JOB DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKER ABOUT NEW KEYS CHILDCARE

Keys Childcare has a long history in child protection and our years of experience have shown us that high quality therapeutic childcare helps children and young people learn to deal with their past experiences and prepare for the future. Children first: Vulnerable children and young people who have experienced trauma through significant abuse deserve the very best help to put their lives back on track. At Keys Childcare, we are committed to providing the quality of care that will accomplish this. Residential care is for 5 to 18-year olds, and our focus is centred on the needs of the child. Meeting the challenge: Challenging behaviours are often the result of significant abuse and negative earlier experiences. But no matter how difficult the behaviour, we dont give up. Keeping it positive: All our children and young people are respected with a positive regardwe support and help them build safe and appropriate attachments and relationships with others. Its the individual: An all-embracing therapeutic model meets the needs of each child in all aspects of their life. Skilled care supported by therapists, clinical psychologists, health and education professionals help us support our young people to deal with their past experiences and prepare for the future. They are encouraged to become involved with local communities and learn how to make life choices that help them fulfil their potential. Making it happen: Successful outcomes depend absolutely on the quality of our people. We demand a high level of commitment from our team of coursewith an emphasis on experience, qualifications and training to guide their professional development. Short term, long term: We take children either on a same-day placement, or a planned longer term basis. Keys Childcare acknowledged: Keys ChildCare is a growing organisation now with homes across the North West, The South West, The South East and the North of England. We are the biggest independent provider in the UK with over 70 homes, 13 schools a therapy suite and an outdoor education centre,

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YOUR ROLE AND OUR SERVICE

The welfare of our young people is paramount in the role of a residential childcare worker. Not only do residential childcare workers keep our young people safe, but as the daily care provider they also make a fundamental contribution to their care, learning and development. Residential childcare workers advocate pro-actively for each young persons needs, rights and views and ensure that these are met. They also make certain that each young persons individuality, difference and diversity are always appreciated and that our young people are provided with equal opportunities and are not discriminated against. Residential childcare workers encourage each young person to be involved in all aspects of their care. This will involve skill development, problem solving and assessment of risk, while being mindful of their individual capabilities. Through a consistent approach to care our young people acquire self-esteem and resilience, as well as self-knowledge and improved general well-being. Residential childcare workers also work with each young persons parents and families, as appropriate, recognising that they are the young persons first and most enduring carers and that our role is as a partner in each young persons care. To keep our young people safe it is imperative that all information about our young people is always kept appropriately confidential. As an organisation we value learning and we encourage staff to help us continually seek new ways to improve our service. Residential childcare workers support, and are supported by, the team in each home and they report to their nominated home manager.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
YOUR CONTRIBUTION:
Your most significant contribution is that of a professional parent, nurturing and caring for the young people looked after by Keys ChildCare. You will take a child-centred approach in providing high quality care that will enable each young person to grow and develop healthily. You will implement and maintain clear and consistent boundaries necessary for the creation of a safe and secure environment necessary for each young person to flourish. As the provision of high quality childcare requires team work, you will need to be an active and willing participant in all team activities (i.e. weekly team meeting, training, etc).
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You will need to be flexible in your approach to work, as on occasions you may be called upon to cover a shift due to a colleagues absence. Such flexibility and team work allows children and young people to receive consistent care from recognised carers. Provision of parental care requires being available. To care for young people means that you will be required to sleep-in as part of a shift. Consistency in care enables children and young people to feel safe and secure. You will also need you to be flexible to work in any of our homes in the region on either a temporary basis or permanent basis as identified by your Manager, and ensuring continuity of quality care across all homes.

Link role From time to time your caring role may involve providing a link role for a young person. This may include being the first point of contact (along with the senior or manager) for the young persons social worker, assisting in writing reports on the young persons progress, developing in-house placement plans, and contributing to statutory review reports. You will also work in partnership with parents and families, and other professional service providers.

TEAMWORK AND CARING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

You will work with the team to promote and support the young people in our care, in leading a life of positive development by providing a safe and nurturing environment. A vital part of your role will be providing the young people with emotional and social support, helping them to develop meaningful relationships with other children and adults, as well as encouraging them to become involved with local communities. You and the team will encourage and enable each young persons self esteem to be raised in a positive manner and ensure that they are respected and valued. You will with the team to encourage, support and enable each young person to make positive life choices and achievable levels of independence that help them develop to their full potential, and receive the essential care and attention. You and the team are responsible for a high level of recording. Great emphasis and importance is attached to the recording of events and observations which will include young peoples daily and monthly progress, updating of childrens files, child protection records, notification to appropriate people and health and safety checks. You and the team will be continually assessing the children and young peoples needs. Under the direction of your manager, and other appropriate

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personnel, you will be responsible for the formulation, implementation and review of care plans. You will work closely with your manager, your team, the health advisor, social workers, therapists, teachers and other professionals. You may also be involved with the young peoples families, especially when supervising contacts. You will need to encourage and support the young people with all of their daily living needs in line with their individual care plan. You will also need to carry out domestic duties within the home and garden, involving the children and young people where appropriate and plan, shop and prepare meals, ensuring they have a varied and well balanced diet.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
We value our staff and their commitment to caring for children and young people. Consequently, we work closely with all staff to identify their individual training needs and provide a supported programme to encourage professional development For the first six months you will be closely supervised and supported to work through an industry standard induction programme, the foundation for your probation period. As part of our ongoing professional development programme, your manager will meet with you on a monthly basis to assist with training matters and any issues that arise from caring for young people. In an effort to maintain high quality care each member of staff is required to develop professional competencies (as well as meet statutory requirements) through the undertaking and completion of the QCF 3 award in Health & Social Care (Children and Young People). To maintain your skills and knowledge in childcare, it is vital that you attend training as identified with your manager and in line with National Minimum Standards and Company Policy. At times you will need to manage the challenging behaviours displayed by our young people. Training and support is given on how to effectively manage a broad range of behaviours. You will learn how to utilise diffusion or distraction techniques and if these have not dissipated the challenging behaviours, as a very last resort a young person may need to be physically held.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
Personal attributes and child centred approach Ability to engage with young people in a positive and proactive approach Sense of humour Self motivated and a positive nature Self organisation Sensitive and reflective Calmness Honesty and reliability Ability to listen and empathise Ability to assess risks Effective communication skills: recording and report writing and verbal communication. Awareness of non verbal communication i.e. eye contact and personal space etc A professional and caring value base i.e. consistency and empathy Working individually and within a team

DESIRABLE
Motivate others Influence others and persuasiveness Positive leadership skills Develop innovative solutions Coaching skills

Job related knowledge and skills

Work Experience

Knowledge of: National Minimum Standards Childrens Homes Regs. 2001 The Children Act 1989 & 2004 Childrens Rights Every Child Matters Ability to assess risks Driving licence IT literate Experience of working with children. Experience of working with children in residential childcare

Qualifications

Be committed to completing QCF /NVQ3 award in Health & Social Care (Children) within 12 months of registration. This is a statutory requirement for all employees wishing to work in childcare.

QCF/ NVQ3award in Health & Social Care (Children & Young People) or Caring for Children and Young People. CQSW / DIPSW D32/ D33/A1 Assessors Award

Training

Openness and commitment to personal development identified training and professional development.

Working Conditions

Sleeping in duties Willing to work additional hours to cover sickness and holidays and to work in other homes within your area. Willing to work Bank Holidays & Christmas Holidays Have good medical health

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CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
Salary Salary range is 6.55 6.90 per hour (unqualified) and 7.15 - 7.64 per hour (qualified). The rate is dependant upon your level of qualification and experience. The post of Residential Childcare Worker is permanent. Your contracted hours will be 35 39 hours per week - (full time) is or 16 hours per week (part time). Actual hours are determined by the monthly rota and will include weekend-work, sleep-ins (see below) and one full weekend off per month. An allowance of 28.00 will be paid per sleep-in

Employment Status

Hours

Allowance

Annual leave and public holidays

Basic annual leave is 20 days per annum pro rata You will be required to work bank holidays and Christmas and New Year holidays, enabling the children and young people in our care to be supported through, essentially, family orientated occasions. In recognition of your commitment around these occasions Christmas Day and Boxing Day and from 8.00pm New Years Eve to 8.00 am New Years day will be paid at normal rate plus 6 per hour. If you are not required to work during a Bank holiday you will receive a payment of 7.8 hours calculated at your basic hourly salary rate. You will be based and work at any of the homes within the area where you are employed and as advised by your line manager or regional manager.

Place of work

Probation

You will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.

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After probation

Joining the Company Pension scheme, in which the Company will match up to 3% of an employees gross annual salary and the employee, contributes a similar or greater amount. In line with our Equal Opportunities, AntiOppressive and Anti-Discrimination policy contained within our Employee handbook every effort is made to ensure that individuals are treated fairly and equitably, and decisions on recruitment, selection, training, promotion and career development are based solely on objective and job related performance criteria. Appointment to the position of Residential Childcare Worker is subject to one weeks notice during your probationary period and one calendar months notice thereafter, by either party.

Equal opportunities

Notice period

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