Senior Child Practitioner in Neath

Hours: Full Time 37 hours per week (Shift work to include days, nights, weekends and bank holiday duties on a rota basis). Weekend and nights enhancements paid as per rota in line with the local authorities policies. Plus, an extra opportunity of overtime paid at time and a third. Therefore, there is potential that your salary will be higher.

Location of post: Hillside Secure Children’s Home, Off Burnside, Cimla, Neath, SA11 1UL.

This vacancy has an age restriction of 21 years and above in line with the Welsh Government’s National Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes, Section 20.

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged, troubled and troublesome children? Do you want to effectively work directly with children in a structured, therapeutic way? Do you want to contribute to an environment of continuous development to improve the life changes of children? Do you want to work as part of a team that works collectively to positively change attitudes and behaviours with children? Do you want to work in a successful Centre that ensures the needs of children remains the focus of its Role and Function? Do you want to develop your own skills and abilities through personal development and training opportunities?

Then join us at Hillside Secure Centre, which provides a high quality of care and education for 14 young people, aged 10-18 years, within three secure living homes. We take an eclectic therapeutic approach through direct work supported by an in-house clinical team. We provide a comprehensive range of education, vocational and recreational learning opportunities to enable an effective response to the identified needs of young people.

We are looking for individuals who have patience, flexibility and understanding, who also have experience of working with young people, preferably within a residential setting. You will also have personal skills, abilities and knowledge in many aspects of childcare, youth justice and specialist fields of work with young people. It is also essential that the post holder can do shift work to include days, nights, weekend and bank holiday duties on a rota basis.

Neath Port Talbot Council is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our employees are equally committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and young people and will take action to safeguard their wellbeing. The recruitment process for these posts will be underpinned by rigorous safer recruitment assessment to ensure that children and young people are protected.

The main duties of the post: The post holders will contribute through a team approach to the effective and efficient running of the Home, managing a team that are undertaking tasks and working with young people enabling positive change in their behaviour, attitude, helping them to cope better with life. The successful candidates will be required to comply with the requirements of registration set out by Social Care Wales. The Qualification Framework for the Social Care Sector in Wales states that it is essential for all post holders to complete a QCF Level 3 in Caring for Children & Young People within 3 years of being appointed to work in childcare. The successful candidates will be subject to completion of a Behaviour Management training course which is essential. This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Disclosure (Child and Adult Barred list check).

Welsh Language Requirements: Welsh Language skills are not required.

Additional Information: Applications may be submitted in Welsh; applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Benefits: We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who have a disability and armed forces veterans. In support of employees of Tata Steel who are at risk of redundancy, or have been made redundant in 2024, Neath Port Talbot Council is offering a guaranteed interview for jobs across the Council.