ROLE PURPOSE:
The role is to deliver support to young people in care aged 16 - 18 years old in semi-
independent homes staffed 24 hours a day. The role involves a duty to safeguard all young people residing within accommodation provided by Equipped4Life (E4L) and provide trauma-informed, child-centred support that promotes safety, emotional wellbeing, resilience and positive outcomes for young people. The role involves safeguarding and supporting young people on and off site.
Your duty is to safeguard, support and assist young people in developing their independent skills, following E4L modules of support plans, such as:
- Budgeting money/money management, food and essential shopping and administering a weekly subsistence allowance.
- Encourage the young person to engage and take part in positive activities within the community, building on healthy relationships and developing positive social networks.
- Encourage and support the young person in accessing education, training, or employment. Including CV writing, application process and interview preparation.
- To undertake cleaning, cooking, washing up, laundry duties and other related activities ensuring young people are involved as much as possible, to maintain a clean and safe environment.
- To assist/enable young people to maintain high standards of health care and personal hygiene.
- To encourage young people to develop an understanding of their own self-worth, confidence, and identity.
- To encourage young people to develop alternative ways of dealing with anger and other complex behavioural issues.
- Support the young person in settling within the community and accessing local resources.
- Maintain detailed and accurate records, reports and handovers.
- Carry out weekly Health and Safety checks and report repairs or hazards.
- Attend supervision, meetings and mandatory training.
- Develop professional and appropriate relationships with young people based on trust, consistency, respect and clear professional boundaries.
- Identify, respond to and report safeguarding concerns immediately in line with safeguarding procedures, including concerns relating to child exploitation, missing episodes, self-harm, radicalisation, abuse or neglect.
- Maintain professional curiosity and escalate concerns where a young person may be at risk of harm.
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion and challenge discrimination in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
- Promote online safety and support young people to understand and manage digital risks including online exploitation, cyberbullying and inappropriate online activity.
- Follow missing-from-home procedures and report concerns promptly when young people are absent without agreement or believed to be at risk.
- To work safely within lone working procedures and risk management protocols and understand personal safety responsibilities when working within the community or independently.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with young people at all times, including appropriate use of social media, mobile phones and electronic communication.
- Process, record and store information in accordance with confidentiality requirements, UK GDPR, Data Protection legislation and organisational policies.
- To Maintain accurate, detailed professional and contemporaneous record, including handovers, using E4L recording systems.
- Work in accordance with E4L policies, regulatory requirements and Ofsted expectations.
- To manage and or defuse complex behaviour
- Carry out research or undertake training, to gain an understanding, of the needs, of the young people you will be supporting.
- To provide a caring and supportive environment for young people that respects and affirms their racial, cultural, and religious identity and lifestyle choices.
- Maintain petty cash and receipts for all expenditure.
- To maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the accommodation.
- You will be responsible for carrying out weekly Health and Safety checks within the accommodation. You must record and report any repair work or damage to the property to ensure it is kept to a high standard.
- Maintain confidentiality of young people, however, report any concerns or disclosures regarding a young person’s welfare to your line manager.
- Attend staff meetings and mandatory training sessions as and when required.
- You will be expected to take part and attend structured supervision sessions every 6-8 weeks.
- To be aware of your responsibility under Fire Safety and the Health and Safety at Work Act, to maximize the safety of young people and staff.
- To report any incidents and complaints to your line manager.
- To represent E4L in a positive manner at internal/external events.
- To manage own time and tasks effectively i.e., complete all required tasks for each shift.
- Undertake other duties as required by management, and commensurate with the post.
Support Worker: Person Specification
Essential:
- Experience of working with Young People or experience of working with Complex Behaviours or lived experience
- To have worked individually and within a team
- To have worked in in a customer/client focused environment
- Ability to understand and identify risks.
- Possess effective oral and written communication skills: recording and report writing and verbal communication utilising relevant IT platforms.
- Negotiating skills
- Experience of working within policy and procedures and professional boundaries
- Willing to work additional hours to cover sickness and holidays and to work in other homes.
- Willing to work Bank Holidays, Christmas Holidays and weekends.
- Participate in sleep-in duties where required as part of the rota..
- Employment is subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS clearance, right to work checks and any other safer recruitment requirements
Desirable
- Report writing experience.
- Use of office 365/G Suite
- To have supported young people with complex and behavioural needs
- Ability to lone work with young people
- Ability to support young people within the community as well as within their accommodation.
- Ability to manage complex behaviour when presented.
- To have mentored in an official or non-official capacity
- Have or be committed to completing QCF/NVQ Level 3 award in Health & Social Care
- To have undergone Safeguarding Training in some capacity
- Ability to assess risks.
- Knowledge of confidentiality and data protection requirements
- Understanding of legislation and guidance relevant to children’s social care and supported accommodation including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, Equality Act 2010, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Data Protection Act 2018 and safeguarding frameworks
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle desirable
Additional
SALARY: £29,741 per annum (based on a 45 hour week)/£12.71 per hour
LOCATION: Southend-On-Sea
REPORTING TO: E4L Management Team
Benefits
- Smart/Casual dress
- Flexible schedule (part time/ad-hoc/full time)
- On-site parking (limited)
- Opportunity for career progression
- Blue Light Discount Card
- Paid Breaks
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Experience:
- Youth work: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Do you hold a valid Enhanced DBS Certificate (required)
Work Location: In person
