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SalaryAs a Residential Support Worker you’ll thrive on making every day the best it can be for children and young people who have a wide range of individual needs. Whether you’re laughing at jokes you don’t understand, pretending to be the captain of a pirate ship or reading a story upside down, you’ll be making a difference to the lives of the young people in your care.
It’s an exciting time to join Leeds City Council’s children’s services, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted at our last inspection. We are significantly investing in our provision across Leeds, including care for young people with disabilities, so these roles could be your first step to a fulfilling career with us.
We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Residential Support Worker, you will have:
- education to GCSE level or equivalent
- relevant experience working with children or young people within the last year
- ability to assess the needs of young people and their families and develop professional and positive relationships
- good verbal and written skills with basic computer literacy
- flexibility to work shifts
About the role
As our next Residential Support Worker you’ll use your clear understanding of children and young people to provide care tailored to an individual’s needs. You will take a holistic view in supporting young people and their families in a positive manner.
You’ll create a safe, caring living environment and build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people. Responsive to individual’s needs, you’ll nurture each child’s personal development, their education and wider learning.
In our homes for children with complex needs, you will work with young people who may have behavioural and emotional difficulties and may need assistance with personal care. Some of the young people use specialist equipment to aid communication and sensory stimulation.
We will provide full training to equip you to fulfil your duties and you will receive regular support from the management team in this rewarding but sometimes challenging role.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please email workinginchildrenshomes@leeds.gov.uk.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job description
Job purpose Under the general direction of the home’s Registered Manager, you will work as part of the team of residential staff in the home to deliver a high standard of care and support which meets the individual needs of the children and young people in the home, to provide additional capacity in the home and support the rota where needed.
All staff are required to support the home’s main purpose of encouraging and enabling children and young people to develop behaviourally, educationally and emotionally in order that they may deliver positive contributions to their families, society and their local communities.
The hours of work are flexible and determined by the needs of the service and are on a shift basis which includes early morning and late night shifts, weekend shifts and bank holidays. The requirement to sleep overnight (sleep ins) at the home may be required on a negotiated and agreed basis.
Responsibilities
- Assist children in residential child care to be loved, happy, healthy, safe from harm and able to develop, thrive and fulfil their potential.
- Value and nurture each child as an individual with talents, strengths and capabilities that can develop over time.
- Foster positive relationships, encouraging strong bonds between children and staff in the home on the basis of jointly undertaken activities, shared daily life, domestic and non-domestic routines and established boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
- Be ambitious, nurturing children’s school learning and out-of-school learning and their ambitions for their future.
- Be attentive to children’s needs, supporting emotional, mental and physical health needs, including supporting children and young people to build their self-esteem and encouraging friendships.
- Be outward facing, working with the wider system of professionals for each child, and with children’s families and communities of origin to sustain links and understand past problems.
- Provide a safe, stimulating and loving environment, with spaces that support nurture and allow privacy as well as common spaces and spaces to be active.
- Support the child/young people by showing awareness of their individual interests and preferences, by introducing them to a range of different experiences and enabling them to make informed choices.
- Plan, organise and positively engage with the children/young people on a daily basis, as well as to plan and attend special celebrations, festivals and outings.
- Participate in holidays and a range of sporting and physical activities with children and young people.
- Work directly with a child/young people in accordance with agreed individual plans and strategies (e.g. anger management, risk and vulnerability plans, self-esteem work and life story work) showing unconditional regard and respect for the child/ young person, at all times.
- Carry out domestic duties to ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard, including some cleaning, cooking meals, laundry, and redecoration.
- Contribute to the planning of work and ensure effective records of activities and significant events are recorded.
- Ensure that all mandatory and statutory training is maintained at the required level.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
Educated to GCSE level or equivalent. To hold qualifications in both literacy and numeracy.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- In the last year, have experience of working with children and/or young people in a paid or voluntary capacity in a children’s home, social care setting, a school, youth service, or any other service or provision designed to support children and young people in the community.
- Able to assess and evaluate the individual needs of young people and their families.
- Able to work with staff at all levels, working as part of a team, contributing to team cohesion and liaising with other professionals demonstrating a good level of emotional resilience when faced with challenging circumstances.
- Demonstrate written, verbal skills and e-literacy skills (written exercise on day of interview)
- Able to be flexible and to work on a shift basis, including weekends and bank holidays and undertaking sleeping in duties.
- Able to make and maintain professional and meaningful relationships with children and young people.
- Knowledge of Children Act 1989 and other legislation, Children’s Homes Regulations (2015) and associated quality standards.
- Knowledge of the specific needs of looked after children.
- Understand the young person’s right to confidentiality.
- Basic computer literacy.
- Able to work in a challenging and changing environment being adaptable and resilient.
- Preparing and drafting reports, records, assessments and other documents.
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality and diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
