Support Worker

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

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people transitioning from care. As a Support Worker, you will play a crucial role in empowering vulnerable individuals to develop essential life skills and achieve their educational goals. This dynamic position offers flexibility, with opportunities for additional hours and sleep-in shifts. You'll be part of a supportive team dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment, ensuring that each young person feels valued and encouraged. If you're passionate about helping others and want to contribute to meaningful change, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

On-the-Job Accredited Training

Opportunities to gain NVQ Qualifications

Access to accredited online courses

Regular Supervisions

Pension scheme

Employee discount scheme

28 days' Annual Leave

Travel cost coverage above £5

Potential extra earnings with sleep in shifts

Qualifications

• Must hold or be willing to pursue relevant childcare qualifications.
• Experience with attachment and trauma is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical support to young people for independent living.
• Maintain positive relationships with young people and professionals.
• Support young people in education and training.

Skills

Flexibility in availability

Experience with challenging behaviour

Understanding of issues facing young people in care

Intermediate computer skills

Education

Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma

NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

Tools

DBS check

Job description

Contract: 35 hours per week

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

Locations: Watford, London, Hatfield

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 evening 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, sport centre, 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 behaviour and or mental health issues is desirable.
• Have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care.
• Be willing to travel so a full driving licence 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.
• Pension scheme.
• Employee discount scheme.
• 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 enhanced level if successful for the position.