Residential Child Care Officer

RCCO - Salary £32,013.60 - £34,312.60 (Inclusive of Childrens Residential Allowance £2236.60 for working evenings and early mornings)

In addition to a generous salary and residential allowance, you will receive two increments for weekend working of which you will work a minimum of 10% of your hours. You will also receive sleep in payments subject to the rota.

Gateshead Council are investing in the future of their cared for children. We currently have an established residential service with 4 children’s homes, all with experienced management teams. In addition to this we are in the process of opening a further 2 homes over the next 12 months.

We have an excellent induction package and fantastic training and development opportunities and Gateshead benefits from our own therapeutic support team which include our own residential mental health practitioner and a psychologist who work across all of our residential homes. All our homes use a strength-based approach to care which is underpinned by trauma informed practice.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Residential Child Care.

As an employee of Gateshead Council you will benefit from:

• Great transport links with the use of reliable and frequent public transport and have access to a discounted Annual Pass. You will also have use of Co-wheel pool cars and access to the Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
• A generous annual leave package of 27 days (2 of which are fixed), increasing to 29 days (plus 2 fixed) following 5 years’ service. You will also have the opportunity to purchase up to 10 days extra leave via our Annual Leave Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Access to the flexi scheme
• Being a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Eligibility to access a range of other staff offers and discounts such as:
  • Reduced rate membership for GO Gateshead Leisure Services
  • Health Shield which provides a wide range of innovative products that help to improve long-term health and wellbeing via a health care plan.
  • O2 open discount scheme
  • Virgin Media partner discount scheme
  • Dell Advantage discount programme

We are an Ofsted “Good” rated local authority and in a recent Focussed Visit in September 2021, inspectors told us:

“Gateshead's highly skilled, committed and caring social workers and their managers in the front door teams provide sensitive, innovative child-centered help and protection to most children seen during the visit. Continuously strong, ambitious and effective senior leadership has resulted in sustained improvements.

Closely aligned, mature professional partnerships work together effectively to safeguard children from harm.

There is consistent and commendable evidence of continuous innovation and improvement during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Senior leaders are fittingly proud of their staff's commitment and determination throughout this period to see vulnerable children and their families face to face.

Staff report that they feel valued in their work and professional development and that their personal well-being is prioritised.”

You should ideally have experience of working with children and young people. We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds including social care, health and education. What matters most is your ability to connect and care for children and young people, understanding their lived experiences and be interested in them and supporting them to be the very best they can be.

In addition to a very competitive salary, additional allowances are paid to recognise sleep-ins, evenings, and weekend work. Our residential team is dynamic and committed to making a difference, we are passionate about our quality of care and what we have to offer as individuals and as a team. If you have what it takes to be part of something great then go ahead, give us a call to hear more about what we do and what you can bring. You never know where this opportunity might take you.

During the selection process candidates will be assessed against the essential criteria as set out in the job profile.

A current driving licence and access to a car or means to mobility support is also an essential requirement of the post.

For further information regarding what Gateshead can offer you please log onto Careers in children's social work - Gateshead Council

For an informal discussion, please contact:- Linda Roberts on 07881207822 or Jacqueline Ridley 07389 041934.

If successful you will need to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.