Residential Support Worker

JOB TITLE: RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT WORKER

REPORTING TO: SENIOR RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT WORKER

GRADE: DEPENDENT ON RELEVANT SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

JOB SUMMARY

To maintain the development of positive childcare practice in line with the aims and objectives of the company by providing a safe, warm and supportive environment for all children and young people. This includes physical, social and emotional care and support for programmes designed to promote the emotional well-being of the children and young people cared for.

To carry out duties in line with all Company safeguarding expectations and policies and procedures at all times.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure that you adhere to the protection of children standard; ‘children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe’.
Safeguarding Responsibilities:
- Make yourself aware of the safeguarding policy and all other safeguarding policies and procedures during induction, training and personal development. Stay up to date with changes in procedures.
- You are required to make yourself aware of all plans that are in place to reduce the risk of harm to any child in the care of the home, and to follow these plans.
- 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 in supervision.
- Access company support if feeling distressed from being involved with a case or incident.
- You will be required to attend Strategy Meetings and Child Protection Case Conferences if appropriate.
- Keep accurate, objective records of any concerns or incidents as per company safeguarding reporting procedures.
- Complete body maps if required and ensure relevant people are notified so a conclusion is reached.
Ensure that all children and young people have their needs met, and their welfare is always promoted.
Maintain standards of good practice always, establishing purposeful and constructive relationships and appropriate role modelling to assist with the development of each child’s life, activities, education, social skills and personal skills.
Maintain and produce required records and reports as necessary to ensure smooth, efficient running of the home.
Promote and encourage learning by the children and young people with any educational programmes, provisions and educational activities.
Participate on a shift basis by rota, demonstrating a level of commitment and flexibility, to enable the efficient running of the home. This includes weekdays, evenings, weekends and sleep in duties.
Act as a keyworker/link-worker for individual children, with supervision, including building trust, advising and acting as an advocate when necessary.
Participate and assist with social workers or other professional persons. Where applicable to attend to and contribute to any child’s review, case conference and planning meetings as appropriate.
Ensure all visitors to the home are appropriately vetted and securely signed into the home.
Follow safer working practices.
Deal with telephone enquiries, referring to the shift leader or management if necessary.
Take appropriate action in line with line management instructions to ensure that children’s care plans are implemented and reviewed so that the child’s stay is managed, their health, social and emotional development is monitored, and appropriate opportunities are made available to them.
Report missing children to all relevant individuals and agency’s including police, responsible local authority and those with parental responsibility, including completing reporting missing from care reports.
Physically intervene if a child’s behaviour is dangerous to others or to themselves, in accordance with procedural guidance of the establishment and relevant legislation.
Follow and adhere to child protection policies and procedures, children’s standards and legislation.
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.

TEAM WORK

Be a positive member of the team and be involved in the planning and organisation of the placement and total living environment of the children and young people.
Carry out shift leading, being responsible for the planning of the shift, delegation of tasks and supervising and guiding colleagues.
Attend regular staff meetings as required.
Promote equality and diversity with groups of diverse children and adults.
Be a positive role model for colleagues, children and young people.
Be able to safely risk manage and identify potential harm to children, adults and the homes location and environment, in line with company policies and procedures.
Work in other homes for support as this may be required from time to time.

HOUSEHOLD DUTIES

The delivery of general daily care to children and young people including; providing nutritious meals, doing laundry, mending clothes, food shopping, attending health appointments, cleaning, supervision of activities, driving escort duties, supporting with life skills and development, and the possibility of supporting the child with washing, bathing and/or personal care if the child requires this.
Provide and maintain high levels of cleanliness to provide the children with a homely environment.
Maintain health and safety and fire regulations to ensure the home is safe for children, adults and visitors.

TRAINING

This role requires a commitment to undertake training as required for full understanding of duties.
Study towards the Diploma Level 3 qualification or other qualification as deemed necessary by the company or set by government legislation for individuals carrying out childcare.

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	Experience of direct work or involvement with children as a paid worker, volunteer, carer or as part of a family	Experience in the role of a support worker and/or key worker. Experience in care and control of children and young people with challenging behaviour.
Knowledge	Understanding of child development and children’s physical and emotional needs. Good interpersonal skills. Understanding of Safeguarding.	Knowledge of legislation relating to children and young people (specifically children in care)
Skills	Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, able to present information in an understandable way. Able 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.	Report writing and recording skills, able to present information in an understandable way. Negotiation and de-escalation skills Risk management and planning.
Personal Qualities	Commitment to work to guidelines and policies. Able to work within policy and procedures and use own judgement appropriately. Able to communicate with other agencies and professionals e.g. education, health, police etc. Commitment to keep children safe and protect them from harm. Able to manage stress in self and others.	Able to demonstrate an understanding of children and young people’s needs and their development.
Qualifications	Maths and English level 2 or equivalent.	Level 3 Health and 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	Accepting and being committed to the principles underlying equal opportunities. 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.