Job Description:

Childrens Support Worker - Residential Care

Role Overview and Location

• Region: Hailsham & Bexhill

• Sector Focus: Specialist Childrens Residential Care.

• Organisation: A supportive residential service focused on cultivating a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for young people.

• Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent.

• The Opportunity: Act as a positive role model, establishing respectful relationships with children in care, and guiding them through their personal, social, and emotional development.

Compensation and Earning Potential

• Unqualified Hourly Rate: £13 per hour.

• Qualified Hourly Rate: £14 per hour for candidates holding an NVQ Level 3 in Children and Young People.

• Sleep-In Allowance: £80 per shift.

• On-Call Allowance: £40 per shift (typically 2 shifts per month).

• Overtime Rate: Premium pay rate calculated at 1.25x the standard hourly rate.

• Unqualified Earning Potential: Up to £36,320 per year achievable through sleep-ins and on-call duties.

• Qualified Earning Potential: Up to £38,400 per year achievable through sleep-ins and on-call duties.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

The role encompasses daily support, therapeutic guidance, and operational assistance within the residential home.

• Support and Guidance: Build constructive, respectful relationships with young people, reinforcing positive social behaviours and offering guidance on personal development.

• Activities and Enrichment: Plan and engage young people in recreational and socially enriching leisure activities both inside and outside the home environment.

• Operational Leadership: Cover the responsibilities of senior staff when they are unavailable, ensuring the smooth running of the shift and contributing to team coordination.

• Team Collaboration: Attend staff meetings, participate in training, and assist with the initial support and orientation of new team members.

• Documentation: Maintain accurate, professional casework records using internal tracking tools, create social and emotional reports, and contribute to annual multidisciplinary reviews.

• Logistics and Housekeeping: Provide safe transportation for young people to school, appointments, and social activities. Maintain clean, orderly, and hygienic living spaces.

Candidate Requirements and Qualifications

• Qualifications: A Level 3 NVQ or Diploma in Childcare, or equivalent, is highly desirable. Candidates without this qualification must demonstrate a clear commitment to working towards it.

• Skills: Excellent communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills. The ability to maintain strict confidentiality is mandatory.

• Flexibility: Willingness to work a flexible rota pattern, which includes a share of weekend shifts, sleep-ins, and on-call duties.

• Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence is required to transport young people safely.

Rewards and Benefits

• Annual Leave: 5.6 weeks of annual leave, plus additional service days awarded for each year of employment up to 5 extra days.

• Financial Enhancements: Premium overtime rates and competitive enhancements for sleep-in and on-call shifts.

• Professional Growth: Fully funded, ongoing training and clear internal career progression pathways to support professional satisfaction and longevity.

• Compliance: All successful applications will be subject to a safer recruitment process, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and comprehensive reference verification.