Senior Support Worker (nights)

Senior Support Worker (nights)

Responsible to:  Deputy Home Manager

Purpose and Summary of Job   

To work with young people and adults ranging between 16 and 25 years of age to safeguard and promote their safety and welfare at all times. To support our Young people to feel a sense of belonging and influence within their home, providing individualised day to day care and support.

To provide and encourage students to access opportunities to engage in hobbies and experiences in order to attain positive outcomes, boost confidence and improve resilience whilst increasing their levels of independence and self-regulation.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

To support the deputy Home Manager and Head of Care (Registered Manager) in the management and development of high-quality residential education and care resources for students within Cambian Dilston College; undertaking delegated supervisory management responsibilities.

To provide management to less experienced staff to ensure the development of best practice in residential care and optimal outcomes for students.

To safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of student at all times; this is to be achieved primarily by knowing and following Cambian Dilston College policies and procedures including the instructions of senior staff and (if no such policy, procedure or instruction exists) to act in the best interest of the young person.

Where emergency situations arise, to have in your practice at all times the need to protect young people from experiencing significant harm (whether physical, psychological, emotional, financial etc.). Where this is consistent with your duties to take reasonable steps to protect your own health and safety and that of others.

Assisting to create a caring, stimulating and safe environment for all students, staff and visitors.

To protect and promote the positive reputation of the Cambian Dilston College.

To actively engage and consult with the young people within the home and where required advocate on their behalf.

Managerial and Shift Leading

To ensure that all duties are carried out to a high standard;

To allocate work to teams and individuals, agreeing objectives and work plans, and thereafter assess the performance of teams and individuals and give appropriate feedback to individuals and management;

To maintain effective staff discipline, operating at all times within The Cambian Group’s Disciplinary policy and procedures;

To support the deployment of staff and other resources effectively to ensure that young people are supported in the best possible way.                                      

Role Model to Young People & Other Staff

To set a good example at all times to young people in terms of:

Appropriateness of dress and other aspects of personal presentation;

Maintaining good personal hygiene;

Using appropriate language and humour (taking account of who is being spoken to, who is within earshot, and who or what is being spoken about);

Working Pattern & Preparation

To undertake a working pattern in accordance with the rota provided;

To keep up to date with the development of each young people in your care by reading (and re-reading from time to time) the Young persons Care plan, EHCP, Behaviour Support Plan and other relevant records and reports;

To be willing and prompt to undertake any household tasks allocated to you and any intimate care tasks reasonably required for students;

To willingly and co-operatively work in other areas and departments of the college portfolio when required by the Cambian Dilston College Leadership Team, whether on an occasional or regular basis, and whether by way of temporary or permanent placement;

To willingly undertake offsite supervision or duties, such as accompanying a young person when attending a medical appointment /check-up or other external appointments, or when travelling for a home visit; where reasonably requested to do so; This may also include supporting young people to go away for short breaks and holidays.

Medication and Treatment

To where requested, train and administer medication and treatment in accordance with the safe administration of medication policy, following training and guidance from suitably qualified staff members.

CPI

To do all you reasonably can to obtain and maintain sufficiently good physical health to be able to undertake CPI training and annual re-accreditation.

To obtain and maintain at all times accreditation in the CPI, including compliance timelines and refresher programs.

Personal Training & Professional Development

To be a reflective practitioner, that:

Seeks out advice and supervision whenever necessary;

Attends and contributes to supervision with good analysis and suggested solutions, as well as an agenda of items to discuss;

Always makes high quality and well-presented written and spoken reports and records.

Other Training

To take responsibility for attending training when reasonably required to do so in order to promote the effective delivery of the role.  This includes all mandatory training as well as other relevant specialised training to meet the individual needs of the students.

Driving College Vehicles

If permitted to drive the vehicles, always to do so in an appropriate, safe and responsible manner in line with policies and procedures that are in place.

Meetings

To attend all required young people and staff meetings, and if asked to do so to take minutes and to promptly pass them to the Head of Care for checking prior to distribution.

To contact, meet or liaise with external professionals, parents or visitors when asked to do so by the Head of Care.

PERSON SPECIFICATION - Senior Support Worker

This post is subject to full DBS checking.

QCF level 3 in adult care or equivalent or working towards

Willingness to undertake all training as requested.

Commitment to undertake professional development.

Care certificate;

Relevant qualification in safeguarding;

Relevant care qualifications for example behaviour management strategy.  

QCF level 4 in adult care or equivalent

Experience

At least 2 years’ experience working in care is necessary;

A passion and commitment to gain the required skills, knowledge and experience is vital;

Specific experience of working with young people or adults with learning disability, challenging behaviour; Experience from a supported living setting.

Experience of working with a positive behaviour support model.

Knowledge

Safeguarding

Relevant legislation

Autism

Trauma and Attachment

Mental capacity and DOLS

Health and Safety.

Skills

Good written and verbal communication skills.

Be able to work as part of a team or using own initiative.

Able to build positive relationships with Young people and a variety of professionals.

Able to engage with young people to support them to develop confidence, resilience and level of independence.

To be able to be a positive and consistent role model.