Address
Form of work
SalaryOur Values
In line with our One Coventry Values we strive to have a workforce that reflects our local communities and welcome applicants from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic backgrounds, applicants who have a disability and applicants who are from the LGBTQ+ community to apply for our senior leadership roles.
Our Values are:
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
About the team we are recruiting to
We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.
We currently have 5 well-established Children's Residential Homes within the city and a forward-thinking vision to open additional homes enabling Coventry’s young people to stay closer to their family, friends, and community. Children in our care come from a variety of backgrounds and in order to deliver the best possible care it is vital that we have a workforce that represents and understands their unique experiences and perspectives.
What is the job role?
Salary: £31,364 - £37,336 [£35, 754 - £42, 563 per annum inc. shift allowances] with additional payment for sleeping in duties.
We currently have 5 well-established Children's Residential Homes within the city and a forward-thinking vision to open additional homes enabling Coventry’s young people to stay closer to their family, friends and community. Due to this expansion programme, we are currently in the process of opening new facilities that include Same day / Short stay provision.
At present we care for up to 16 looked after children aged 10 to 18 years, who have a diverse range of needs and may have been impacted by childhood trauma.
By joining our highly motivated and dedicated team working in our Children’s Homes offers opportunities to make a real difference to the lives of our amazing looked after children. We deliver excellent standards of care using Signs of Safety and ensuring Relationship Based Practice provides a safe and nurturing space for them to call home.
What our children say
We consulted our looked after children and young people from Coventry about how they would like to be cared for.
These are some of the things they said:
- to be listened to
- to be treated with respect, dignity and individuality
- to feel safe
- to be helped to achieve our full potential
- to be supported to be independent
- to be cared for by people who won’t give up on us
- to build and maintain positive relationships and where possible, not to move too far away from where we used to live and to stay in the same school
- to make happy memories
About the job role
There are 4 key areas of skill essential to this role:
These are:
Role model – leading by example to support a culture and ethos within the home where everyone understands the importance of relationship-based practice to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Leader – having sound values, confidence to address others, good communication skills and a strong practice and knowledge base to ensure consistency throughout the team. Through using experience to coach and mentor new and less experienced team members.
Organiser – taking a leading role in project development and new initiatives whilst working with keyworkers and being accountable for ensuring that plans and other key responsibilities and deadlines are implemented and met.
Skilled Practitioner - understanding the matching and admission process for children and supporting transition plans within the wider care system. Facilitating initial visits and supporting staff in the planning for children’s positive service transition. Representing the service at key project meetings and working in a co-operative manner with other agencies to achieve joint objectives and provide complimentary services.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for?
Preferably you will be a driver, have a good level of computer literacy in order to evidence the work we do, and be committed to continued professional development. In return we will offer you support and training and the opportunity to develop your front-line management skills.
You should have:
- an ability to work holistically across a wide range of services to deliver positive outcomes
- knowledge of current legislation in particular the Children’s Home Regulations 2015 and Working Together to Safeguard Children [2023]
- a professional qualification relevant to working with children, which must be at minimum of Level 3/4 Diploma in Residential Childcare and have at least 2years recent experience of working in a children's residential setting
- experience in the recording of sensitive information, maintaining case files, and adhering to confidentiality policies.
Be able to:
- lead the staff team through difficult and challenging situations, to remain solution focussed and enable others to effectively reflect on actions and practice
- be accountable for and make informed decisions within a short time frame when necessary
- work in conjunction with others in service teams and steer the work of colleagues where appropriate
- provide formal and informal supervision to develop the professional skill base of the team
- understand models/theories relevant to the children we work with. Undertake self-directed learning to develop knowledge base and ensure this is shared with others
- ensure that the welfare of children is safeguarded and advise staff on implementing strategies that ensure children’s exposure to risk is minimised.
- Have a solid understanding of and be an advocate for the principles of diversity and inclusion in relation to workplace culture and service delivery.
If you think you have the right skills to help us to achieve great things for our children by placing them at the centre of everything you do and feel that you are a role model who inspires others and have the ability to work in partnership, are reflective, flexible, accountable and resilient, we would like to hear from you.
As part of the application process, you will need to provide us with your full work history since leaving school and identify any gaps in order to meet the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.
Working Patterns & Posts
Currently we have a full-time [37 hour] post on a rota that includes, evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep ins which, enables us to meet the needs of the children we look after.
If you would like to arrange an informal conversation to discuss this role, please contact us via email at residentialchildrensservices@coventry.gov.uk
Whilst the closing date is 28th April 2024, applications will be reviewed and interviews carried out at frequent intervals during this recruitment window, therefore candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
For full details on the application process please read the attached document labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.
We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.
To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.
If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies
Coventry City Council
