Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Short Breaks Senior Residential Practitioner, Looked After Children

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

RMBC has made a strategic decision to make significant investment in childrens residential services. This will ensure more of our looked after children are placed in Rotherham, close to their local communities, family and schools.

We are particularly looking for Senior Childrens Residential Practitioners who are keen to be part of setting up and managing new homes and staff teams and have previous experience of working in specialist solo provision, mental health residential settings, crisis accommodation and with children and young people with sensory, ASD, mental health needs and who have suffered significant trauma.

This new residential provision will be part of a Children and Young People Service judged as `Good` by Ofsted in January 2018 and build on practice from our short break residential home judged as `Outstanding` in February 2020.

Main duties of the job

Seeking inspirational, resilient, child focused senior practitioners who are committed to:

Developing skills/practices to provide an outstanding residential service

Promote, be part of a learning and coaching culture

Support/care for complex children and young people, at times in solo provision

Working evening, weekend and sleep in shifts as part of the residential team

Our vision is for children and families to experience and describe the services they received, as outstanding - by putting the child first in everything we do.

Play a crucial role in developing skills and practice and our collective commitment to an ethos of excellence, integrity, trust and transparency. Joining us at a time of change regarding developing our provision provides you an opportunity to be involved and influence the service design and development of practice in line with best practice and evidence-based approaches

About us

This is an excellent time to work within Rotherham. We are passionate about the place and the people who live, work and visit here. We are delivering major regeneration and housing, as well as creating new jobs and opportunities for our residents. Rotherham is a real 'central UK' location with excellent road and rail links and is ideally placed near the scenic countryside of the Peak District, whilst also being conveniently located next to the vibrant city of Sheffield.

Our vision for Rotherham is that we come together as a community, where we seek to draw on our proud history to build a future we can all share. We respect decency, dignity and seek to build a town where opportunity is extended to everyone, where people can grow, flourish and prosper, and where no one is left behind.

We offer an excellent pay and benefits package which includes membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, as well as a range of health and wellbeing and other benefits.

Details

Date posted

24 January 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,024 to £35,745 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0042-24-0004

Job locations

Riverside House

Main Street

Rotherham

South Yorkshire

S60 1AE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Directorate: Children and Young People's Services

Short Breaks Senior Residential Practitioner

Job reference REQ16227

Location Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Salary£33,024 to £35,745 & comprehensive benefits

Temporary for 12 months, Full time, 37 hours per week.

Closing date 17th March 2024

Our recent successful applicationfor further DfE funding ensures that the innovation project will not only endure but expand over the next year,as such, we are looking to employ a Senior Residential Practitioner to join this growing team. Thisextension allows for the project to grow and amplifies the potential impact of our work.

Furthermore, as we transition beyond the tenure of the innovation project, our strategic intention is to seamlessly incorporate the knowledge, experience, and personnel gained into the fabric of our residential and short break service offerings. This strategic alignment underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing a dynamic and harmonious service environment.

About the opportunity:

Are you an experienced, solution-oriented, and systemic practitioner with a strong focus on child welfare? Do you have a desire to collaborate with partners, especially children, to introduce a new model of community-based short breaks in Rotherham? If so, this role may be an ideal fit for you.

Following a highly successful first year of our innovation project, we were invited to submit a second year bid with the DfE, which we've successfully secured. This funding infusion will bolster the expansion and outreach of our already well-established innovation project. Consequently, we are actively seeking to bring on board a dedicated Children's Senior Residential/Short Breaks Practitioner to expand our team.

This pivotal role is set to make a profound impact, as it will be instrumental in delivering both in-house and community-based services for some of Rotherham's most vulnerable children. By taking up this position, you'll be contributing significantly to the cause of ensuring that more children have access to essential local support within Rotherham, allowing them to stay in close proximity to their communities, families, and schools.

This innovative service will operate within Rotherham's existing short breaks service (Liberty House) and provide intensive community-based short breaks for some of our most complex children and young people.

We are particularly interested in Senior Practitioners who not only possess experience in short break settings and expertise in working with complex needs and disabilities but additionally demonstrate an unwavering resilience that will be indispensable in this role, along with transferable skills suitable for a Short Breaks setting.

This initiative builds upon the success of our Children and Young People Service, which received a 'Good' rating from Ofsted in August 2022, and furthers the practice of our Short Break Service currently judged as `Outstanding`.

Key Responsibilities:

Promote, safeguard, and protect the welfare of looked after children across the borough.

Apply evidence-based therapeutic and behavioural management approaches and practice models.

Provide opportunities for children to influence decisions affecting them and the service they receive.

Collaborate systematically within a team to ensure a child-centred service.

Manage and adapt arrangements to ensure safe levels of support for children and young people.

Support the management of staff groups, providing supervision, training, and inductions for new staff.

Engage in the operation of the service, including activities, meals, personal care, recording, report writing, and medication administration in line with the council's policy.

Participate in and audit the completion of relevant records and reports.

Provide and promote a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment.

Key Benefits:

Strong support and clear direction from Managers.

Comprehensive training program for professional development, incorporating the Rotherham Family Approach, Signs of Safety, and Restorative Practice.

Collaboration with our high-quality in-house therapeutic service.

Involvement in innovative Edge of Care Services and a robust Early Help offer.

Prioritisation of Looked After Children for CAMHS assessment and intervention.

An opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and families.

Investment in your development as a senior practitioner, including support, supervision, training, and opportunities for professional growth.

Local Authority pension and 30 days of annual leave, aligned with the agreed weekend annual leave schedule outlined in the employer handbook.

About You:

We are seeking inspirational, resilient, and child-focused senior practitioners who are committed to:

Developing their skills and practices to provide outstanding residential services to children and young people.

Supporting and caring for some of our most complex children and young people, even in solo provision.

Adapting to evening, weekend, and sleep-in shifts as part of the residential team.

Promoting and participating in a culture of learning and coaching.

Our vision is for the children and families of Rotherham to consistently experience and describe our services as outstanding, achieved by putting the child first in everything we do.

Please note that this role requires community outreach work and as such, you will need access to your own vehicle and a full UK driving licence. The role also involves working with children and will require an enhanced DBS check and an occupational health assessment.

About Yorkshire: Rotherham and the wider South Yorkshire region offer a great quality of life, beautiful countryside, and easy access to major towns and cities like Sheffield and Leeds. Property prices are reasonable, and it's just a 2-hour train journey from London.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this role further, please contact Richard Fisher atrichard.fisher@rotherham.gov.ukor Letitia Robertson atletitia.robertson@rotherham.gov.uk.

This post involves working with children and therefore if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found atwww.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview.For further information, please visit ourwebsite.

From 1st April 2017 to 31stMarch 2024 employees paid at Band D and above are subject to a temporary pay reduction of 1.15% spread out by means of a weekly / monthly deduction (dependent on pay frequency) from each pay period over the full financial year. In recognition of implementing this temporary measure, those who experience a pay reduction will be awarded of three additional days leave (pro rata for part-time).

Confirmation of this appointment is also subject to a medical assessment.

Please click the following link to view Rotherham Councils Privacy Notice - https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/freedom-information-data-protection

Job description

Job responsibilities

Directorate: Children and Young People's Services

Short Breaks Senior Residential Practitioner

Job reference REQ16227

Location Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Salary£33,024 to £35,745 & comprehensive benefits

Temporary for 12 months, Full time, 37 hours per week.

Closing date 17th March 2024

Our recent successful applicationfor further DfE funding ensures that the innovation project will not only endure but expand over the next year,as such, we are looking to employ a Senior Residential Practitioner to join this growing team. Thisextension allows for the project to grow and amplifies the potential impact of our work.

Furthermore, as we transition beyond the tenure of the innovation project, our strategic intention is to seamlessly incorporate the knowledge, experience, and personnel gained into the fabric of our residential and short break service offerings. This strategic alignment underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing a dynamic and harmonious service environment.

About the opportunity:

Are you an experienced, solution-oriented, and systemic practitioner with a strong focus on child welfare? Do you have a desire to collaborate with partners, especially children, to introduce a new model of community-based short breaks in Rotherham? If so, this role may be an ideal fit for you.

Following a highly successful first year of our innovation project, we were invited to submit a second year bid with the DfE, which we've successfully secured. This funding infusion will bolster the expansion and outreach of our already well-established innovation project. Consequently, we are actively seeking to bring on board a dedicated Children's Senior Residential/Short Breaks Practitioner to expand our team.

This pivotal role is set to make a profound impact, as it will be instrumental in delivering both in-house and community-based services for some of Rotherham's most vulnerable children. By taking up this position, you'll be contributing significantly to the cause of ensuring that more children have access to essential local support within Rotherham, allowing them to stay in close proximity to their communities, families, and schools.

This innovative service will operate within Rotherham's existing short breaks service (Liberty House) and provide intensive community-based short breaks for some of our most complex children and young people.

We are particularly interested in Senior Practitioners who not only possess experience in short break settings and expertise in working with complex needs and disabilities but additionally demonstrate an unwavering resilience that will be indispensable in this role, along with transferable skills suitable for a Short Breaks setting.

This initiative builds upon the success of our Children and Young People Service, which received a 'Good' rating from Ofsted in August 2022, and furthers the practice of our Short Break Service currently judged as `Outstanding`.

Key Responsibilities:

Promote, safeguard, and protect the welfare of looked after children across the borough.

Apply evidence-based therapeutic and behavioural management approaches and practice models.

Provide opportunities for children to influence decisions affecting them and the service they receive.

Collaborate systematically within a team to ensure a child-centred service.

Manage and adapt arrangements to ensure safe levels of support for children and young people.

Support the management of staff groups, providing supervision, training, and inductions for new staff.

Engage in the operation of the service, including activities, meals, personal care, recording, report writing, and medication administration in line with the council's policy.

Participate in and audit the completion of relevant records and reports.

Provide and promote a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment.

Key Benefits:

Strong support and clear direction from Managers.

Comprehensive training program for professional development, incorporating the Rotherham Family Approach, Signs of Safety, and Restorative Practice.

Collaboration with our high-quality in-house therapeutic service.

Involvement in innovative Edge of Care Services and a robust Early Help offer.

Prioritisation of Looked After Children for CAMHS assessment and intervention.

An opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and families.

Investment in your development as a senior practitioner, including support, supervision, training, and opportunities for professional growth.

Local Authority pension and 30 days of annual leave, aligned with the agreed weekend annual leave schedule outlined in the employer handbook.

About You:

We are seeking inspirational, resilient, and child-focused senior practitioners who are committed to:

Developing their skills and practices to provide outstanding residential services to children and young people.

Supporting and caring for some of our most complex children and young people, even in solo provision.

Adapting to evening, weekend, and sleep-in shifts as part of the residential team.

Promoting and participating in a culture of learning and coaching.

Our vision is for the children and families of Rotherham to consistently experience and describe our services as outstanding, achieved by putting the child first in everything we do.

Please note that this role requires community outreach work and as such, you will need access to your own vehicle and a full UK driving licence. The role also involves working with children and will require an enhanced DBS check and an occupational health assessment.

About Yorkshire: Rotherham and the wider South Yorkshire region offer a great quality of life, beautiful countryside, and easy access to major towns and cities like Sheffield and Leeds. Property prices are reasonable, and it's just a 2-hour train journey from London.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this role further, please contact Richard Fisher atrichard.fisher@rotherham.gov.ukor Letitia Robertson atletitia.robertson@rotherham.gov.uk.

This post involves working with children and therefore if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found atwww.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview.For further information, please visit ourwebsite.

From 1st April 2017 to 31stMarch 2024 employees paid at Band D and above are subject to a temporary pay reduction of 1.15% spread out by means of a weekly / monthly deduction (dependent on pay frequency) from each pay period over the full financial year. In recognition of implementing this temporary measure, those who experience a pay reduction will be awarded of three additional days leave (pro rata for part-time).

Confirmation of this appointment is also subject to a medical assessment.

Please click the following link to view Rotherham Councils Privacy Notice - https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/freedom-information-data-protection

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 7 qualification e.g. Post Graduate
  • Certificates and Diplomas with a considerable
  • breadth and depth of knowledge across the
  • relevant specialist area, or a range of areas
  • Or
  • Evidence of the equivalent level of knowledge
  • gained through work experience.
  • Level 3 Diploma in Residential Child Care or
  • the equivalent. Or will have completed within 2
  • years of starting work in the role. Failure to
  • complete the Level 3 Diploma or equivalent
  • within 2 years will prevent the post holder from
  • assuming this post, with immediate effect.
  • Therefore, may result in your contract of
  • employment being terminated.

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge and understanding of appropriate legislation to the area of work for example Childrens Act, Community Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act/ D.O.L.S Continuing Health Care
  • Experience in the engagement of adults/and/or children/families (some of whom are resistant to engage), with detailed knowledge of what works to effect positive change.
  • Experience of understanding the needs of clients with a range of sensitive and personal care issues i.e. mental health problems, dementia, depression, challenging behaviours etc
  • Acting as an advocate, promoting self advocacy and a commitment to upholding service users rights
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 7 qualification e.g. Post Graduate
  • Certificates and Diplomas with a considerable
  • breadth and depth of knowledge across the
  • relevant specialist area, or a range of areas
  • Or
  • Evidence of the equivalent level of knowledge
  • gained through work experience.
  • Level 3 Diploma in Residential Child Care or
  • the equivalent. Or will have completed within 2
  • years of starting work in the role. Failure to
  • complete the Level 3 Diploma or equivalent
  • within 2 years will prevent the post holder from
  • assuming this post, with immediate effect.
  • Therefore, may result in your contract of
  • employment being terminated.

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge and understanding of appropriate legislation to the area of work for example Childrens Act, Community Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act/ D.O.L.S Continuing Health Care
  • Experience in the engagement of adults/and/or children/families (some of whom are resistant to engage), with detailed knowledge of what works to effect positive change.
  • Experience of understanding the needs of clients with a range of sensitive and personal care issues i.e. mental health problems, dementia, depression, challenging behaviours etc
  • Acting as an advocate, promoting self advocacy and a commitment to upholding service users rights

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Address

Riverside House

Main Street

Rotherham

South Yorkshire

S60 1AE


Employer's website

https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Address

Riverside House

Main Street

Rotherham

South Yorkshire

S60 1AE


Employer's website

https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Project and Quality Officer

Jenny Bratton-Alexander

Jenny.Bratton-Alexander@rotherham.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

24 January 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,024 to £35,745 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0042-24-0004

Job locations

Riverside House

Main Street

Rotherham

South Yorkshire

S60 1AE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)