Child and Youth Care Worker, Peripatetic - Lochwinnoch in Paisley

Staff Benefits at Kibble include opportunities for further training, job variety, and funded study. Healthcare contributes to expenses such as dental treatments, new glasses, and contact lenses. Discounts are available for shopping and events from partners like Blue Light Card and Costco, as well as childcare through Puddle Lane children’s nursery. Immediate access to confidential counselling helps prioritise self-care. Wellbeing perks include Cycle to Work and generous holidays.

About Kibble: Kibble supports children from early years up to young adults who have experienced trauma and adversity through residential care, education, and mental health services. Since 1859, we’ve put young people first and built a trusted charity with vital services that strive to transform lives, families, and communities. When starting a new job at Kibble, you’ll become part of a dedicated staff team who ensure children are happy and safe 365 days a year, 24/7. Whether your role is in care, education, or the corporate side, you’ll help give young people a chance at life.

Job Purpose: Kibble is recruiting Residential Child and Youth Care Workers for our established children’s houses based in Lochwinnoch. The posts involve working as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing a therapeutic trauma-informed model of care to children aged 5-12 years. We seek people who have a strong commitment to caring for children, understand developmental trauma and additional support needs, and are resilient, reflective, and patient. You should be able to practice in a trauma-sensitive way, providing children with a sense of safety and connectedness while teaching coping skills in the face of complex challenging behaviour.

Forest View Houses, Lochwinnoch has achieved the National Autistic Society, Autism Specialist Award. We care for children who are neuro-diverse and have a range of communication needs. Following social pedagogical principles, our children need opportunities to problem-solve and experiment with taking risks to challenge themselves physically and mentally. We recognise the powerful healing and developmental role of play in children’s lives. Therefore, we are keen to have people on board who are in touch with their inner child and willing to be creative about and fully involved in outdoor play, messy play, risky play, and the range of play opportunities we provide for our children.

This post will offer the successful candidate stability, with guaranteed hours and the benefit of varied work. It is ideally suited to someone who has flexibility throughout the working week and weekends to work both early and back shifts. The varied shift pattern provides opportunities for the successful candidate to interact with a range of different employees and children and young people at Kibble.

The Care Programme: The Child and Youth Care Worker will:

• Have direct responsibility for the care and development of a number of children and young people.
• Liaise with all relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team within the Centre to ensure a mutual understanding of placement programme targets.
• Meet with the parent(s) or other relative(s) of the child or young person to ensure family contact continues and assist in achieving social and educational targets.

Recording and Reporting: The Child and Youth Care Worker is responsible for ensuring that the placement plan for the child or young person is recorded in the required format and that reports required by external agencies are provided within the required timescales.

Worker Profile: The Child and Youth Care Worker will be able to:

• Relate to children and young people in a way that promotes their trust and involvement.
• Respond positively and calmly to physical and verbal aggression.
• Support children with varying levels of personal care, promoting their independence while respecting their dignity and privacy.
• Understand the dynamics of relationships between young people and take action to stop bullying and prevent isolation.
• Establish relationships with young people to reveal incidents of abuse.
• Work unsupervised and on own initiative.
• Communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing.
• Co-work with representatives from other agencies.
• Display knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation.
• Manage and motivate self in forming and sustaining relationships.

Eligibility Criteria: HNC in Social Care, SVQ Level 3 in Care or equivalent, or the ability to undertake the HNC and SVQ Level 3 Social Care. Be registered with the SSSC, preferably eligible for unconditional registration. Two years’ experience in the social care sector is desirable. Previous experience in residential childcare is also desirable. A full driving licence is essential.

Notes: This job outline reflects the main tasks and responsibilities of the post holder. Kibble reserves the right to alter or amend the content of this job outline. All duties must be carried out in a way that promotes equality of opportunity, dignity, and respect for all individuals. The successful candidate will be subject to PVG Scheme Membership. Previous convictions will not automatically disbar you from working at Kibble, except for offences against children or vulnerable groups. The successful candidate will be required to undertake Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training and must complete this training within four weeks of an agreed start date.

What do we offer? Holidays (up to 40 days per year), enhanced sick and maternity pay, Cash4Health programme, employee assistance programme, free parking, and free meals.