JOB DESCRIPTION POST: SENIOR RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKER HOME: REPORTS TO: REGISTERED MANAGER KEY NETWORK: RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKERS THERAPY MANAGER HEAD OF EDUCATION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR JOB SUMMARY To be responsible to the Registered Manager, for the day-to-day running of the home and for the delivery of the day-to-day care to the children. To ensure that the care teams are maintaining their therapeutic approach and providing direct work with the children. To assist in leading staff to operate within legal parameters as described in the Companies Policies and Procedures. To give support of in the business, clinical & social development of the service. To share responsibility in the protecting of company assets and be proactive in securing a positive company image. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES To be conversant with the homes statement of purpose, function and management and to provide a level of care and service that meets Regulatory and Company expectations 1
and standards. To work within all policies and procedures and to promote these within the staff team. To contribute to the normal development of the young people through the provision of a healthy lifestyle, a variety of appropriate activities and a consistent caring adult role model To identify and implement boundaries necessary to modify unacceptable behaviour. To be alert to signs of distress of abuse and ensure that the young people are monitored, supervised and protected. To ensure compliance with all staffing ratios required for individual young people To be sensitive to the needs of individual young people, taking account of race, language, religion, sexuality and culture. To be aware of the child s rights and to work in an anti-discriminatory and antioppressive manner and in-line with the Company s Equal Opportunities Policy To liaise regularly and effectively, and develop and maintain good working relationships with Therapy, Education, Social Workers, and other professionals who have a concern for the Child s welfare. To contribute to and implement care plans, risk assessments and action plans, participate in reviews and other meetings as required and ensure LAC documentation is up to date and changed when appropriate i.e. after a statutory review. Ensure effective case file management is maintained as set out in agreed plans. To take shared responsibility and accountability for the administration of all medication prescribed for the young people. To ensure all aspects of written information are kept up to date on files including the completion of daily case records, communications, log books, incidents records, risk 2
assessments and other records and reports as required. To support the staff in their direct work with the young people and to ensure that this work is in collaboration with local authorities, therapy and education, to enable an effective integration of services. To promote working in partnership with parents, carers, social workers and other appropriate persons important to that young person. To ensure young people are attending full time education, and all other appointments and meetings as required including therapy sessions. To ensure any concerns, refusal to attend or feedback is reported to the house manager. To ensure that children facing a particular crisis and stresses are offered appropriate additional support and to ensure that staff are supported in dealing with complex situations. To take responsibility for writing reports and overseeing the content of written reports for the statutory reviews and follow up review recommendations. To ensure there is consistency in the level of care being provided to the children by the Residential Care Workers and Child Care Practitioners. To work with the Manager in the induction and mentoring of individual staff, shift preparation and the team as a whole. To complete QCF training in child care, level 5 or equivalent and show commitment to further training. To ensure the day-to day management, monitoring and supervision of staff is facilitated in a professional and competent manner To provide leadership, guidance and management to other staff when required and promote professionalism and standards to the team in line with policy and procedure 3
To lead shifts, ensuring appropriate handovers take place, and be responsible for the deployment of staff on duty to ensure that the work required in the home is undertaken. To ensure the development and promotion of the statement of purpose for the home and the therapeutic principles that underpin the care. To maintain good communication systems, to assist staff with meetings, take responsibility for informing staff of developments and updates, and distributing, messages when required. To supervise staff in line with the Childrens Homes Regulations and Quality Standards under the guidance of the manager and contribute to the supervisory task of developing staff. To be concerned for the welfare of the staff, offering support at times of stress, praising work completed and giving feedback on performance. To be responsible for heading and leading a Care Team. To assist the Manager in identifying training needs for individual staff and the staff team. To provide support to the Registered Manager/ Assistant Manager and cover in the Managers absence. To report to a Manager/ Director of Operations or other appropriate person, safeguarding and malpractice suspicions or evidence which may suggest it. To contribute to the effective management of the homes resources, keeping within the designated budgetary requirement ensuring you follow all administrative and financial procedures and record budget activities in line with financial procedures To be responsible for the security of monies kept on the premises in line with procedures 4
To monitor expenditure and alert the registered manager as to potential over spends or misuse To create a homely setting with which children can identify. To maintain a safe environment, complying with Health and Safety and other legal requirements. To bring to the attention of the Registered Manager work that may need to be carried out. To encourage and support the staff and the children in the care of their surroundings. To advise as required on professional matters within the area of competence. To maintain high standards of childcare and to be flexible in adapting to meet the child s needs. To observe and actively promote communication with staff and senior management, and ensure they are made aware of serious or potentially serious situations. To maintain professional knowledge and skills through training, reading and other activities and be responsible for your own continuing professional development plan. To develop own and colleagues skills in direct work with young people To identify individual staff training needs and participate as appropriate in the development of staff with agreement and support from your manager, including the inducting of new staff. To provide cover in the event of sickness, holidays etc. 5
To participate in the on-call system. To commit to on-going personal development. Such other reasonable duties may be required. This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The post holder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the pay scale identified and as directed by Senior Management/Directors. The content of this post will be reviewed on a regular basis in line with regulatory changes and service developments and any changes made will be through a consultation process where necessary. 6