Residential Support Worker

The Residential Support Worker will be designated to one of our children's homes across Kent. However, the Residential Support Worker may be expected to work at any of our children's homes as and when required.

Safeguarding Role and Responsibilities

· To be aware of the safeguarding policy and all other safeguarding/child protection policies and procedures during induction, training, and personal development.

· At all times follow children's risk assessments and plans in place to reduce the risk of harm to any child in the care of the home.

· Know who the safeguarding leads are and how to report concerns.

· Comply with all training in identifying signs of harm and abuse.

· Respond immediately to any young person to keep them safe.

· Make yourself aware of what to do if a young person makes a disclosure.

· Discuss any actual or emerging safeguarding concerns as soon as possible to your line manager or any Designated Safeguarding Lead.

· Attend any Strategy Meeting, Child Protection Case Conference if required.

· Keep accurate, objective records of any concerns or incidents, as per company safeguarding reporting procedures.

Promote Benecare's Safeguarding Statement

"At Benecare Children's Services Ltd we are committed to promoting the safeguarding and wellbeing of all children and young people who live within our homes. We believe that all our children and young people deserve to live in a safe, happy environment, where we promote a healthy lifestyle, with adults caring for them who are committed to this."

Job Purpose

· Be an appropriate role model to children in the home and help meet their practical needs by providing support, advice, and assistance. To help children address their problems, concerns, and previous trauma and work with them to achieve health, well-being, and education outcomes, enabling them to reach their full potential. To support children to prepare for future independence and self-sufficiency.

General Duties

· Work with children in the home, supporting them with their individual needs as outlined in their placement plan.

· Ensure children are treated with dignity and respect.

· Help children participate in the routines of the home and encourage them to take part in the activities and support on offer.

· Promote education and support children to attend education and help them with their homework, and attend meetings where necessary. Where children are out of education, support them with educational activities and work toward education outcomes.

· Promote well-being in the home by ensuring the environment is free from bullying, prejudice and a fair place to live.

· Help children deal with conflict and trauma by supporting any therapeutic plans that are in place for them.

· Work co-operatively and pro-actively as part of a team supporting colleagues and the manager.

Specific Duties

· Provide advice and support to children in the home in line with their placement plans, organisational policies, and the good practice requirements of the home.

· Act as a key worker to children offering support to their individual needs and advocating for them at reviews and care planning meetings.

· Be a point of contact for children with their social workers, education and health staff, and family.

· Ensure children in the home are safe and protected from harm.

· Establish a nurturing relationship with children to help them deal with their past and present difficulties.

· Help children build positive relationships by ensuring the home environment is free from bullying and prejudice and a safe and fair place to live.

· Help children resolve conflicts and manage their behaviour safely and acceptably, and that unacceptable behaviour is challenged and addressed.

· Support children to participate in their local community, participating in activities and helping them make and achieve plans for their future.

· Help children provide feedback to the home and ensure their voice is heard in their care and support.

· Put any therapeutic or other plans into action to support the child alongside their placement plan.

· Support children to reduce any behaviours which put them at risk of harm, such as missing from care or criminal exploitation.

· Ensure the home's records are completed to a high standard before the end of each shift and provide written reports for care managers, looked after reviews and care planning meetings.

· Take part in the home's routines such as cooking, cleaning, maintaining the environment, and supporting children to do the same.

· Attend shifts as required by the staff rota and take part in the on-call rota and the sleep-in rota.

· Undertake training as the organisation requires and take responsibility for continuing professional development.

· Attend and contribute to regular supervision meetings and complete actions from the annual appraisal.

· Work and contribute pro-actively to the team and report any concerns about unacceptable staff conduct or standards to your line manager.

· Adhere to all health and safety and workplace policies.

Experience of direct work or involvement with children as a paid worker, volunteer, carer or as part of a family.

Experience in Care and control of children and young people with challenging behaviour, Good interpersonal skills

Understanding of Safeguarding

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge of legislation relating to children and young people (specifically children in care)

Skills

Essential Criteria

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, able to present information in an understandable way

Ability to record information

Able to manage time effectively planning own workload

Good observation skills

Able to work as part of a team

Able to work with children with challenging behaviour

Desirable Criteria

Report writing and recording skills able to present information in an understandable way

Negotiation and de-escalation skills

Risk management and planning, Commitment to work to guidelines and policies.

Able to work within policy and procedures and use own judgement appropriately.

Ability to communicate with other agencies and professionals e.g. education, health, police etc.

Commitment to keep children safe and protect them from harm

Ability to manage stress in self and others.

Desirable Criteria

Able to demonstrate an understanding of children and young people's needs and their development., Level 3 Health & Social Care Children. Or related professional qualifications and formal qualifications in respect to social care and residential work with children and or other

Commitment to further relevant training and personal development.

Equality and Diversity

Essential Criteria

Accepting and being commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunities

To show good understanding of the needs of all children and staff.

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge of equality and diversity.

Other

Essential Criteria

Able to commit to flexible working including weekdays, evenings and weekends. Also completing sleep in duties.

Must be mobile and willing to work in other homes when needed.

Desirable Criteria

Flexible working

Opportunities for circa 30k+ per year target earnings 25 years +, we would advise generally speaking our staff must be 25 years or above; we do occasionally make exceptions dependent upon the circumstances and situation of the applicant, inexperienced and unqualified. - FTE

Part time and Sessional positions also available.

Children's Residential Support Worker

Do you wish to have a rewarding career working with children but have no relevant experience? If the answer is yes, then we can support you to develop the skills and experience to work alongside our children and young people. Benecare offer a free and full training package and will enrol and support you to gain a NVQ in Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare.

Why work for Benecare?

A great work/life balance with flexible working patterns.

Benenden Private Healthcare Company.

Complimentary Health and Wellbeing Support Through Our Employees Assistance Programme.

Free Statutory Qualifications Training including a fully funded Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare Qualifications.

Joining Bonus.

Refer a friend Bonus.

Long Term Service Award Bonus.

Loyalty Scheme Which Rewards you with extra annual leave following 2 years of service, up to 3 extra days.

Enhanced Rates of Pay for Overtime.

Birthday Recognition Scheme.

Workplace Pension with Company Contributions.

Free Membership to the Blue Light Card Company.

Career Progression.

Milage Contribution.

Meals are Provided.

What makes us different?

Flexible working rotas that promote and support a healthy work/life balance with various shift packages available.

Competitive salary and overtime rates.

Excellent career advancement opportunities and security with a well established company established since 2007.