Job Description

Job purpose

Under the general direction of the home’s Registered Manager, you will work as part of the team of residential staff in the home to deliver a high standard of care and support which meets the individual needs of the children and young people in the home, to provide additional capacity in the home and support the rota where needed.

All staff are required to support the home’s main purpose of encouraging and enabling children and young people to develop behaviourally, educationally and emotionally in order that they may deliver positive contributions to their families, society and their local communities.

The hours of work are flexible and determined by the needs of the service and are on a shift basis which includes early morning and late night shifts, weekend shifts and bank holidays. The requirement to sleep overnight (sleep ins) at the home may be required on a negotiated and agreed basis.

Responsibilities

• Assist children in residential child care to be loved, happy, healthy, safe from harm and able to develop, thrive and fulfil their potential.
• Value and nurture each child as an individual with talents, strengths and capabilities that can develop over time.
• Foster positive relationships, encouraging strong bonds between children and staff in the home on the basis of jointly undertaken activities, shared daily life, domestic and non-domestic routines and established boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
• Be ambitious, nurturing children’s school learning and out-of-school learning and their ambitions for their future.
• Be attentive to children’s needs, supporting emotional, mental and physical health needs, including supporting children and young people to build their self-esteem and encouraging friendships.
• Be outward facing, working with the wider system of professionals for each child, and with children’s families and communities of origin to sustain links and understand past problems.
• Provide a safe, stimulating and loving environment, with spaces that support nurture and allow privacy as well as common spaces and spaces to be active.
• Support the child/young people by showing awareness of their individual interests and preferences, by introducing them to a range of different experiences and enabling them to make informed choices.
• Plan, organise and positively engage with the children/young people on a daily basis, as well as to plan and attend special celebrations, festivals and outings.
• Participate in holidays and a range of sporting and physical activities with children and young people.
• Work directly with a child/young people in accordance with agreed individual plans and strategies (e.g. anger management, risk and vulnerability plans, self-esteem work and life story work) showing unconditional regard and respect for the child/ young person, at all times.
• Carry out domestic duties to ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard, including some cleaning, cooking meals, laundry, and redecoration.
• Contribute to the planning of work and ensure effective records of activities and significant events are recorded.
• Ensure that all mandatory and statutory training is maintained at the required level.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent.
• To Hold Qualifications In Both Literacy And Numeracy.

Essential requirements

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• In the last year, have experience of working with children and/or young people in a paid or voluntary capacity in a children’s home, social care setting, a school, youth service, or any other service or provision designed to support children and young people in the community.
• Able to assess and evaluate the individual needs of young people and their families.
• Able to work with staff at all levels, working as part of a team, contributing to team cohesion and liaising with other professionals demonstrating a good level of emotional resilience when faced with challenging circumstances.
• Demonstrate written, verbal skills and e-literacy skills (written exercise on day of interview)
• Able to be flexible and to work on a shift basis, including weekends and bank holidays and undertaking sleeping in duties.
• Able to make and maintain professional and meaningful relationships with children and young people.
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989 and other legislation, Children’s Homes Regulations (2015) and associated quality standards.
• Knowledge of the specific needs of looked after children.
• Understand the young person’s right to confidentiality.
• Basic computer literacy.
• Able to work in a challenging and changing environment being adaptable and resilient.
• Preparing and drafting reports, records, assessments and other documents.
• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality and diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.