Children’s Support Worker (weekday, daytime) in Tring

An incredible chance has come up to work directly with a bright, fun-loving and kind-hearted 12-year-old girl, with special needs, in her family's home (in Tring, Hertfordshire). The family are seeking a female children’s support worker to enhance and nurture the overall wellbeing of this wonderful young person. The ideal candidates will be compassionate, dependable, and nurturing.

Our client has cerebral palsy, with an associated speech and swallowing difficulty and a variable level of mobility. She relies on adults to support her communication, ensure her safety whilst moving around and to support her with more challenging aspects of daily living. She enjoys age-appropriate games and playing with her younger siblings. She resides with her parents in their home in Tring, which is a non-smoking environment. There are large grounds to the property, and our client loves to be outdoors with her animals.

Her parents work closely with the care team, are supportive of all care efforts, and are warm and inviting. Adults are needed to provide support to ensure her safety whilst accessing her home environment, incorporating educational and therapeutic activities into time together (making use of therapeutic equipment in the home) and accompanying the client to after-school sports clubs, social activities, and trips into the community.

There is specific support required at mealtimes as our client has a swallowing difficulty and food needs to be prepared in a specific way. The support worker would also be expected to support the parents with domestic activities in the home and help support the clients’ two younger siblings, when required.

We are offering competitive pay rates and are eager to find an individual who is able to offer flexible hours initially; however long-term opportunities are likely, as maintaining continuity of care and building trust is crucial for our client and her family. This is a highly fulfilling position where you will be supported with initial competency training as well as regular supervision. There are opportunities for ongoing training and a pathway to building expertise in care, supporting children with a neuro-disability.

Hours
We are looking for an individual who has the availability to be flexible on hours, however as a minimum we have 15 hours a week to offer, term-time. There will be opportunities for additional hours. In non-term time, the days/hours will be expected to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the client.

Rates of Pay
Monday to Friday £14–£18 per hour
Weekends £16–£20 per hour
Bank holidays: 1.5 times weekday hourly rate
The rate of pay will be depending on experience.

Person Specification

• Fun, enthusiastic and flexible
• Full Clean UK Driving Licence
• Experience of working with children; ideally children with cerebral palsy, speech and swallowing difficulties
• Experience of working in a private family home would be beneficial but an appreciation of the sensitivity, respect and privacy of working within a home environment is essential
• Happy to work in a home with pet dogs and not be allergic to animals
• Willingness to attend all relevant training sessions and meetings as required
• Willingness to engage and have regular contact, including supervision, with the case manager
• Open to accompanying the family on holiday both in the UK and abroad
• Happy to fulfil some client-related household tasks
• Ability to offer flexibility with working times and hours to help support with periods of sickness or annual leave within the team
• Excellent communication skills including a high standard of written and spoken English and be proficient in record keeping
• Comfortable with basic IT skills
• Ensure opportunity is given to participate in activities as identified by client/parent
• Encourage the client’s independence as far as possible
• Be aware of the client’s vulnerability and take precautions to protect it
• Ability to keep calm in a stressful environment and respond well to instructions when given
• You should enjoy working alongside others as part of a small team, yet also be able to self-direct tasks and activities with our client
• Follow care plans and risk assessments as well as routine plans
• Fully support all aspects of the child’s ongoing rehabilitation as set out by our child’s treating therapists and professionals
• Maintain a safe environment for the child; in the home and in all community-based activities where applicable
• Report immediately to the employer, and the case manager any concerns regarding the child’s medical, physical or psychological health, and record this appropriately
• All matters relating to our child’s situation and family are to be treated as confidential and are not to be disclosed to a third party under any circumstance
• Adhere to CQC compliance in relation to delivery of care and support
• A No smoking policy is strictly in place
• Adhere to Covid-19 guidelines and risk assessments

Employment to these roles will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. If you have the qualifications, experience and commitment we are looking for, please apply with your CV and covering letter in the first instance. You will be contacted and invited for interview after successful shortlisting.

This is an Equal Opportunities Employer, however due to the nature of the position, this post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9. In this instance there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement to recruit a female.