Job summary
Are you looking for a role that is rewarding and fulfilling, where you get to choose the days and times you work? If you already have experience working with children that would be fantastic, but even if you don't, if you have a kind and compassionate nature this could be your first step into a career in children's residential care!
Main duties of the job
We are immensely proud of the work every team member contributes in our homes and we are looking for individuals who not only can fulfil the role, but can work collaboratively with our passionate and dedicated colleagues. This role, known locally as Relief Residential Care Officer, includes:
Flexibility - Choose when you are available to work
Supportive Tasks - You will support the children in our homes in all areas of their life, including activities, hobbies and preparing for an independent life.
Teamwork - Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and families.
About us
We value all our Relief Workers and offer:
- High quality induction
- Training and professional development
- Trauma training
- Therapeutic support enabling children to feel safe
- A strong leadership team to support you in your new role
Lincolnshire County Council Children's Services are one of the best in the country and have an overall Outstanding rating from Ofsted. Lincolnshire has been chosen by the Department of Education as one of the three national Families First for Children Pathfinders which will run between September 2023 and 2025. This is an exciting time to join Children's Residential Services and help us shape the future of Social Care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of Job: To be part of a Residential Care Team that works collaboratively in order to support the
delivery of highly personalised, quality care to children and young people in a homely environment.
MAIN DUTIES: The specific accountabilities of this role will be flexible and will change to meet the needs
of the organisation as required but will include (or be equivalent in nature to) those listed below:
- To create an environment that promotes a positive respect for young people, ensuring they feel
safe and valued. To work as part of a team providing care as outlined with each child or young
person's individual Care Plan. This may include providing outreach support away from the Home.
- Undertake specific responsibilities that maintain and improve the service and functioning of the
home. These duties will be carried out within the relevant legislation and regulatory
requirements. Maintain monitoring and administrative systems and participate in departmental
monitoring and evaluation processes.
- To provide personal care that respects the dignity and privacy of the young people, and help the
young people to understand their emotions and social skills in a positive way.
- Encourage and enable children to achieve their maximum potential whilst allowing them to
assume responsibility for their actions commensurate with their age, ability and aptitude.
- To carry out administration of medication according to the child's care plan and policy and
procedure. The post holder will be required to maintain detailed and accurate records. You will be required to meet the basic Health needs of the young people and attend appointments to support
the young person.
- Make clinical decisions based on knowledge of the child, protocols set by Medical Practitioners and
information contained within the child's care plan. To undertake invasive treatments as per the
child's health care needs. Will be required to undertake a wide range of health care treatments
such as; oxygen therapy, Gastrostomy feeds and oral suction (list is not exhaustive).
- Will need to be flexible in their time management and able to prioritise their work schedule to
ensure that whilst all work is completed the safeguarding of the young people is the priority. The
post holder will need to ensure that report writing, updating care plans, attending meetings,
training and case conferences can be achieved and be prepared to negotiate changes in their
rostered hours to accommodate these.
Be capable of asserting oneself and supporting colleagues when dealing with difficult situations to
ensure that any challenging behaviour is dealt with effectively and without injury to the child, self and
others. Comply with policy and procedures appertaining to security issues. Ensuring all such
incidents are clearly recorded meeting the expectations and requirements to meet Ofsted
regulations.
- To work within a range of community based settings in order to meet the needs identified as part
of the child's care plan, i.e. places such as youth center, college, school (list not exhaustive).
- Within the scope of their role the post holder will be involved in the development of the service, to
undertake reviews and make suggestions on how systems and processes could be more efficient
and effective.
- Take personal responsibility to maintain and improve the service provided by the Home. To
maintain monitoring and administrative systems and participate in departmental monitoring and
evaluation processes to ensure the continual development of the service provided to children and
young people.
- In the absence of a senior member of staff, i.e. whilst for example the shift leader is on an outing
or visit with a young person, the post holder will assume full responsibility of the home for that
period of time, safety and well-being of children and young people, the building, grounds and
resources, will be able to seek telephone advice, support and guidance, from the shift leader in the
event of an emergency, the shift leader remains ultimately accountable.
Will be required to maintain environmental health standards when working in the kitchen.
- Take personal responsibility for contributing to organisational transformation and changes in ways
of working, maximising the benefits and efficiencies to achieve improved cost effectiveness.
- Take responsibility for specific areas of work and to provide written updates and analysis in
respect of progress and findings.
- Work within the whole range of the Home's operating hours, including weekends, bank holidays,
waking night duty, sleep in duties.
- Be expected to take part in planned transfers/job exchanges within the Directorate as part of own
development and to contribute towards improving and supporting service delivery.
Please refer to the Job Description for further duties.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of Job: To be part of a Residential Care Team that works collaboratively in order to support the
delivery of highly personalised, quality care to children and young people in a homely environment.
MAIN DUTIES: The specific accountabilities of this role will be flexible and will change to meet the needs
of the organisation as required but will include (or be equivalent in nature to) those listed below:
- To create an environment that promotes a positive respect for young people, ensuring they feel
safe and valued. To work as part of a team providing care as outlined with each child or young
person's individual Care Plan. This may include providing outreach support away from the Home.
- Undertake specific responsibilities that maintain and improve the service and functioning of the
home. These duties will be carried out within the relevant legislation and regulatory
requirements. Maintain monitoring and administrative systems and participate in departmental
monitoring and evaluation processes.
- To provide personal care that respects the dignity and privacy of the young people, and help the
young people to understand their emotions and social skills in a positive way.
- Encourage and enable children to achieve their maximum potential whilst allowing them to
assume responsibility for their actions commensurate with their age, ability and aptitude.
- To carry out administration of medication according to the child's care plan and policy and
procedure. The post holder will be required to maintain detailed and accurate records. You will be required to meet the basic Health needs of the young people and attend appointments to support
the young person.
- Make clinical decisions based on knowledge of the child, protocols set by Medical Practitioners and
information contained within the child's care plan. To undertake invasive treatments as per the
child's health care needs. Will be required to undertake a wide range of health care treatments
such as; oxygen therapy, Gastrostomy feeds and oral suction (list is not exhaustive).
- Will need to be flexible in their time management and able to prioritise their work schedule to
ensure that whilst all work is completed the safeguarding of the young people is the priority. The
post holder will need to ensure that report writing, updating care plans, attending meetings,
training and case conferences can be achieved and be prepared to negotiate changes in their
rostered hours to accommodate these.
Be capable of asserting oneself and supporting colleagues when dealing with difficult situations to
ensure that any challenging behaviour is dealt with effectively and without injury to the child, self and
others. Comply with policy and procedures appertaining to security issues. Ensuring all such
incidents are clearly recorded meeting the expectations and requirements to meet Ofsted
regulations.
- To work within a range of community based settings in order to meet the needs identified as part
of the child's care plan, i.e. places such as youth center, college, school (list not exhaustive).
- Within the scope of their role the post holder will be involved in the development of the service, to
undertake reviews and make suggestions on how systems and processes could be more efficient
and effective.
- Take personal responsibility to maintain and improve the service provided by the Home. To
maintain monitoring and administrative systems and participate in departmental monitoring and
evaluation processes to ensure the continual development of the service provided to children and
young people.
- In the absence of a senior member of staff, i.e. whilst for example the shift leader is on an outing
or visit with a young person, the post holder will assume full responsibility of the home for that
period of time, safety and well-being of children and young people, the building, grounds and
resources, will be able to seek telephone advice, support and guidance, from the shift leader in the
event of an emergency, the shift leader remains ultimately accountable.
Will be required to maintain environmental health standards when working in the kitchen.
- Take personal responsibility for contributing to organisational transformation and changes in ways
of working, maximising the benefits and efficiencies to achieve improved cost effectiveness.
- Take responsibility for specific areas of work and to provide written updates and analysis in
respect of progress and findings.
- Work within the whole range of the Home's operating hours, including weekends, bank holidays,
waking night duty, sleep in duties.
- Be expected to take part in planned transfers/job exchanges within the Directorate as part of own
development and to contribute towards improving and supporting service delivery.
Please refer to the Job Description for further duties.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Proficient information and IT skills to enable effective communication with internal and external agencies.
- To be a key team player and work closely with staff members and specialist workers from other agencies and organisations.
- The Post holder will require excellent written and oral communication.
- In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
- To hold a full current valid driving license.
Desirable
- Have an understanding of Health and Safety.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the impact of neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse has on young people.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the impact a disability has on a young person.
- The post holder will be expected to be able to apply theory to practice.
- Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.
- Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge of Safeguarding and risk management.
- Positive attitude to the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities.
- Post holders should be comfortable working with ambiguity and uncertainty.
Qualifications
Essential
- Required to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Care. To comply with Children's Homes Regulations, the diploma must be completed within two years of the commencement in post.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Proficient information and IT skills to enable effective communication with internal and external agencies.
- To be a key team player and work closely with staff members and specialist workers from other agencies and organisations.
- The Post holder will require excellent written and oral communication.
- In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
- To hold a full current valid driving license.
Desirable
- Have an understanding of Health and Safety.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the impact of neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse has on young people.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the impact a disability has on a young person.
- The post holder will be expected to be able to apply theory to practice.
- Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.
- Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge of Safeguarding and risk management.
- Positive attitude to the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities.
- Post holders should be comfortable working with ambiguity and uncertainty.
Qualifications
Essential
- Required to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Care. To comply with Children's Homes Regulations, the diploma must be completed within two years of the commencement in post.
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.
