Park Blue Homes has an exciting opportunity for a Children’s Home Senior Support Worker to join our company in the Bishop Auckland area.
This is a unique and rare opportunity to join a progressive and trauma informed group of Children’s Homes with a focus on upholding the values and guidelines of a Therapeutic Community. The home is a 5 bed residential home specialising in providing care for young people with learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Salary: £27,500 per annum depending on experience, plus bonuses, pension, and other benefits. 28 days annual leave plus 3 paid wellness shifts per year.
Paid sleep ins are £63/night which included at one per week gives an average senior support worker salary of £30,778.
Shift patterns will be on-shift working 07.30-21.30 (two shifts). Six shifts per week, 42 hours. We are able to be flexible with shift patterns.
Why choose Park Blue Homes?
Park Blue Homes are proud members of The Consortium of Therapeutic Communities (TCTC) we pride ourselves on providing bespoke, trauma informed loving care to all the Children living within our Homes. We pride ourselves in upholding the core values and principles of a Therapeutic Community, this includes.
· Comprehensive and trauma informed training for every staff member including progressive leadership skills and community meetings and conferences to reflect and share information and learning.
· An integrated therapeutic support programme, based on the Pillars of Parenting (POP) therapeutic model.
· Beautiful and comfortable, homely homes with an emphasis on providing a safe environment with strength-based care and emotional attachment to all children.
· A culture of Emotional Warmth Parenting.
· Reflective and Progressive Ways of Working for all staff.
· Staff Wellness Programme including wellness Wednesdays, days off for birthday, Wellness shifts and fun wellbeing activities.
· A warm and welcoming environment to all that wish to come on board, we pride ourselves on working as a team to support one another.
· Career development opportunities.
· Full occupancy bonus between £30 - £50 per month.
· Full attendance / sickness bonus £550 per annum.
· 'Good' grading OFSTED bonus £100 per Inspection. ‘Outstanding’ Bonus of £250.
· Referral scheme - £350 if you refer a friend and they pass their six-month probation.
· Long service salary reviews every two years.
· Takeaway night for new starters.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will be key in helping our young people with EBD and learning difficulties and leading a team of support workers. This is a challenging role, but the rewards are incomparable to any other job. You will be working in an environment where the little things that you do every day could have life-changing results on the young people in our care. Your ambition for the people you supports will help them take steps to fulfilling their potential.
What are the main duties of a Senior Support Worker?
· To be responsible for the assisting the management team in the management, co-ordination, and development of a range of quality therapeutic services for young people that live at our Home.
· Ensuring that all children and staff working within the Home are effectively safeguarded at all times, be proactive and able to recognise times when we may need to protect people around us.
· To ensure the Home exceeds all standards as stated in the Children’s Home Regulations 2015 and all other legislation relevant to the therapeutic care of our children.
· To promote relationships as central to the working practice of our Homes. Taking an empathetic and engaging approach to working in partnership with young people, their families, professionals, and other agencies, in order to meet the needs of young people.
· To provide effective, empathetic, and dynamic leadership and to coordinate the staff team ensuring that the companies policies and procedures are effectively implemented. To lead by example and be a role model for the team members and children.
· To promote team development and effective team working. To understand the impacts of vicarious trauma and how this can affect the internal workings of the team. To promote the companies staff wellbeing programme.

• Participating in a wide range of innovative and exciting recreational events held within the home and wider community.
• Assisting with practical matters relating to care (cooking, washing, cleaning etc.)
• Meeting the physical, emotional, behavioural and cultural needs of the young people in our care.

· To be involved in reflective practise ensuring that team members and those around the child are reflective of their work encouraging them to integrate and uphold our therapeutic thinking.
· To ensure the paperwork in the Home is accurate, reflective and evidences the progress the children make within the Home
· To ensure that all Health and Safety Regulations, including fire, medication, vehicles and all premises are followed in accordance with Park Blue Homes's policies, procedures and practices.
· To ensure that all finance budgets, control, administration and records comply with Park Blue Ltd's procedures.
· To promote and implement the company’s policies and procedures and ensuring that they are attachment based and trauma informed.
Skills and Qualifications
Essential

• Experience in Residential Children’s Social Care with a minimum of one years’ experience, ideally as a support worker.
• An understanding of Trauma Informed Care and therapeutic background. A working knowledge of PACE and effective understanding of what a therapeutic placement looks like for children is advantageous or a willingness to learn.
• Strong leadership and effective communication skills with a very nurturing side and strong interpersonal skills.
• A Level 3 NVQ diploma in Residential Childcare or be willing to work towards this.
• UK Driving License
• Confidence and Understanding of The Children’s Home Regulations and all legislation associated with the running of a registered Children’s Home.
• Confidence when dealing with people, the ability to challenge and guide.
• A clear DBS and positive references from all companies where you have worked with children or vulnerable adults.
• The ability and strength of character to deal with challenging situations in a non-consequential and nurturing way with the confidence to set appropriate boundaries and implement the communities’ policies and procedures.

We welcome applications from people that want to make a difference and those that want to work therapeutically and who are open to change, providing passionate and consistent care for our young people. Due to registration requirements, applicants must be 21 or over.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,500.00 per year
Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Overtime

Experience:

• Residential Childcare: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)
• NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person