Support Worker

Phoenix Learning & Care Group; Torquay; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's support organization in Torquay seeks a Support Worker to aid children with social and emotional needs. Responsibilities include providing daily support, ensuring safety, monitoring development, and driving children to activities. Candidates must demonstrate patience and communication skills, and be flexible with shifts. The role offers a permanent contract with a salary between £24,960 and £26,000, alongside various benefits including training and wellbeing support.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Pension scheme with contributions

Learning & Development Opportunities

Employee discounts

Wellbeing support services

Cycle2Work scheme

DBS cost coverage

Medicash scheme after 12 months

Qualifications

• Patience to support children with social and emotional needs.
• Excellent communication skills for interacting with various stakeholders.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Support children to have the best quality of life possible.
• Monitor children's development and keep records up to date.
• Drive children to community activities and appointments.

Skills

Patience

Compassion

Resilience

Communication skills

Flexibility

Education

Qualification in residential childcare

Tools

Driving licence

Job description

Job Title: Support Worker

Job Location: Torquay

Salary: Between £24,960 - £26,000 based on 40 hours per week, plus £6,183 based on 10 sleep ins per month. Total package between £31,143 and £32,183.

Contract Type: Permanent

Every child should have the opportunity to go for a day out at Paignton Zoo. To go to Splash Down Water Park. To go shopping in Exeter and Plymouth. Torquay is perfectly located for all these activities. We make sure the children supported by Phoenix Learning and Care get to experience as many of the great things other children do as possible – But we need your help.

Our children have social and emotional needs related to Autism, ADHD, or Trauma. They need good role models to help them flourish. With your support, we can make that happen. The children will have difficult days and need more help at home, especially if overwhelmed. Your support on those days will make the good days even more special. You’ll really be able to see the positive impact of your relationships as the children grow.

This role is working in our small one‑bedroom home based in Torquay, so you’ll really get to know the team and the children. The children need support 24 hours a day, meaning you’ll be able to work your full week in 2‑3 days, which is only 10 shifts per month!

A day in the life of a Support Worker will involve:

• Supporting children to have the best quality of life possible. Whether it be through baking at home, fun days out, or holidays with them. You could be doing anything from making sure the children have a healthy diet to taking them to Dartmoor for a walk!
• Ensuring our children are kept safe and their plans are suitable for their needs. We’ll need you to help monitor their development by keeping our systems and records up to date. Don’t worry though, you’ll get all the training you need.

To be a successful Support Worker, you’ll need:

• Patience, compassion, and resilience – The children you’ll support may have experienced trauma, which may have an impact on their behaviour.
• Great communication skills – Both verbal and written communication is important in this role as you’ll be speaking to a lot of different people at different times and need to be able to update the children’s plans.
• A driving licence – Our children love to be out in the community. We need you to be able to drive them to where they need to go. We have the cars, you just need the licence.
• To be flexible – You’ll need to be able to sleep at the home during your shifts. The children need support 24 hours a day. This does mean you’ll be able to work your full week in 2‑3 days!
• If you don’t already hold a qualification in residential childcare, we will pay for this. It’s key that you have this within your first 2 years of working in the sector, but you’ll have our support along the way.

In return for your time, you’ll get:

• Holidays – You’ll get 28 days annual. You’ll still need to work on bank holidays if the rota requires. You’ll also get an extra day off for your birthday after your first year with us.
• Pension scheme – Our pension scheme is based on you paying in 5%, and us adding 3%.
• Learning & Development Opportunities – We provide comprehensive learning opportunities for team members to develop themselves.
• Discounts – You’ll have access to brilliant discounts through the Blue Light Card and our own employee benefits platform.
• Wellbeing Support – Your wellbeing is always our priority. You’ll have access to mental health and wellbeing support. On top of this, our therapies team offers a monthly confidential check in clinic, and group reflective practice sessions.
• Cycle2Work – The cycle to work scheme enables you to buy a bicycle at a discounted rate.
• DBS – As this role required you to have an enhanced DBS carried out, we will cover this cost.

After 12 months service you’ll also be eligible for our Medicash scheme which covers a wide range of medical, health and wellbeing expenses (Including immediate access to a GP!). You’ll get life assurance paid at x2 your annual salary, and even more high street discounts.

In line with safer recruitment guidelines, we will run an online check on the successful candidate. This can, and may include any public social media profiles.

At Phoenix Learning and Care, we pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, and ensuring we have an inclusive environment for all our team members. We remain committed to ensuring our teams can bring their true selves to work without risk or fear of discrimination.

INDC