Children's Residential Support Worker
As a children's residential support worker you play a pivotal role in the lives of vulnerable children and young people, providing day-to-day care, guidance, and support in a residential setting. This challenging yet deeply rewarding career requires a unique blend of empathy, resilience, and practical skills to create a safe, nurturing, and stable environment for those who have often experienced significant trauma or instability.
Core Responsibilities: A Blend of Practical and Emotional Support
The primary responsibility of a Children's Residential Support Worker is to contribute to the physical and emotional well-being of the children in their care. This multifaceted role encompasses a wide range of duties, which can be broadly categorised as follows:
Direct Care and Support:
Daily Routines: Assisting with and supervising daily tasks such as waking up, mealtimes, personal hygiene, and bedtime routines to establish a sense of structure and normalcy.
Health and Well-being: Administering medication as prescribed, attending medical appointments with children, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through nutritious meals and physical activity.
Emotional and Behavioural Support: Providing a listening ear and emotional support, helping children to manage their feelings and behaviours in a positive way, and implementing agreed-upon behavioural management strategies.
Creating a Positive Living Environment:
Household Duties: Undertaking general household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping to maintain a clean and comfortable living space.
Safety and Security: Ensuring the home is a safe and secure environment for all residents, adhering to health and safety regulations, and responding appropriately to any incidents.
Recreational Activities: Planning and participating in a variety of engaging activities, both within the home and in the community, to promote social skills, confidence, and enjoyment.
Professional and Administrative Duties:
Care Planning: Actively participating in the development and implementation of individual care plans, ensuring that the specific needs of each child are met.
Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, including daily logs, incident reports, and progress notes, in line with legal and organisational requirements.
Advocacy: Acting as an advocate for the children, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld in meetings and reviews.
Essential Skills and Qualifications: A Foundation of Compassion and Competence
While specific qualifications can vary depending on the employer and regulatory requirements, there are several core competencies and attributes that are universally sought after in this field:
Essential Skills:
Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills: The ability to build trusting and positive relationships with children, colleagues, and external agencies is paramount.
Patience, Empathy, and Understanding: A genuine capacity to understand and respond to the complex emotional needs of children who may have experienced trauma.
Resilience and the Ability to Remain Calm Under Pressure: The role can be emotionally demanding, and the ability to handle challenging situations with a calm and professional demeanour is crucial.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Working effectively as part of a dedicated team is essential for providing consistent and high-quality care.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills: The ability to think on one's feet and make sound judgements in the best interests of the child.
Typical Qualifications and Requirements:
6 months UK based experience working with children and young people, particularly those with challenging behaviour or complex needs, is highly advantageous.
A full driving license is preferred
All applicants will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check (DBS or equivalent)
This is a temporary to permanent role.
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
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