Senior Child Residential Support Worker

Reports to:

Registered Manager/Deputy Manager

Responsible for:

Day to day shift leading

Main Purpose:

To contribute to all aspects of the physical and emotional care of the child(ren) so as to promote their welfare whilst working in partnership with their family and other professionals. To take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the unit in the absence of the Manager/ Deputy Manager. To provide experience and expertise in working with children and young people at the home.

Main Activities:

• Develop and sustain effective working relationships between workers and the local community, colleagues and other agencies so as to promote collaborative working and partnerships.
• Assist the registered manager in the development of the team and individuals to enhance their performance.
• Contribute to the effective and efficient use of the physical and financial resources.
• Comply with the legal requirements relating to services, policies and procedures and financial regulations of the company.
• Contribute to the effective management of information which promotes communication between people, the company and others and which assists with making informed decisions. To receive, transmit, store and retrieve information in line with good practice and company policy.
• Contribute to improvements at work, including the planning, co-ordination and implementation of specific projects and the development of policies, procedures and implementation of quality assurance systems.
• Establish and sustain relationships with young people and their families.
• Contribute to the effective physical, social and emotional environment of care which provides a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment in which children and young people can be offered the support, care and guidance they need.
• Contribute to the protection of children from abuse; evaluate the risk of abuse, failure to protect and harm to self and other people and ensure that all matters regarding the care and management of young people are reported in line with company policy and procedure.
• Promote people s equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities and develop, maintain and evaluate systems and structures to promote them.
• Contribute to the promotion of the individual s health and social well being; assist the individual to maintain a positive sense of self and identity which will include promoting and maximising their educational opportunities and achievements.
• Contribute to the assessment of the individual s needs and circumstances, in the development, provision and review of care plans.
• Contribute to the implementation and evaluation of specific programmes, which provides a framework for the prevention of risk and management of individual s behaviour.
• Enable and support children to participate in recreation and leisure activities.
• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as may from time to time be required by the Head of Children s & Residential Services.
• All employees have a duty to carry out their work with due regard for the health and safety of themselves, other employees and the public, to observe health and safety requirements relevant to their activities.
• This job description is provided to assist the post holder to understand his/her duties and may be amended from time to time without change to the level of responsibilities appropriate to the post.
  

Person Specification for Senior Residential Child Care Worker

Experience:

Must have at least one years experience of working with individual young people or groups of young people in a residential childcare setting.

Experience of contributing to the development, implementation and review of specific programmes for young people to meet their needs and circumstances

Experience of protecting children from abuse and participating in the evaluation of the risk of abuse to self or others

Knowledge & Understanding of:

Legislation, policy and practice in relation to working with children and young people

Child development and the needs of children

Rights and responsibilities of individuals and how to develop and maintain structures and systems to support these

Health and safety legislation, duties and responsibilities

Qualifications or Training:

Must hold either the QCF Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) or NVQ Level III Children and Young People (or a predecessor qualification) or

Recognised Social Work Qualification

Practical Skills:

An ability to effectively engage and sustain positive relationships with young people and their families

An ability to develop productive working relationships between workers, the local community and other agencies

Evidence of collaborative working in partnership with other people

Evidence of decision making

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and to produce a variety of information to aid decision making

To support and mentor staff and enhance their performance including where necessary managing poor performance

Personal Qualities & Attributes:

Demonstrate a commitment to the development of residential care for children and young people

Demonstrate a commitment to developing and maintaining systems and structures which develop, maintains and supports the promotion of the individuals rights, responsibilities and diversity

Demonstrate a commitment to take advantage of training and developing ones own knowledge and practice

Demonstrate a commitment to participate in recreational activities with children including, where required, taking them on holiday and attending school visits etc.

Able to manage personal stress levels effectively

Integrity

Resilience

Flexibility

An ability to relate well to children and young people including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds

Ability to provide a positive role model for young people

Ability to motivate and lead staff and colleagues