We are looking for Residential Child Care Workers to join our Care staff team, which operates all year round. The post holders will contribute to the creation of a culture and ethos in which the needs of the children are paramount and provide them with security, safety, care and social development to enable them to reach their potential.
Applicants should be registered, or will need to register within the first six months of employment, with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) in line with the requirements for Residential Child Care Workers.
The salary for the post is as follows:
- £28,123 (unqualified)
- £29,624 (part-qualified)
- £32,455 to £35,605 (qualified)
For more information about the role, please contact a member of the Care Management Team on 0131 449 3938, or email recruitment@harmeny.org.uk.
Harmeny runs a nine-week rotating pattern in the care team. Full time Residential Child Care Workers work five weekends out of nine, so approx. every second weekend. On two of the five weekends, a 13-hour shift is worked on one of the days. On other shifts, timings are either 7:30am-3:15pm or 2:15pm-10:00pm / 2:45pm-10:30pm.
Key Responsibilities
- Promote a positive ethos in the school consistent with Harmeny’s vision, purpose and core values.
- Support the Residential Team Manager with the implementation of management decisions, consistent with the Harmeny and cottage plans, policies and procedures.
- Be an integral part of the Care staff team.
- Care for the children’s everyday requirements and to help create a homely, caring and safe environment for all the children at Harmeny.
- Communicate and interact positively with children using solution-focussed and strengths-based principles in line with Harmeny policy, procedures and core values.
- Develop and implement care plans which address the needs of the child.
- Be involved in the development and implementation of risk assessment planning for children.
- Understand children’s behaviour and support them to manage their behaviour themselves.
- Be involved in the development and implementation of cottage improvement plans that reflect recommendations from the Independent Care Review outcomes – “The Promise”.
- Where required, as a last resort, implement physical intervention techniques.
- Support children’s learning during and out with the formal school day.
- Be a designated keyworker as directed by the Residential Team Manager or Care Management Team.
- As designated keyworker, participate in regular reviews and submit written reports on individual children.
- Attend regular staff and children’s meetings as required.
- Ensure that all children’s personal records including case notes, reviews and medical information are kept up to date.
- Attend supervision, Annual Performance Review, training and other meetings as required.
- Undertake sleeping-in duties as required by the staffing rota.
- Participate in residential trips and holidays when required.
- Have a flexible approach to the timetable and working patterns at the discretion of the Residential Team Manager or Care Management Team.
- Undertake domestic and food preparation duties as directed, and ensure that others in the team also do so.Undertake induction and other relevant training as required to fulfil the duties of the post and maintain SSSC registration.
- Undertake any other duties as delegated by the management team that are consistent with the role of Residential Child Care Worker.
Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- Qualifications in line with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registration requirements for Residential Child Care Workers (e.g. HNC and SVQs). For more details, please visit www.sssc.uk.com.
- Experience in residential work and / or childcare, including working with children with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs.
- Knowledge and understanding of children who are looked after and accommodated, and children with complex additional support needs.
- Knowledge of child development, childcare legislation, good practice guidance, policy and procedures and a commitment to Children’s Rights.
- Knowledge of outcomes of the Independent Care Review “The Promise”.
- Understanding of the duty of care to children and colleagues.
- Understanding of the practice issues of physical intervention (PI), and ability to undertake PI when required.
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Good organisational and administrative skills and computer literacy.
- Committed to high standards of care.
- Able to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload within a highly pressurised working environment.
- Emotionally intelligent, with an understanding of the needs of others and a commitment to reflective practice.
- Accountable for own performance.
- Proactive and takes the initiative to gain the information needed for the role, with a flexible and ‘can do’ attitude.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- 35 days’ holiday per year, inclusive of public holidays
- Pension scheme
- Life assurance scheme (three times salary)
- Enhanced pay for maternity, adoption and paternity leave
- Policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing, including massage therapy and access to a wellbeing space
- We are highly committed to the professional development of all our staff and the post-holders will have access to comprehensive training and development opportunities
About Harmeny Education Trust