Job description
We are looking for an Experienced Children's Residential Care Officer to join Robin House, our new 4 bedded home for children aged 6-15 years inclusive based in the centre of Lincoln. The therapeutic nature of the home will be the first of its kind in Lincolnshire. Robin House will specialise in providing care and support to children with individual needs and strengths, with the aim of supporting their return home to families or to foster placements. This is an exciting time to join Lincolnshire County Council and support our Children in Care Transformation Programme. You can help us to be ambitious for Children and Young People in Lincolnshire. About the Role As an Outstanding Authority, Lincolnshire County Council specialise in providing excellent in-house care and support for children and young people who have diverse needs as a result of their early experiences. We endeavour to create a homely environment that exceeds the needs of children and young people in our care, enabling them to express their characters, feel safe and enrich their lives. The model of care in our home will combine trauma informed practice with social pedagogy, attachment theory and therapeutic care models to give our children the high level of care they need and deserve. Our caring staff will work alongside Complex Needs Mental Health Link Workers and other health professionals to develop individual, personalised therapeutic care plans that you will help develop and support. “Seeing children achieve positive outcomes if by far the best thing” We work shifts on a rota system that includes evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep in duties (example rota attached on LCC site). Please note these positions are full time but we will also consider relief. About You As a Residential Care Officer in our team, you must be willing to go above and beyond for children in our care, ensuring an experience of childhood that is reflective of what we would want for our own children; filled with fun, laughter, friendship and discovery. Your empathy and warmth will enable you to support children who present with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. You will take on extra responsibilities such as supervision, shift leading, developing projects, developing direct work with children, mentoring and inspiring new staff. You will lead in different areas of practice such as social pedagogy or restorative practice and you will be expected to chair and take part in professional meetings. We are looking for someone who is: - Compassionate with demonstratable patience and resilience. - Able to find and use creative ways to communicate, meeting changing and challenging needs. - Caring, playful, and enjoys spending time with children, helping them to stay connected to their families and friends. - Curious and enthusiastic about a child's needs, targeting individual requirements to achieve full potential and the best outcome possible. - Able to set boundaries and utilise different approaches. - Be a keyworker for one of our children. Find out more about what this involves by reading the attached Case Studies. - Able to make informed decisions. - Has a full UK driving licence and access to your own car with business use insurance preferable or agreement to work towards this in the future. A full person specification can be found within the Job Description (attached on LCC site). Our Offer To You We are offering a competitive salary along with an extensive benefits package, details of which can be found in the attached (on LCC site) Residential Worker Benefits Document and our brochure. In joining us, you will be rewarded with a career defining opportunity to become part of an ambitious and growing service that is committed to staff retention, development and equality. We will provide you with the training, support and access to expertise and new skills that will enable you to provide the very best care for our children and young people and succeed in your career. PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your covering letter/personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council. If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role then please contact Helen Wallis on 07789 271658 Interviews will be held on 4th August. Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check. All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application. On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions. Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Fluency Duty In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post. Downloads How to Apply Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CV's submitted without a fully completed online application form. Apply Now Lincolnshire County Council