Support Worker

Leicestershire County Council; Wanlip; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Leicestershire County Council is seeking a role supporting children, young people and their carers using targeted interventions and collaborative work with families and services. You will assess needs, plan delivery, and advocate for children in care.

The role emphasizes trauma-informed approaches, safeguarding, and working across residential and community settings, with flexible, hybrid working patterns and travel to designated locations as required.

Qualifications

• 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 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.

Responsibilities

• Assessing the needs of children, young people and their carers to inform planning and delivery of work.
• Supporting transitions for young people, including step-downs from residential placements or rehabilitation homes.
• Enhancing carers' understanding of trauma-informed parenting approaches.
• Delivering safety planning and intervention strategies addressing identified risks.
• Regularly monitoring and reviewing the purpose of work and adjusting as required.
• Using varied methods to sustain improved outcomes and connecting families with community services.
• Advocating for children in care and ensuring their voices are heard.
• Building effective relationships with foster families and residential staff.
• Planning, delivering, and evaluating group work.

Skills

NVQ Level 3 Childcare

Challenging children experience

Child development knowledge

Trauma-informed care

Time management

IT skills

Communication skills

Record keeping

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Childcare

Tools

Car driver license

Job description

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 .

Please ensure that you cover all 7 points in your application and provide clear examples and evidence of how each point has been met.

• 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