At Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd, we will live up to our value and ethical base and we aim to
support Children and Young People to develop as positive and thriving citizens of society. We recognise that the Children and Young People who have come to live with us, are with us due to a difficult start in their lives. We want all Children and Young People living in our care to have vision, aspiration and dreams that will help them to succeed emotionally, financially, socially and so forth. We firmly believe that our success lies in the success of the Children and Young People we work with. We want to employ staff that share the same vision and values embedded in our company; we want staff that will be excellent carers to the Young People in our care. Staff employed by Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd, come from all walks of life and have experience and skills gained in a variety of different roles and environments.
For the position, you must;
Have completed the Level 3/4 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England).
- Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with young people in a residential setting or relevant setting.
- Experience and ability of managing, motivating and developing teams.
- Be over the age of 21.
- Must be prepared to work 24-hour shifts (including sleepovers/waking nights/public holidays) on a rota basis.
- Ideally you should have experience of working in residential care, although other relevant experience may be considered.
- Successful applicants are required to undergo an extensive vetting process including enhanced DBS disclosure and provide satisfactory references.
- Use of a car with relevant business insurance.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Professional, therapeutic and nurturing childcare practice
- The Senior Therapeutic Support Worker (STSW) is responsible for assisting in the promotion of professional, therapeutic and nurturing childcare practice in accordance with Sankofa Specialist Care’s Policies and Procedures.
- The STSW is responsible for ensuring to comply with the quality standards, regulations, relevant legislation and guidance.
- The STSW is responsible for providing care, support and supervision to children and young people in their care.
- The STSW is responsible for undertaking household related tasks including [not limited to] cooking, shopping, laundry and the promotion of independent living skills to the children and young people in their care.
- To maintain an environment of therapeutic care for all children and young people.
- To work restoratively with children and young people.
- To work with consistent boundaries in order to create safety for the children and young people.
- To be aware of the children’s rights and to work in an anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive manner.
- To work alongside the children and young people to help develop a true sense of identity and feeling of self-worth.
To be sensitive to the needs of individual children and young people, taking account of race, culture, language, sexuality and religion.
- To engage, communicate, talk and listen to the children and young people. To observe their behaviour and record and report significant features.
- To support the children and young people to integrate into social activities and where appropriate educational settings mainstream school.
- To use reactive strategies to support the behaviour of children and young people who are unable to manage their own behaviour.
- To embed the company’s therapeutic principles and practice.
- To be an allocated carer of a child or young person where designated.
- To administer prescribed and non-prescribed medication to children and young people as directed by health practitioners and according to the child/young person’s placement package and Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd policies and procedures.
- To promote the participation of the children and young people placed in the decision-making process of the home.
- To ensure that the physical, emotional and psychological needs children and young people placed at Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd are met.
- To support children and young people by driving them to home visits, school and appointments etc. that is in or out of the local area and this may involve long distances via motorways.
- To ensure the children have a balanced diet.
- To actively feed into the staff supervisory model of therapeutics and interventions.
Leadership and Management
- Effectively lead shifts, direct and support the staff team.
- To assist the RM with the planning and implementation of the staff rota.
- To support the induction process of new staff.
- To act in a supervisory role on a day to day basis when RM is not on shift.
- To carry out duties in line with Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd. policies and procedures.
- To promote anti-discriminatory practices and equal opportunity practices in line with Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd. policy and procedure.
- To attend and take an active part in team meetings, handovers and supervisions.
- To actively participate and promote the use of reflective practice and peer supervision.
To maintain a record of continuous personal development (CPD file) and build an individual portfolio.
- To participate in the annual Staff Performance Development and Review Appraisal process and ensure evidence for appraisal is collated throughout the year within CPD portfolio.
- To attend training and maintain professional development to meet the demands of the job and to participate and implement Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd.’s Positive Behaviour Management Policy and Procedure including Positive Handling and Restraint techniques which includes the ability to physically hold children and young people in order to keep them and others safe at all times.
- To be a positive ambassador to Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd, ensuring the preservation and maintenance of our reputation in all contact with internal, external agencies and individuals and the wider public.
- To comply with the Code of Practice for Social Care workers. To be aware of Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd policy on Codes of Conduct and to set an acceptable role model standard, internal and external to the company.
- To carry out duties as stated in the home’s Statement of Purpose in line with the Quality Standards.
- To act as a member of the staff team, supporting colleagues and being prepared to receive support and advice as necessary.
- To develop an understanding of the companies Whistle Blowing Policy and procedure. Building and supporting positive relationships
- To be a positive role model for the children/young people and colleagues and encourage both to develop meaningful, safe and supportive relationships and attachments.
- To liaise where necessary with other professionals i.e. schools, social workers.
- To actively share information with relevant professionals involved with the child/ren and young person/s.
- To liaise with the significant others of children and young people in your care on a day-to-day basis, participating in the assessment of the children and young person’s needs and the implementation of placement plans and risk assessments.
- To work in partnership with educational staff to ensure that the educational needs of-the children and young people are met.
To maintain positive and professional relationships with all children and young people in our care, ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, regulation and legislation.
- To not to work in isolation and to ensure that a team ethos is adopted majority of the time except in circumstances where appropriate, using own initiative and responding to crisis in a calm and collective manner and in accordance with the company’s policies and procedures.
Safeguarding
- To model a robust commitment to safeguarding actively promoting the welfare of children and young people in the home.
- To be alert to signs of distress or abuse and to ensure that the children and young people are monitored and protected and have their needs met ensuring that all safeguarding needs are met.
- To actively promote the welfare, safety, personal development and wellbeing of Children and Young People placed with Sankofa Specialist Care.
Financial management
- Ensure the effective monitoring and control of all expenditure accounted for in accordance with financial procedures.
- Ensuring to maintain meticulous records and documentary evidence of all income and expenditure.
Health and Safety
- To manage health and safety processes in the home including implementation and monitoring of risk assessments.
- To ensure the home environment is maintained to a high standard of safety and cleanliness at all times, taking into consideration current government guidance relating to COVID 19 and residential children’s homes.
- Ensuring to report to the maintenance team, any identified repairs, hazards etc.
- To ensure to maintain the health and safety responsibilities of self and others at all times in accordance with company policies and procedures.
Care management and planning
To assist in preparation for reviews and meetings and attend when required.
- To contribute to care planning and the implementation of these plans.
- To work alongside psychologists to enable effective integration of care and therapy.
- To be aware of the content within care plans and risk management plans and toupdate these as and when identified to do so.
Communication and ICT
- To maintain excellent communication and interpersonal skills and written records.
- To maintain a clear desk policy, ensuring the preservation of confidentiality.
- To be aware of the Caldicott Principles in the protection of information.
- To be proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office applications.
Other Conditions
The STSW will be responsible:
- To work a rota pattern that includes weekends, evenings, sleep over and bank holiday working. To understand that the rota is subject to change at short notice.
- To work as required within the organisation and in any location, which may be outside of the area.
- To have an individual role and responsibility within a team such as Equality Representative, Health & Safety Representative, Education Representative, Complaints & Newsletter Representative, Young Persons Health Representative.
- Be aware of racial, cultural and religious issues including equality and diversity.
- To maintain confidentiality and observe data protection guidelines and legislation.
- The post is subject to a 6-month probationary period.
- To undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested.
- The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall objectives of the company.
Notes:
This post is subject to receiving a satisfactory enhanced disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service and positive references.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £15.00-£16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Transport links
Application question(s):
- We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role. Do you have a Right to Work in the UK?
Experience:
- Residential Childcare: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- NVQ Level 4 Health & Social Care (required)
Work Location: In person
