At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide care and support to children in homes, leading care packages and guiding support staff.
- Company: Hull City Council, a leading provider of Children’s Homes committed to nurturing environments.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive pay, training opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Casual roles available; flexible scheduling and mandatory training provided.
- Why this job: Join a motivated team and help children thrive while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, with experience in care settings.
The predicted salary is between 13 - 16 £ per hour.
Are you playful and accepting, can you show curiosity and empathy? If you can then you have something really special to offer our Children living in Children’s Homes. If trauma brings resilience, then our Children are superheroes - they deserve the best; the best homes, the best help, the best opportunities, and children tell us over and over again, it’s the staff that matter. We believe that we need the right people, with the right commitment, skills, tenacity, imagination, and energy in order to offer the best to our children. To do this you will be offered high quality support, training, guidance, and development and be part of a motivated and ambitious team.
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. If you want to be part of Hull's journey and make a real difference to children, now is a great time to join, we have various opportunities for Care Officers to join our Childrens Homes teams. Homes provide both short and long-term care and support to Children and Young People who are unable to live within their own family home.
About the role:
- Provide a highly skilled level of care including taking the lead with care packages and ensuring Support Workers are guided and supported.
- In the absence of a Senior Care Officer, take responsibility for decisions relating to the safeguarding and care of children as well as responding to the needs of families and staff on duty.
About you:
- 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.
Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.
Work arrangement:
- Hours per week will vary, 74 hours per month and will include long shifts and sleep in shifts.
- Hours will exceed 20 hours per week at times due to the rota.
- Two additional increments are payable for weekend working for permanent and fixed term staff.
- We are also recruiting Casual Care Officers to work across various homes on an as and when required basis.
- If you are interested in casual work, please apply and state this in the additional information on the application form.
- Casual roles are to cover holidays, absence and training, and do not have a set working pattern or regular hours.
- Due to the long shifts that may also include sleep in shifts, the ability to be flexible as to when, and how many hours you are able to work is essential.
- Where possible, work is pre-arranged however, there may be times when you will be asked to work at short notice.
- Various training courses are also mandatory, which will require you to attend over several days, during weekdays.
Please contact Tracey Carter for an informal discussion around how our scheduling works and the training you will need to attend, should you be successful. We understand that you may have questions or want to speak to someone who already works in our homes to find out more about current opportunities, please feel free to contact Tracey Carter on 01482 612 946 for an informal chat.
Please note, these posts are not available for Visa Sponsorship, therefore all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Care Officer employer: Hull City Council
Hull City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and forward-thinking work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With competitive salaries, excellent pension schemes, and generous leave policies, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact on the community while enjoying a healthy work-life balance in the vibrant city of Hull.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Officer
✨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 Hull City Council.
✨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 Hull City Council!
✨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 Hull City Council, 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 Hull City Council 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 Care Officer
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 Hull City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Hull City Council! 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 Hull City Council
✨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.