Residential Childcare Practitioner in Thornhill

Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway

From £32,397 to £34,640 OTE plus overtime

The Greenleaf Team

We’re looking for people to join our team that share our beliefs. We believe in a holistic approach: that even the smallest detail can mean a world of difference to a vulnerable young person. We want team members who never give up on our young people, who are compassionate and who believe that our young people deserve the best we can give them.

We specialise in solo placements for young people in care up to the age of 21 and adopt a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to care. In our work, we uphold Greenleaf’s values of Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration, and Respect.

If it’s your ambition to create a future filled with hope and optimism for our young people, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

You will be part of a unique team who will work together to facilitate excellent practice and shape the development of our Service. Note: This role involves completing 14-hour shifts followed by a 10-hour sleepover.

Our vision is for every young person who lives with us to experience a safe, happy and nurturing present and a future that is filled with hope and optimism. You will contribute to this by ensuring high standards of care and support.

We look after children and young people from a variety of backgrounds, who have experienced trauma or adverse life experiences and need specialist therapeutic support in a small residential setting. We offer solo placements with a core care team to provide consistent, trauma-informed, therapeutic care to the young people in our homes.

To succeed in this role, you will be compassionate, patient, nurturing, and therapeutic in your approach to care. The young people in our homes are with us 24/7 and deserve a safe and caring environment where they can grow and achieve positive outcomes.

This role is being advertised on a full-time basis, for different hours inquire via email at recruitment@greenleafhouse.co.uk

Greenleaf Benefits

• 29 days holiday entitlement
• Additional annual leave with length of service, starting at 2 years’ service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with a 24/7 wellbeing line and free counselling
• Health Cash Plan, which includes dental and optical cover, physio therapies, and a 24/7 GP helpline.
• Greenleaf For You platform which offers a range of savings including discounts, offers, and money back on vouchers
• Aspiring Leaders Programme to develop and progress in your career
• Pension scheme with Nest Pensions
• Complementary meals while on shift
• Casual dress code

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Possess previous experience of working in a residential children’s home.
• Possess an SVQ 3 and HNC in social care or equivalent.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Understand safeguarding and child protection.
• Have the ability to work shifts, including weekends, sleepovers, and long hours.
• Possess a full UK manual driving licence and be a confident driver.
• Understand the behaviours displayed by children and young people and be skilled in a range of intervention strategies.
• Be aware of relevant legislation.
• Be trained in or willing to complete training in crisis and physical intervention.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide care and support to our children and young people in accordance with policies and procedures and possess a mindful teamwork approach to therapeutic childcare practice.
• Contribute to the assessment process for young people and the delivery of support programmes.
• Provide positive support to children and young people.
• Attend planning and review meetings.
• Participate in a key person system.
• Ensure quality recording of information in accordance with policies and regulations.
• Work within a shift system including sleepovers.
• Undertake health and safety checks and other safety/security checks as necessary.
• Participate in on-going training and be responsible for own personal development.
• Implement de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies as necessary and appropriate, in line with mandatory training.
• Promote young people’s participation, structure, boundaries and routine.
• Comply with the code of conduct as required by the SSSC.
• Be fully aware of safeguarding and child protection issues and confident in the reporting process.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a safe, hygienic and clean environment.

The nature of residential work is varied and, in many instances, unpredictable. All staff are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and tasks that have not been covered in the job description have to be undertaken.

Practitioners are expected to conduct themselves professionally and adhere to Greenleaf Policies and Procedures. They must successfully complete induction and ongoing training.

The Company reserves the right to vary duties and responsibilities at any time.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

To Be Considered For This Position, You Must

• Have experience of working in a residential children’s home and possess a qualification in this field.
• Be eligible for SSSC registration and PVG membership for work with children and adults.
• Possess a full manual UK driving licence and be eligible for car insurance for company cars.
• Be able to work shifts including evenings, sleepovers, and weekends.
• Possess or be willing to work towards SVQ 3 and HNC in social care or other relevant subject.
• Possess excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Understand safeguarding and child protection.

Benefits

Greenleaf offers a comprehensive wellbeing package, including EAP with a 24/7 wellbeing line and free counselling sessions, a health cash plan, with dental and optical cover, physio therapies, and a 24/7 GP helpline, and a Greenleaf For You platform, which gives you access to a wide range of discounts and savings.

You will also have access to a wide range of development opportunities. At Greenleaf we believe in progression, we look after our staff so that they can focus on caring for our young people.