Residential Child Care Support Worker

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attending C&YPs meetings and contributing to them.
• Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures).
• Receiving training appropriate to the role and maintaining an up-to-date training profile.
• Responsibility for the accurate maintenance of financial records appropriate to the duties of the post.
• Responsible for the health, safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the requirements of the organisational Health and Safety Policies.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain a high quality of care and support which meets the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and cultural needs of C&YP within the care of GACFS. Working from the guidelines from the 1989 Children’s Act, Children’s Home Standards & Quality Standards, and any other relevant legislation.
• To provide a caring, supportive, and nurturing environment in which C&YP can feel secure and free from harm.
• Establishing positive relationships with C&YP and always offering them unconditional and positive regard.
• Helping C&YP gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.
• Ensuring that each C&YPs care plan is followed and amended as appropriate to reflect their changing needs.
• Attending to practical matters in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning, general maintenance around the home etc).
• To act as a key worker or co-worker for a C&YP to ensure that their care plans are up to date and that all their care needs are being met.
• To provide a positive role model to be able to offer advice, guidance, and assistance where appropriate.
• Establishing relationships which C&YP perceive to be positive, warm, and rewarding.
• Providing advice, assistance, and support on a 1:1 basis to enable C&YP to address past and present difficulties.
• Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress.
• Being ambitious for C&YP, helping them achieve their goals and optimise their potential.
• Providing support for C&YP in their education and extracurricular activities, this may include supporting them in the classroom if necessary.
• Keeping accurate records and providing written reports on C&YP for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings as directed by the line manager.
• Empowering C&YP and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future.
• Acting as an advocate at meetings where the C&YP is the subject of discussion.
• Encouraging the C&YP to develop links with the community, attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• This post requires the holder to do varying shifts, which include early morning and late evening work, sleep-in and an on-call rota system.
• The post holder also is required to work weekends as part of a rota and Bank Holidays when required.
• Sleeping-in duties are also required for which an additional payment is made.
• 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.
• 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.
• To undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade of the post and the needs of the Home such as decorating, gardening in order to develop and maintain service delivery.
• This post requires the holder to always have a clear DBS check. Changes to personal circumstances which may affect this must be notified to your line manager immediately.

TO WORK AS PART OF A TEAM

• Being aware of the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them.
• Attending team/staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them.
• Actively contributing to the development of the team.
• Receiving and storing information to improve communication.
• Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers.
• Being aware of childcare plans for all C&YP and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans.
• Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties.
• Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the Children’s Home Standards & Quality Standards.
• Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing).
• Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them.