Youth Care Practitioner - 37 hours per week (730am-1045pm)

Rossie operates 365 days per year, covering 24 hours per day. Our Youth Care Practitioners are on a rolling rota and cover various shift patterns. Rota: 37 hours per week (7.30am - 10.45pm) - 1 on / 2 off rolling rota. Salary: £29,013 - £37,549 (SCP 22-32) per annum (pro rata for part time hours). Salary placement will be dependent on relevant qualifications. This is an open advert - we will interview on an ongoing basis.

Onboarding Requirements:

• Welcome to Rossie – you will undertake supernumerary shifts, incorporating time with an L&D Coach and allocated Mentor as well as job shadowing/learning.
• You will also spend time with a Duty Manager learning about fundamental aspects of security, in preparation for utilising secure keys. This will take place over a 5 day period (Monday to Friday) prior to commencing shifts within the Houses.
• Crisis Aggression Limitation Management (CALM) – required by all employees working directly with our young people, and must be completed within the first 3 months of employment:

• 1 day Induction
• 5 day accreditation: 2 days theory and 3 days physical
• Thereafter: Re-accreditation x 1 per year commencing 1 year after initial accreditation
• Practice sessions – minimum of 4 per annum (different options are offered over the course of the year)

JOB DESCRIPTION

The primary responsibility is to provide care and support to young people in a safe and nurturing environment by meeting the physical, emotional, social, health and educational needs of young people based on their circumstances.

Supporting Young People's Needs:

• Understand each young person's needs, provide tailored support and assistance with daily living skills, and support their learning, development and wider achievement.
• Establish safe and containing relationships with young people which allow them to feel cared for and listened to.
• Develop a good understanding of each young person's history, needs, risk assessments and care plan to tailor support and nurture their strengths.
• Participate in creating and implementing risk assessments, and placement plans, ensuring positive risk-taking, which allows young people to become resilient.
• Participate alongside young people in fun activities, hobbies and interests which supports development in a number of areas.
• Maintain a clean, secure, nurturing and stimulating living environment that promotes positive development through education, play, leisure, and social interaction.

Safety and Well-being:

• Uphold safety protocols to prevent incidents, accidents, and injuries. This includes supervising activities, de-escalating conflict, and responding to challenging behaviours.
• Plan and positively engage the young people in a range of various planned stimulating activities.

Advocacy and Empowerment:

• Champion the rights of young people according to relevant legislation and Rossie's policies, respecting their privacy, choices, and cultural backgrounds.
• Encourage young people to express themselves, participate in decisions, and take ownership of their lives.
• Build trusting and supportive relationships with young people whilst acting as a role model.

Supporting Growth and Development:

• Assist the Specialist Intervention Health & Wellbeing team with assessments, intervention work/program development, and supporting young people in practising newly acquired skills.
• Support young people's educational attendance and attainment, providing additional support and encouragement.

Compliance and Professional Practice:

• Ensure all care provided adheres to Rossie's policies, legislation, and relevant guidance.
• Stay up-to-date on and implement best practices in residential childcare, creating a high-quality care environment through trauma-sensitive and attachment-informed approaches.

Documentation, Collaboration and Communication:

• Maintain accurate and confidential documentation of young people's needs, progress, and incidents.
• Work effectively with colleagues, families, social workers, healthcare professionals, teachers and other professionals to ensure a holistic approach to supporting young people.
• Maintain clear and positive communication with colleagues, families, and stakeholders, fostering collaboration for the young people's benefit.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in on-call sleep-in duties on a rota basis, ensuring young people's safety and well-being during the night.
• Actively participate in supervision, training/online training, and other required meetings.
• Complete necessary inductions and ongoing training to fulfil job duties and achieve/maintain SSSC registration. Completion of all mandatory training commensurate with the requirements of the role and as directed by Rossie.
• Maintain a flexible approach to work schedules as directed by the Duty Manager/Care Managers.
• Undertake any additional duties assigned by the management team that are consistent with the role.
• Assist with domestic tasks and food preparation as required.

Please note this job description is to provide a clear and concise statement of the main tasks and activities of the post, and it is not intended as an exhaustive list of every aspect of the post holder's duties. All the above duties will be carried out in line with Rossie policies and procedures.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge Base (Essential):

• Understanding of the needs of young people.
• Awareness of Employer and Employee Code of Conduct as set down by the SSSC.
• Understanding of trauma and child development factors impacting young people.

Knowledge Base (Desirable):

• Residential childcare provision such as secure accommodation.
• Relevant experience in writing reports, plans and records for young people and external agencies.
• Trauma-Informed practice.
• Attachment theory.
• Childcare legislation.
• GIRFEC and care planning.
• Intervention models.
• Child protection protocols.
• The Promise – Promise Plan.

Qualifications (Essential):

• Ability to undertake HNC + SVQ 3 Social Care.
• Ability to undertake training in Behaviour Management/Physical Intervention.
• Ability to undertake induction, continuous professional learning and role-related online training.

Qualifications (Desirable):

• Possess or working towards the HNC in Social Care and/or an SVQ in Care at Level 3 (or Caring for Children and Young People) – you must be able to demonstrate you are working towards these qualifications.
• SVQ3 – Children and Young People.
• HNC (preferably in Social Care).
• Other Relevant SSSC Registered Award.
• Leisure/Recreation Qualifications/Awards.

Experience (Essential):

• Working with young people in a voluntary/employment capacity.
• Team working.

Experience (Desirable):

• Employment in Youth Work and Child Care.
• Residential childcare.
• Advocacy and representation on behalf of a young person.
• Intervention with young people and their families.
• Liaison/networking with other professionals.
• National Practice Model including GIRFEC.

Skills (Essential):

• Ability to build and sustain appropriate relationships with young people and colleagues.
• Good interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Planning and organisational skills.
• Empathy, patience and understanding.
• Ability to cope with challenging situations.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to keep accurate records and write reports.
• Time management and ability to work under pressure.

Skills (Desirable):

• Leisure/Recreational Skills.
• Risk Assessment & needs analysis.
• Formulate and implement care plans.

Professional Qualities (Essential):

• Respectful of children, young people, families and colleagues.
• Ability to support and commit to working as a team, making effective efforts to develop skills and competencies of yourself and others.
• Capabilities in relation to maintaining/reviewing the safety and welfare of children and young people.
• Understand the importance of safe care.
• Recognise own areas of responsibility and accountability.
• Maintain high standards of service delivery.
• Have a consistency of approach in work practice.
• Positive role model and self-care skills.

Personal Qualities (Essential):

• Resilient.
• Ability to work on your initiative whilst taking responsibility for your actions.
• Work under pressure and remain calm.
• Ability to work on own and as part of a team.
• Able to effectively manage relationships/boundaries.
• Self-motivated.
• Demonstrates can do approach.
• Approachable, inclusive and respectful.
• Carry out role with credibility and professionalism.
• Structured approach to planning and organising with an ability to prioritise.
• Flexible and adaptable in dealing with challenging situations.
• Emotionally self-aware, level headed and aware of the range of emotions in others.
• Positive Role Model.
• Full Manual Driving Licence (Essential).