Senior Support Worker - Children’s Home

Senior Residential Support Worker

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

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Job Overview

We are seeking a proactive and motivational Senior Residential Support Worker to provide high-quality care services and strong leadership to the team. You will be instrumental in shaping and delivering the residential home’s Statement of Purpose, supporting the management team, and being a direct advocate for the well-being of children and young people.

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

• Hours: 40 hours per week plus required sleep-in duties and provision of overnight cover.

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Key Leadership and Care Responsibilities

• Shift Management: Plan, manage, and lead shifts, ensuring children are kept safe and engaged throughout the day.

• Service Quality: Assist the Registered and Deputy Manager in the efficient operation of the service in accordance with relevant legislation and the home's Statement of Purpose.

• Development & Assessment: Assist in the continual assessment of children's needs, and identify and prepare specific development plans to ensure appropriate service provision.

• Team Support: Be involved in the induction, mentoring, and supervision of new employees. Contribute to the team training and development programme.

• Casework & Administration: Co-ordinate and monitor casework and administrative functions of the home and evaluate standards of performance.

• Compliance: Ensure the Placement Plan for each child is followed. Ensure all professional practice and medication processes are conducted in line with legislation.

• Multi-Agency Liaison: Liaise with various internal and external multi-disciplinary teams and commissioning authorities, including potentially chairing meetings, reviews, and discussions.

• Environment: Maintain a clean and safe environment, ensuring the physical state of the building is maintained to a high standard.

• On-Call: Be part of an on-call system.

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Safeguarding Responsibilities (Crucial)

• Be trained in identifying signs of harm and abuse and respond immediately to keep young people safe.

• Know what to do if a young person makes a disclosure or an allegation of harm against staff or someone else.

• Keep accurate, objective records of any concerns or incidents, and complete body maps as required.

• Be prepared to attend a Strategy Meeting and a Child Protection Case Conference.

• Discuss actual or emerging safeguarding concerns in supervision, and know the safeguarding leads and how to report concerns.

• Be aware of the complaint procedure and whistleblowing process.

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Required Knowledge, Qualifications, and Skills

Essential:

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years’ experience working as a residential care worker. Significant experience within a residential setting.

• Qualifications: Commitment to achieve NVQ Level 3 in Children and Young.

• Knowledge: Sound working knowledge of safeguarding. Working knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Care Standards 2000, and Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

• Skills & Attributes: Driving Licence. Excellent communication skills (verbal and written). Ability to demonstrate reasoning, numeracy, literacy, and technology skills. Must show Patience, Resilience, honesty, and integrity.

Desirable:

• Qualifications: Diploma level 3 Residential Child Care or Diploma Level 4 Children and Young People Family Practitioner.

• Knowledge: Understanding of therapeutic approaches and knowledge of service requirements.

• Skills & Attributes: Good knowledge of planning/development/skills mix. Ability to develop and encourage professional growth in others.