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Deputy Worker (Children’s Home)

JOB TITLE: DEPUTY WORKER (CHILDREN’S HOME)

REPORTING TO: REGISTERED MANAGER

GRADE: DM

SUPERVISORY REPONSIBLITIES: RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKER TEAM AND DOMENSTIC STAFF

JOB SUMMARY

The Deputy Manager, will assist the Registered Manager in the management of the home including the day to day running of the home. The Deputy Manager willfoster high morale and team spirit amongst the staff team and will be required tobuild positive relationships with the local community, all with the view to ensure to create a warm, homely and caring environment within the home for both individual children and young people and the home as a whole.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Safeguarding Responsibilities
    • Ensure that you adhere to the protection of children standard; ‘children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe’
    • Ensure the implementation of the company’s safeguarding policy
    • Ensure that staff understand what constitutes a safeguarding issue, how to identify it and how to report it
    • Attend the company’s advanced level training in safeguarding and child protection
    • Ensure that staff understand their duty to not promise absolute confidentiality at any time when a disclosure has been made to them, and to report any concerns
    • Ensure that visiting professionals or outside agencies understand their duty to not promise absolute confidentiality and are aware of how to report a concern
    • Develop relationships with other safeguarding professionals such as the LADO
    • Take a lead role, when necessary, to investigate and deal with all cases of suspected or actual problems associated with child protection, including attending child protection conferences or strategy meeting as necessary
    • Keep up to date will all new guidance on safeguarding children
    • Keep all staff up to date with any changes to procedures
    • Maintain accurate, secure, and up-to-date records of cases or concerns
    • Ensure staff attend mandatory training including CSE, FGM, Prevent, self-harming behaviour
    • Complete and regularly update any welfare risk assessments which outline procedures in place to minimise risk
    • Work closely with the Principal and work closely with the Safeguarding Committee on child protection
    • Annually review the policy with the responsible individual and other professionals also survey the staff’s understanding annually on the policy line with company procedures
    • Consult with young people, parents and placing social workers on their views of safeguarding within the provision in line with company procedures
    • Ensure safer recruitment practice is adopted line with company procedures
    • Ensure all necessary health and safety certification is in place and equipment maintained to the relevant standard line with company procedures
    • Ensure staff and young people know how to evacuate in an emergency and practice this regularly
    • Discuss openly any issues in supervision that could be construed as a safeguarding issue
    • Ensure generic and individual risk assessments accurately reflect current risks and control measures and this is reflected in the placement plan
    • Ensure generic and individual risk assessments accurately reflect current risks and control measures and this is reflected in the placement plan
  2. In the absence of the Registered Manger to be responsible for arrangements of admissions of young people into the home in line with the company policies and procedures.
  3. Be responsible for ensuring that all staff working within the home (with the exception of the Home Manager) are kept fully conversant of all relevant company procedures and policies, through guidance, instruction and practice, to enable staff to fulfil their roles and responsibilities effectively.
  4. Take appropriate action with the Registered Manager to ensure there is sufficient staff coverage at all levels and within required limit’s, to maintain the efficient and safe running of the home.
  5. Ensure that the company’s communications channels are used effectively for the dissemination of information, instruction and reporting back within the home so that staff are fully conversant with their duties, levels of responsibilities and rights.
  6. Ensure that the care and wellbeing of the young people is maintained at the highest level at all times and that this care reflects the needs and is appropriate for the young people of both sexes and if necessary, residents of varied ethnic origins, by monitoring that all staff undertaking their duties in a responsible manner and by taking appropriate action to remedy any unsatisfactory performance, including the identification of any further staff training needs.
  7. Participation and assistance with Social Workers and/or other professional staff within the company. This may also include attendance at meetings concerning children and young people where the manager has deemed appropriate
  8. Taking particular responsibility for a resident and being the key person for that individual including liaising with social workers, schools and outside agencies where appropriate in line with the individuals care plan.
  9. Assistance with the induction and settling in of new residents.
  10. Taking a key role in the development of programmes that support the residents both individually and collectedly.
  11. Undertake on a regular basis a specific area of administrative work as required.
  12. Seek to maintain the maximum level of individually and independence of the children and young people. Encourage communication and interaction within the home in order to broaden and stimulate interests.
  13. Ensure all young people access are required health care appropriate to their needs and that their health care needs are kept under regular planned review.
  14. Contribute reports to statutory and case reviews as required.
  15. Establish good relationships wit the local community and encourage the help of volunteers with the home for the benefit of the young people, at all times liaising with the appropriated company manager over the approval and use of volunteers.
  16. Encourage, stimulate and participate in social activities for the benefit of the young people. Take responsibility for the relevant administration of the home’ and entertainment and travel allowance.
  17. Company at all times with the statutory legislation requirements, i.e. National Minimum Care Standards, Ofsted.
  18. Comply at all times with the requirements of the Company’s Standard Operating Procedures and all supplementary instructions or amendments, ensure all staff comply with the Standard Operating Procedures as they apply to them.
  19. Endure that due attention is given by all staff to the health, safety and welfare matters throughout the home.
  20. Co-operate at all times with social services departmental staff and other relevant professionals in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in so far as they effect the home and the company.
  21. Seek advice from senior staff as appropriate on all matters where the proper course of action is unclear and guidance is required.
  22. Attend company meetings as required.
  23. To contribute to good practice standards within the company by identifying and highlighting service shortfalls and planning methods of development to improve services though company policies and procedures.
  24. Represent the company at all times in a responsible professional manner.
  25. To undertake such other duties as may be required or become necessary from time to time for the effective management and running of the home.

TEAM WORK

  1. To promote equality and diversity with groups of diverse children and adults.
  2. To be a positive role model for colleagues, children and young people.
  3. To work in other homes for support as this may be required from time to time.

TRAINING

  1. This role requires a commitment to undertake training as required for full understanding of duties.

Note: Due to the nature of the service there will be additional requirements in line with changes in relevant legislation and child/young people requirements

Attributes
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria
Experience
At least 2 years’ experience working at senior level with children or adults who have learning and physical disabilities, and or autism or involvement with as a paid worker, volunteer, carer or as part of a family Direct work or involvement with children as a paid worker, volunteer, carer or as part of a family Staff management experience Experience of working with children and young people with challenging behaviours.
2 years working in residential children’s home settings at senior level specialising in Learning Disabilities
Knowledge
Understanding of child development and children’s physical and emotional needs Understanding of child safeguarding Knowledge of legislation relating to children and young people (specifically children in care) Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of child protection procedures
Comprehensive knowledge of the Children’s Act. Working knowledge of the National Care Standards 2000, Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
Skills
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, able to present information in an understandable way Ability to communicate with other agencies and professionals e.g. education, health, police etc. Commitment to keep children safe and protect them from harm Proven leadership and management skills Able to manage time effectively planning own workload Good observation skills Able to work as part of a team Strong interpersonal skills
Proven report writing and recording skills able to present information in an understandable way Negotiation and de-escalation skills Risk management and planning
Personal Qualities
Organisation and leadership skills Ability to motivate and influence others Commitment to work to guidelines and policies. Able to work within policy and procedures and use own judgement appropriately. Ability to manage stress in self and others Honest and reliable Commitment to further relevant training and personal development. Able to demonstrate an understanding of children and young people’s needs and their development
Can evidence resilience with working with challenging behaviours
Qualifications
Level 4 Health & Social Care- Children and Young People
Related professional qualifications and formal qualifications in respect to social care and residential work with children and or other Level 5 Health & Social Care- Children and Young People
Equality and Diversity
Accepting and being commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunities To show good understanding of the needs of all children and staff.
Knowledge of equality and diversity.
Other
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.
Flexible working Driver

Contact Us

Address: Benecare Ltd,

The Thatch Vine Farm,

Stockers Hill,

Boughton-Under-Blean,

Faversham,

Kent ME13 9AB