Here at Connect Care we offer dual, solo, emergency and respite care within a residential children’s home setting. Our homes are registered for either male or female young people aged 8 to 18.
At Connect Care we create an environment where young people feel safe, happy, healthy, and cared for and are able to develop and thrive. We support them to fulfil their potential and this is under pinned using our CALM approach and ethos. CALM stands for Communication, Awareness, Motivation and Listening. Our homes are structured, so the staff are able to promote our CALM ethos and make them a warm nurturing place to live. Quite often in an emergency situation young people can feel they have no one to turn to, we will provide a bridging placement and the support for those young people whilst a more suitable, permanent placement is identified.
At Connect Care we are outward facing, working within a wider system of professionals for each individual child. We also aim to work with the children’s families and communities of origin to help sustain links and understand passed issues. We have high expectations of our staff teams and will fully support them in their role as decision makers and as activities leaders. In order to fulfil their roles our staff and managers will be fully trained and also engaged in ongoing learning through our training and development programme.
Main Responsibilities and Key result areas
1. Develop and establish provision for care, accommodation and support through working with existing partners and building links with other partners and agencies as appropriate.
2. To maintain a high quality of care and support which meets the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and cultural needs of children and young people within the care of the home. Working from the guidelines from the 1989 Children’s Act, National Minimum Standards, Every Child Matters and any other relevant legislation.
3. To provide a caring, supportive and nurturing environment in which children/young people can feel safe and secure and free from harm. Establishing relationships which young people perceive to be positive, warm and rewarding.
4. To monitor care plans and placement plans, activities and community involvement, and provide oversight of individual care planning for all young people looked after all Homes designated to you.
5. Be responsible for reporting regularly on each young person’s daily events at the residential Home and maintain all necessary information confidentially at all times following the quality standards. Controlling cost and expenditure when using the homes budget.
6. Ensure compliance with the Children's Homes Regulations 2001 (amended 2011 and 2014) and National Minimum Standards, including the monitoring of Regulation 33 and Regulation 34 inspections.
7. Ensure the children's Homes are fully prepared and ready for regular Ofsted inspections.
8. Establishing positive relationships with young people and always offering them unconditional and positive regard regardless of their previous placements while adhering to the individual placement plans and risk assessments.
9. Helping young people gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behavior and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct inside and outside of the home.
10. Ensuring that each young person’s care plan is followed and amended as appropriate to reflect their changing needs. All records are up to date and completed in full.
11. Carrying out in house tasks in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning, general maintenance around the home etc)
12. Ensure all young people in the Children’s Homes are effectively safeguarded and all risk assessments are followed and updated when required.
13. Promote a high standard of professional practice through personal example; complete appropriate professional training & development by managing a comprehensive programme of Performance Management and contribute in formulating specific Learning and Development Plans.
14. Ensure that electronic and paper administration systems are used, and that recorded information is accurate and provide written reports on young people for planning meetings, reviews or any other meetings and that all data is provided to the Registered Managers.
15. Promote and maintain a healthy and safe environment for all residential staff. Being ambitious for young people, helping them achieve their goals and optimise their potential.
16. To act as a key worker or co-worker for a young person to ensure that the young person’s care plans are up to date and that all their care needs are being met. To provide a positive role model to be able to offer advice, guidance and assistance where appropriate.
17. Contribute to, and/or participate in, projects and initiatives associated with the functions of both their own area of service delivery and others as required.
18. To assist the Registered Managers to manage and maintain the Home’s vehicle according to Connect Care policy.
19. To ensure that young people’s needs are met through a strong emphasis on communication and participation. Providing advice, assistance and support on a 1:1 basis to enable young people to address past and present difficulties by providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress.
20. To participate in meetings and training events as required by line managers and Directors. Carry out monthly supervisions on support staff.
21. Providing support for young people in their education and extracurricular activities, this may include supporting them in the classroom if necessary.
22. Empower young people and facilitating their active involvement in the decision making about their lives and future through key working sessions.
23. Acting as an advocate at meetings where the young person is the subject of discussion. Encouraging the young person to develop links with the community, attend off-site activities and expand their personal social network.
To work as part of a team
· Following the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them
· Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them
· Actively contributing to the development of the team
· Receiving and storing information to improve communication
· Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers
· Being aware of childcare plans for all young people and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans
· Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties
· Attending and contributing to regular supervision sessions in line with the National Minimum Standards
· Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing)
· Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them
· Shift work on rolling rota, including weekends
· It is a requirement of the job role that the postholder always remains awake and vigilant whilst on duty
General Responsibilities
· Ensuring that young people are supported throughout the night (if required)
· Maintain the home to high levels of cleanliness
· Driving company vehicles (current driving licence holders subject to procedures)
· Receiving and planning training appropriate to the role and maintaining an up-to-date training profile
· Responsibility for the accurate maintenance of financial records appropriate to the duties of the post
· Responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and colleagues in accordance with the requirements of the organisational Health and Safety Policies
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company car
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
Schedule:
Supplemental pay types:
COVID-19 considerations:
Yes
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
- Residential Childcare: 1 year (preferred)
Reference ID: NRSW
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From £20,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company car
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
