knowledge of child development and an awareness of differing needs of children and young people and their carers, knowledge of other cultures, and have an understanding of the risk factors and prevention work that impacts upon children's attachment, and presenting behaviours.
• Have an understanding of the impact of trauma upon child development, behaviour and ability to build trusting relationships.
• Have good time management skills, organisational and planning skills, assessment skills, IT skills, and a good standard of case recording and report writing skills.
• The ability to communicate effectively and build trusting relationships with children, young people and carers; respond flexibly to changing needs; remain calm in difficult situations; analyse behaviours and identify solutions; work effectively independently and with others
• The ability to maintain accurate records and manage casework and undertake administrative tasks.

You must have a current driving licence, access to a car, and be able to travel to designated locations. In addition, we also expect you to share and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a . Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

About Leicestershire County Council At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose. For further information on what it's like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following