Senior Residential Children\'s Home Support Worker in City of Westminster

We are currently seeking an experienced Senior Residential Support Worker.

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Salary: £33,320.85 per annum

Location: Greater London (Covering Area Camden homes in Camden, Haringey & Islington)

Please note, it is essential that all candidates have relevant experience and qualifications in this role to be considered for an interview. You will need to have between 2 to 3 years experience and hold a Children's Workforce Diploma or equivalent to the children sector.

The ethos and culture of the Area Camden Group, as part of Polaris Community, is founded on core values of mutual respect and good parenting whilst being respectful to the values of privacy, dignity, independence, choice, rights and fulfilment. Our purpose is to provide the highest quality care within very high quality settings and to offer young people care, accommodation and support as close to a family environment as possible. The residential care we provide is for 11 to 18-year olds and our focus is centred on the needs of the child. The welfare of our young people is paramount in the role of a Support Worker. Not only do Support Workers keep our young people safe, but as the daily care provider, they also make a fundamental contribution to their care, learning and development. A key figure within the team, you will build invaluable bridges between Area Camden and the local community, promoting social inclusion as you support people with emotional and behavioural difficulties to reach their full potential.

Main Purpose of the Role:

The Senior Support Worker is accountable for delivering high quality care to the children and young people resident within the home. This means that they are responsible for delivery of all care services, as well as the strategic planning for developments within the home, and all day-to-day management matters. They will demonstrate the ability to build on the principles and practice standards expected at Area Camden and proactively contribute to the continuous improvement of childcare standards at Area Camden. The Senior Support Worker is responsible for key working children and focusing on obtaining the best outcomes for each child and young person within the home. Consequently, they are expected to demonstrate practical leadership in childcare, as well as organise and support staff to provide the best possible care for each child and young person. This involves being personally available, as well as the supervision and mentoring of staff, organisation of work patterns, and facilitation of care focused training, and accessing of appropriate services to support the childcare practices within the home. The Senior Support Worker is a vitally important role within Area Camden. They will be accountable to the Registered Manager.

Benefits:

• A robust Induction and mandatory training program to upskill our workforce
• Progression within the organisation on promotion and development of given role
• Weekly rota on rotation 08:00pm- 20:00pm i.e. (1 week)- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday= 60 hours (2 week) - Wednesday and Thursday= 24 hours
• Minimum average of 168 hours per calendar month
• 236 hours annual leave per annum (including bank holidays)
• Holiday increase per year - 12 extra hours for 3 years (capped at 272 hours)
• Pension scheme after a qualifying period

Care for Children:

• Enrich the lives of young people in our care, helping them create a positive future
• Build on positive trusting relations with each young person
• Record key work sessions / care plans and risk assessments keeping them under review as part of their role.

Childcare:

• Ensure the effective implementation of the Children Act 1989 and the accompanying guidance and regulations the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Children's Homes Regulations 2015. This will be achieved in consultation with the relevant statutory body.
• Ensure that any matters relating to child protection are managed in line with current legislation, national standards and best safeguarding practice.
• Maintain the highest possible standards of childcare and ensure that each child and young person's agreed placement plan is fully implemented.
• Co-ordinate and access the appropriate services (health, education, therapy) to ensure the needs of each child and young person is met.

Leadership:

• Provide leadership and coaching in childcare practice within the home to ensure best outcomes for children and young people.
• Support the Manager and/or Senior Residential Childcare Workers in provision of best possible childcare practices.
• Implement Area Camden underpinning philosophy and practice framework, ensuring that care standards are never compromised.
• Ensure that all of Area Camden & Polaris policies and procedures are implemented appropriately.
• The senior will support with the monitoring of the home within the children's homes regulations and Standards, they will support with all aspects of Health and Safety Legislation.
• As senior you will work as part of a rolling rota that supports the function of the home providing round the clock support and care for the children.

Home Management:

• To achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people, ensure that the home is managed effectively and efficiently.
• Ensure that Residential Childcare staff are focused on providing the best childcare for the children and young people.
• Ensure full participation and co-operation with Area Camden's comprehensive and integrated Quality Assurance systems, including taking responsibility for all duties associated with regulatory compliance. This includes the annual inspection process.
• Facilitating and supporting with regulation 44 visits.
• Make sure that best practice is maintained by conducting regular quality assurance inspections.
• All aspects of Health and Safety.
• Sustain and develop the administration systems, recording systems, and repair work, so that a safe warm and caring home environment is maintained.
• Contribute to manage the home within the agreed budget, taking full responsibility for all incidental costs as well as direct costs such as repairs to the property and appliances.

Area Camden is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.