Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner in Swindon

Purpose of the role

As a Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner, you will play a leading role in creating a safe, nurturing and therapeutic home for children and young people aged 8 to 18. Based in our Ofsted-rated Good home in Swindon, which supports up to two young people, you will provide high-quality care while offering guidance and support to Residential Support Workers within the team.

Working within a therapeutic model of care, you will help children and young people develop confidence, independence and resilience, building positive relationships and supporting them to achieve their individual goals and aspirations. You will act as a trusted adult, positive role model and senior member of the team, contributing to a stable, supportive home environment where young people can thrive.

As a senior practitioner, you will take additional responsibility for leading shifts, supporting care planning and record keeping, mentoring colleagues, and helping to maintain the high standards expected within an Ofsted-regulated service. You will work closely with managers, social workers, families and other professionals to deliver outstanding outcomes for children and young people.

Key responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Provide care, guidance and emotional support within a therapeutic environment.
• Support education, health appointments, family time and community activities.
• Promote independence, life skills and positive behaviour.
• Safeguard children and respond appropriately to any concerns.
• Complete records, reports and documentation accurately.
• Work closely with colleagues, social workers, families and other professionals.
• Contribute to a safe, stable and homely environment.
• Participate in training, supervision and team meetings.

Qualifications and training

The postholder is required to hold, or to achieve within two years of starting in the role, the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) or an accepted equivalent. This requirement arises directly from the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and is a condition of working in a registered children's home rather than an optional development opportunity.

The role also requires completion of the home's mandatory training programme, which includes safeguarding, first aid, medication, therapeutic approaches to behaviour, and health and safety.

Person specification

Essential

• Full driving licence.
• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, or a commitment and capability to achieve it within two years of appointment.
• Experience of working directly with children or young people, ideally in a residential, care, education or youth setting.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and the ability to recognise and act on concerns.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with children who may have experienced trauma or disrupted care.
• Competent written English sufficient to maintain records and reports to a standard suitable for regulatory scrutiny.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm and consistent in demanding situations.
• Willingness and availability to work a rota including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in duties.
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check and references.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking, or willingness to undertake, further professional development relevant to residential childcare and the needs of children in care.
• Experience of key working and of contributing to placement planning.
• Experience of therapeutic or trauma informed models of care.

Terms and conditions

• Contract: permanent, full time.
• Hours: 37.5 per week on a rota basis, plus sleep-in duties.
• Salary: Earn £39,540 to £42,900 per year, depending on the number of sleep-ins worked
• Annual leave, pension and other terms as set out in the contract of employment.
• The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to an enhanced DBS check.

General

This job description outlines the main duties of the post and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the role and grade, as reasonably requested by the Registered Manager.

The description will be reviewed periodically to reflect the changing needs of the children in our care and the requirements of the regulatory framework.

Safeguarding Statement

Heritage Children's Homes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references and safer recruitment processes.