Care Officer Solo Provision

Hull City Council has been on a journey of improvement and has become a leading provider of Children’s Homes. We are committed to developing nurturing, high-quality homes where children can thrive and achieve their next steps.

This is a Part Time Permanent Position.

About the role

Our solo provisions predominantly involve those on shift caring for children who may display a range of emotional, social or behavioural difficulties, including children who may have experienced trauma, have attachment difficulties, children showing sexually problematic behaviour or at risk of sexual exploitation. They may be struggling with mental health issues and have suicidal tendencies, require specific support from our provision, or be subject to a deprivation of liberty order by the courts and require a specific reduction plan to support them. Children who have experienced substance misuse or children experiencing relationship difficulties within their families and supportive networks; or young people with ASD may also require our service.

Our solo provisions are situated within Hull's local community and designed not to stand out as different to anyone else’s family home. The solo provisions are small, but comfortable and caring, creating a warm environment for those that come to reside at their new home. Our shifts within the Solo provisions consist of a one day on/two days off pattern – start times will vary depending upon the manager of each solo provision. The role is to provide a highly skilled level of care to each unique young person in our homes. This will include taking the lead on shift as there are only two staff members per shift, you will be expected to work within our lone working policy and make professional safeguarding decisions that will impact both the young person and the team – this will specifically apply where there is no senior care officer present. You will also be expected to be competent in both written work and admin that is specific to the role and be able to clearly communicate any information necessary, or that needs passing on to relevant professionals. You will be expected to work proactively and positively with our complex young people in what can be a challenging and demanding role. The solo provisions provide a rewarding environment in which working with our young people will provide a platform to help them achieve their full potential and move on positively into the next chapter of their life.

About you

We require all Care Officers to have:

• A level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, or the ability to complete this within two years of appointment.
• Experience working with vulnerable adults or children in a safeguarding or care setting.
• A strong motivation to work with Children and Young People and ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships.
• An ability to work within relevant framework when assessing situations in order to make decisions and recommendations.
• You must be experienced, skilled and confident to lead on all elements of care, and be able to guide and support others.

Hours and contract

Hours per week will vary, totalling 74 per month and will include long shifts and sleep in shifts. Hours will exceed 20 hours per week due to the rota.

Responsibilities

• To provide a range of support to children and young people who are unable to live within their own family and require short term or long term residential care.
• To provide a safe and stimulating environment, ensuring high quality provision and maximising life chances of children looked after.
• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
• To use systemic practices to prepare, implement and review effective programmes for individual children and families/carers to ensure that their needs for development and/or independence are met.
• Under delegation/supervision assume responsibility for specific issues i.e. for the health and safety of colleagues and children by identifying areas for improvement and responding to deficiencies in the workplace to ensure a safe working environment.
• Acts as a nominated ‘Shift Leader’ as required responding to the need of the service.
• Provides an efficient and responsive service to children for their admission into and discharge from residential care to ensure their needs are met during these transition periods.
• Assist children with a range of tasks including primary care and, where necessary, carries out tasks on their behalf whilst at the same time promoting independence within individual’s capabilities.
• Acts as a designated worker in respect of individual children, including attending meetings/case conferences and dispensing medication as required.
• Contributes to an efficient administrative system by preparing information for the Children’s Home Manager and quality assurance systems to ensure effective communication.
• Participates in budgetary tasks i.e. pocket money, purchasing of groceries, clothing, stationery etc, to ensure value for money within budget provisions.
• Assist children to deal with complex needs or particular vulnerabilities to ensure their physical and emotional well being.
• To work and liaise with voluntary services, statutory organisations and colleagues within other parts of the Local Authority.
• Works flexibly to meet the assessed needs of children and their families.
• Refers to Line Management upon any concerns, suspicion, evidence or allegation in relation to child protection.
• To be aware of and participate in own personal development by attending and contributing to supervision sessions, training courses and other departmental forums.
• In the absence of a Senior Care Officer, makes decisions relating to the safeguarding and care of children.
• Under supervision uses professional judgement to determine the needs of children balanced against risk to children and staff.
• Under supervision, makes day to day decisions around the implementation of policy and procedures of the Department.

GENERAL: The above principal accountabilities are not exhaustive and may vary without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility. The postholder must be flexible to ensure the operational needs of the Council are met.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service.
• You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period.
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture.
• Great career development opportunities.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.