Senior Residential Childcare Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior Residential Child-Care Worker

Objectives of the post

1. To provide a residential child-care service to the young people placed at Cornerways, and to their families within the statutory requirements of the Sponsoring Authority.

2. In as far as it is possible, to provide a home with the emotional, material and educational support required to ensure that the full potential of the young people placed at Cornerways is attained, given their previous experiences.

3. To provide a therapeutic environment, where the young people placed at Cornerways can feel safe and cared for, whilst coming to terms with their previous and often damaging life experiences.

4. To ensure that the welfare of the young people is the paramount consideration in the provision of the service, and to be prepared to be the advocate, comforter, or witness if so required by any of those young people.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. To understand the mission, aims, values, ethos and work to the basic principles of Cornerways as set out in the statements of purpose.

2. To be part of a professional team providing the care and control of a residential group of up to eighteen young people at Cornerways.

3. To be responsible for the overall day to day running of the shift, unless on a shift with a Deputy Manager or Home Manager, when a supportive role to the Deputy Manager/Home Manager should be undertaken.

4. To ask for further help if required, to safeguard the young people in their establishment.

1. To be prepared to work duties, sometimes at short notice and to ensure adequate cover of all establishments, and which will require sleeping-in duties, public holiday and weekend working

7. to assume the role of Linkworker to some of those young people placed at Cornerways.

8. To work in partnership with other colleagues on the staff team.

9. To be responsible for keeping all necessary written reports.

1. To attend Court and to give evidence if required.

1. To manage, budget and record all monies spent in the name of Cornerways.

2. To ensure that all records and monies are kept safe.

3. To protect the confidentiality of the young people and their families.

4. To supervised or support contact between young people and family on and off site as required.

5. To attend meetings and appointments with, or on behalf of, the young people.

6. To accompany the young people on holiday if required by Cornerways.

7. To provide advice and support to young people who wish to make a formal complaint.

8. To promote anti-racist practices and equal opportHomey services which take account of race, culture, religion, language, gender, sexual orientation or physical ability.

9. To attend staff meetings and meetings with Cornerways Consultants as required and to contribute towards the development of Cornerways.

1. To be available for regular supervision, and be prepared to re-appraise professional performance.

1. To participate in training as required or which may be necessary for professional development.

2. To prepare food to comply with current hygiene legislation to ensure no contamination.

23 To support young people in Court when required

Person Specification

Essential Job Requirements:

1. Minimum of two years' experience in residential childcare.
2. Ability to work as part of a team.
3. Understanding of and ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times.
4. Understand the application of the Children's Homes Regulations including the Quality Standards.
5. Understanding of Safeguarding Children and Child Protection procedures and good practise and ability to apply this in practise to ensure children are safeguarded.
6. Ability and competence to act as an effective shift leader, ensuring childrens needs are appropriately met, the shift team provided with appropriate support and guidance and management consulted and updated as required.
7. Good organisational skills and abilities
8. Ability and willingness to engage in a range of activities with young people including going on holidays with them.
9. Good level of written and spoken English and ability to write clear and concise reports and records.
10. Good level of numeracy , and ability to manage petty cash systems accurately.
11. Ability to form positive nurturing relationship with young people with complex needs including linkworking designated young people .
12. Desire to achieve the very best for the young people in your care.
13. Driver - ability and willingness to drive short and long distances
14. NVQ Level 3 in childcare.
15. Ability to work therapeutically in accordance with the services therapeutic care approach including ability to 'look beyond behaviour' , to provide nurturing care and to understand the impact of self on others.