At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young boys in daily routines, activities, and personal development.
- Company: Join North Lakes Children’s Services, a leader in residential care for youth.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible shifts, sleep-in allowances, up to 6 weeks holiday, and comprehensive training.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young lives while working in a supportive and fun environment.
- Qualifications: Must be willing to learn, have good communication skills, and hold or pursue relevant qualifications.
- Other info: Full DBS check provided; experience with youth work is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 27781 - 31976 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Carlisle
Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
Specific Hours: 42 hours per week - shift pattern
Salary:
- Unqualified: A base salary of ÂŁ27,781.80 per annum with the potential to earn up to ÂŁ31,039.08 with sleep in shifts
- Qualified: A base salary of ÂŁ28,719.60 per annum with the potential to earn up to ÂŁ31,976.88 with sleep in shifts (Qualified Care Worker salary is based on the proven existing completion of a Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare)
North Lakes Children’s Services is a well-established local provider of residential care and education for boys aged 6-18. We improve the resilience, self-esteem and abilities of all the young people we work with. As a Residential Support Worker there is a high expectation placed on you to be “strong, committed and passionate” about your role. The young people are at the centre of everything we do - both for and with them. You are a role model, a listening ear, a warm and approachable person and potentially someone who could inspire and make a massive and significant impact on a young person’s life, their choices, who they are and who they can be! You need to promote, support and facilitate the creation of “happy memories” and have fun with them to do so. We are currently seeking permanent Support Workers to join our team who have a warm and approachable manner, and feel they can make a significant impact on a young person’s life in how they recover from early life experiences.
Main Duties:
In each home we have detailed shift planners/diaries/handover documents that will outline the specific daily duties and tasks that you will be required to complete, these will be specific to whether it is term-time (school days) or during holiday periods as some of the tasks will differ. The following is a summary of some of your duties during term-time:
- Supporting all of the boys daily routines, including getting them up, promoting personal hygiene routines, meals, either school runs or activities
- Supporting room cleans/developing of life skills/independence, promoting socialisation and supporting bed-time routines
- Attending medical/other appointments
- Supporting the plans on the activity planners
- Completion of day sheets for the boys and working with them on their targets
- Completing handover documents/tasks
- Completion of all daily paperwork
- Completing budgeting requirements
- Completion of daily room checks and daily housecleaning tasks
- Complete any food/other shopping needs, including meal preparation and kitchen hygiene/laundry duties
- Completion of any specific checks such as COSHH, Fire Checks/Car checks
- Liaising and building appropriate relationships with the families, working to find out about special dates for boys and ensuring these are noted/marked, sorting and planning family time contacts
As well as completing the daily tasks, your role will also include being a Keyworker. This should be a privileged role for you with our boys, try to think out of the box and do that little bit extra to help create special occasions and opportunities for them, build strong bonds, show and display warmth, empathy and genuine care.
All Applicants must have:
- Flexibility in your availability is a must as the role will involve sleep in nights and shift work of 14 hours – typically 2 full days on, 2 days off. Rotating start times of 08:00, 12:00, 14:00
- Have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care
- 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 work towards a required qualification
- Excellent communication and listening skills
- Be willing to learn
- Be able to work well as part of a small team
- Be willing to undertake a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position. Your DBS check shall be paid for by ourselves
- Experience with Emotional Behavioural Disorder, Social/Residential Work or Youth Work would be advantageous
- Have a full, clean UK driving licence and be able to cover at other Residential Homes as and when needed
This is a wonderful opportunity to join an established Children’s service who will offer you:
- A sleep-in allowance of ÂŁ62.64 per night- potential extra earning of up to ÂŁ3257.28
- Up to 6 week’s holiday per year
- A rota pattern of 2 days on, 2 days off, with staggered start times ranging from 8am, 12noon or 2pm (i.e. 8am-10pm, 12pm-10pm or 2pm-10pm)
- All meals on duty are provided
- Company pension
- Access to our Exchange Employee Discount Scheme
- Access to wellbeing programmes via our Exchange Provision
- Comprehensive training programme, followed by a comprehensive and ongoing CPD Programme
- Access to qualifications (Including Diploma 3/Diploma 5)
- Promotion opportunities
- Monthly clinical and professional supervisions, access to therapeutic support
North Lakes Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Residential Child Care Support Worker employer: Polaris
Contact Detail:
Polaris Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Child Care Support Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs and challenges faced by young people in care. Understanding their backgrounds and emotional needs will help you connect better during interviews and demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any relevant experience you have in childcare, youth work, or social care. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've supported young people in the past, as this will show your passion and capability for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Research North Lakes Children’s Services and their approach to residential care. Being knowledgeable about their values and practices will allow you to tailor your conversation and show that you're genuinely interested in joining their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your flexibility and willingness to work shifts, including sleep-in nights. This is crucial for the role, so be ready to explain how you can manage your time effectively to meet the demands of the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Residential Child Care Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of a Residential Child Care Support Worker. Familiarise yourself with the job description and think about how your experiences align with the role.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience, skills, and qualifications that match the job requirements. Emphasise any previous work with children or in care settings, as well as your ability to build relationships and support young people.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for working with young people and your commitment to making a positive impact in their lives. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: If you hold any relevant qualifications, such as a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, be sure to mention these prominently in your application. If you are willing to work towards a qualification, express this in your cover letter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Polaris
✨Show Your Passion
Make sure to express your genuine passion for working with young people. Share personal experiences or stories that highlight your commitment to making a positive impact in their lives.
✨Demonstrate Empathy
During the interview, showcase your ability to empathise with the challenges faced by young people in care. Use examples to illustrate how you would approach difficult situations with understanding and compassion.
✨Highlight Teamwork Skills
Emphasise your ability to work well within a team. Discuss past experiences where you collaborated effectively with others to achieve common goals, especially in challenging environments.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Be ready to answer scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think about potential situations you might encounter as a Residential Child Care Support Worker and how you would handle them.