Residential Support Worker

The duties of a childcare worker typically include caring for children’s physical and emotional needs as well as supporting their education and teaching them new skills. Depending on the age and needs of the children, this might look very different at times.

Working in residential childcare is necessarily child focused. It involves getting to know new children and helping them begin to feel secure, then providing ongoing care and support to build their confidence and teach coping skills. It also involves liaising with health and education personnel and other professionals to ensure that they get access to all appropriate services.

We are dedicated to looking after children, we focus on providing a stimulating environment where they can reach their potential, a place of sanctuary for children who have suffered abuse or neglect, or who have lost their parents. Children may be withdrawn and disinclined to communicate or may deal with their stress by becoming aggressive.

There is a risk of self-harm and of violence toward staff members and other children, so workers need to be familiar with de-escalation techniques and it helps to have good first aid skills, these skills and this training will all be provided should you consider a career with upwards Residential care in supporting our most vulnerable children.

In some cases, children in residential care homes still have good relationships with their families and may return to them after temporary difficulties have been resolved. In these situations, workers need to be able to communicate effectively with those family members and ensure that important emotional connections can be maintained whilst minimising the upset that can occur if children feel they are being repeatedly abandoned.

Childcare workers, working with children in this capacity are their first line of communication with the wider world. It is through the relationships these children develop with their carers that they will learn their most basic social skills, and this can make all the difference to the opportunities that will be open to them in adult life.

Few careers require more responsibility than working in residential childcare, and every day can be a challenge, but few careers come close to being this rewarding. Capable childcare workers will see the children they work with grow happier and more confident every day, with their futures growing brighter.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

To maintain a high quality of care and support which meets the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and cultural needs of children and children within the care of Inspirations. Working from the guidelines from the 1989 Children’s Act, National Minimum Standards and any other relevant legislation.

1. To provide a caring, supportive and nurturing environment in which children/children can feel secure and free from harm.

2. Establishing positive relationships with children and always offering them unconditional and positive regard.

3. Helping children gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.

4. Ensuring that each child’s care plan is followed and amended as appropriate to reflect their changing needs.

5. Attending to practical matters in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning, general maintenance around the home etc)

6. To act as a key worker or co-worker for a child to ensure that the child’s care plans are up to date and that all their care needs are being met.

7. To provide a positive role model to be able to offer advice, guidance and assistance where appropriate. Establishing relationships which children perceive to be positive, warm and rewarding Providing advice, assistance and support on a 1:1 basis to enable children to address past and present difficulties.

8. Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress Inspirations Upwards Residential Care – Job Description – Residential Care Worker.

9. Being ambitious for children, helping them achieve their goals and optimise their potential.

10. Providing support for children in their education and extracurricular activities, this may include supporting them in the classroom if necessary.

11. Keeping accurate records and providing written reports on children for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager.

12. Empowering children and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future.

13. Acting as an advocate at meetings where the child is the subject of discussion.

14. Encouraging the child to develop links with the community, attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network.

General Responsibilities:

1. Attending children’s meetings and contributing to them.

2. Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures)

3. Receiving training appropriate to the role and maintaining an up-to-date training profile.

4. Responsibility for the accurate maintenance of financial records appropriate to the duties of the post.

5. Responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the requirements of the organisational Health and Safety Policies.

Special Conditions:

1. This post requires the holder to do varying shifts, which include early morning and late evening work. The post holder also is required to work some weekends as part of a rota and Bank Holidays when required. Sleeping-in duties are also required for which an additional payment is made.

2. On occasions you may be requested to change your rota at a given notice as per your contract, to ensure the contingencies of the service are covered. This may also include covering an additional sleep-in duty as an emergency measure.

3. In accordance with the guidelines on Health and Safety, to accept responsibility for working within these guidelines and reporting any concerns to the Registered Manager.

4. To undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade of the post and the needs of the Home such as decorating, gardening to develop and maintain service delivery.

5. This post requires the holder to always have a clear Criminal Records Bureau check. Changes to personal circumstances which may affect this must be notified to your line manager immediately. The initial checks will be funded by the company and at no cost to the employee.

To work as part of a team:

1. Being aware of the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them.

2. Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them.

3. Actively contributing to the development of the team.

4. Receiving and storing information to improve communication.

5. Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers.

6. Being aware of childcare plans for all children and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans.

7. Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties.

8. Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the National Minimum Standards.

9. Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing)

10. Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them.

• Annual leave

• Casual dress

• Company events

• Company pension

• On-site parking

• Referral programme, £12.00ph unqualified / £12.50 qualified

£55.00 per night sleep in allowance.

Paid DBS Certificate checks.

QCF LEVEL 4 Health & Social care (Qualifying period / probation period successfully completed)

Company Pension Scheme.

Standard annual Leave entitlement + Bank Holidays

If you are interested in this position, please feel free to contact our HR department on:

Tel: 07394421381 | Email: Amy@Upwardscaresolutions.com