At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable young people, helping them build resilience and life skills.
- Company: Collaborative Care, a dedicated provider of children's care services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, extensive training, and clear career progression.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people and help them thrive.
- Qualifications: Experience with children or young people and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Collaborative Care are a specialist and dedicated provider of children’s care and support services offering a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where young people can develop and grow. Our placements offer young people stability, growth, and opportunities, and we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and make a lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable and complex young people, many who have never had any stability in their lives. We differ from the norm as we require robust and resilient support workers that can deal with challenging situations as many of the young people we support have a variety of behaviours and complexities. Our staff come from many backgrounds including military, police, previous care companies and prison services; however, we look for people who are strong in body and mind, and whose values match ours. We change lives and create positive futures, and we do this using bespoke and tailored support with a strong emphasis on trauma informed approaches.
Role Description
As a Support Worker, you will play a key role in supporting children and young people with highly complex needs, helping them build resilience, develop life skills, and achieve their potential. You’ll act as a role model and provide guidance to less experienced staff, ensuring high-quality care and consistency across the home. You will be an advocate for positivity and excellence as well as wanting to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people. Your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering person-centred care and support tailored to each young person's needs.
- Building positive, trusting relationships with the young people.
- Assisting with the care planning, reviews, and daily routines.
- Supporting children with education, activities, and life skills.
- Encouraging weekly outdoor activities/exercise to promote health and wellbeing, such as mountain biking, hiking, swimming or just walking in the park.
- Promoting safeguarding and ensuring the young person feels safe and valued.
- Ensuring high standards of practice at all times.
- Contributing to reports, care plans, and records in line with regulatory requirements.
- Completing incident report forms and ensuring details are accurate and detailed.
- Working as part of a highly dynamic and specialist care team.
About You
We are looking for caring, resilient, and proactive individuals who can inspire and support both young people and colleagues and who are not afraid of risks and challenges. The young people we support can be aggressive, abscond, are at risk of CCE/CSE and may be involved in County Lines or similar. Some of the young people we support can self-harm or be at high suicide risk and again this role is not for the faint-hearted. We require individuals who are not afraid of conflict, are happy to put boundaries and consequences in place and are not fazed by aggressive behaviours.
Essential skills and experience
- Some experience working with children or young people in a residential or care setting, or similar experience (home or work).
- Willingness to work towards Level 3 Diploma in Children’s residential care.
- Strong communication and teamworking skills.
- Ability to remain calm, compassionate, and professional in challenging situations.
- A genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young person.
- Flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.
- Full, clean driving licence as use of a company vehicle will be required.
- Right to work in the UK and speak fluent and clear English.
What We Offer
Competitive salary with additional sleep-in payments. Extensive mandatory training plus ongoing training, qualifications, and professional development opportunities. Clear career progression into senior and management roles. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to safer recruitment practices, enhanced DBS checks, and satisfactory references.
Support Worker - North West in Manchester employer: Collaborative Care Group
Collaborative Care is an exceptional employer dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for both our young people and staff. We offer competitive salaries, extensive training, and clear pathways for career progression, ensuring that our support workers are well-equipped to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children. Our dynamic work culture values resilience and teamwork, making it a rewarding place for those looking to grow professionally while changing lives in the North West.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker - North West in Manchester
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Collaborative Care Group.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Collaborative Care Group!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Collaborative Care Group, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Collaborative Care Group or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Support Worker - North West in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Collaborative Care Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Collaborative Care Group! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Collaborative Care Group
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
