Support Worker - Children's Homes Devon
Job description
What is a Support Worker in a children’s home?
You will be a valuable asset in caring for children who cannot live at home helping them in many of the same ways a parent would. From getting them up and off to school in the morning, cleaning the home and getting their dinner ready to spending time just being around and chatting, helping with homework. You will also help keep them entertained in a positive and character-building way, before settling them down for bed and maybe reading them a story. You would then write up the day and may sleep in and go home the next morning.
We currently have staff and kids returning from Disney and others planning to go to Cyprus and others using our own 4 bed holiday cottage in Newquay, Cornwall.
What’s the salary?
We currently pay between, £12.57ph unqualified to £13.14ph qualified for a 35hr per week full time rota, plus a sleep-in allowance of £50 per night. Additional hours are almost always available meaning that, working 40hrs per week (1 extra shift each 3 weeks) and doing 2 sleep ins per month would result in a salary range of around £27,345 to £28,531 or more.
Are there any other benefits?
We believe a 35hr working week helps staff take the time they need to recover when times are difficult and give them the strength and resilience to pick up extra shifts when needed.
At Blue Elephant we understand that the job can be challenging and therefore we offer a number of benefits not only to show how much we value our staff but also to make sure that their mental health is prioritised and enhanced.
Benefits include, from the first day of employment (no wait time):
· Medicash+ which includes
- helping to pay towards dental treatment, optician, prescription costs, physiotherapy etc
- 24hr access to a UK based GP via the telephone or video call, the appointments are extended to 20 minutes if the call relates to a mental health issue.
- Extra 7 one-hour face to face counselling sessions.
- Discounts off weekly shopping at most of the top supermarkets, gyms and cinemas, holidays etc
· Death in service benefit of 3½ times annual salary paid to your nominated individual.
· Monthly mental health groups B-Well for men and Monthly Ladies Book Club for females.
· Annual cash bonus paid each November.
· Christmas Hampers with food and goods handpicked by the directors of the company.
· Free Yoga and other regular wellbeing sessions.
· Annual summer ‘Thank You’ concert with live music, food and drink, open to staff and their families, to show our appreciation to them as well.
What exactly is the ethos of Blue Elephant Childcare?
To understand the ethos, you have to understand the way Blue Elephant Childcare was set up and the way it is run. The two founders Keith & Chris Burley have both worked in a number of children’s homes companies with Keith setting up three of them but always having to seek financial backing which ultimately led to profit maximisation and a shift of priorities from care to profits. Blue Elephant was set up using the pension pots of both Keith & Chris, there is no external financial interest (other than mortgages) and no shareholders demanding a return on their investment.
This has allowed Keith & Chris to establish a company where the children really are at the centre of everything they do. They hold the right of a child to have a childhood dearly and work tirelessly to ensure that all our kids can enjoy a safe home with a sense of belonging and love, which in turn allows them to enjoy what childhood they have left. The ethos of the company is clearly children first, but they also understand that the job of caring for our children is hard and therefore we have to provide an environment which is supportive for our staff as well, together this makes Blue Elephant different!
What type of person are you looking for to be a Support Worker?
Normal everyday type people, who have a desire to make the lives of children better in the most direct way imaginable.
Ideally you will be aged from 22yrs to 70yrs, although for exceptional people we would consider those outside this range.
You must be able to drive, this is because at this time we are unable to accommodate a non-driver.
You must be able to work seven 15hr shifts every three weeks and be prepared to work weekends (a Saturday one week, a Sunday the following week then a full weekend off the next) this equates to a working week of 35hrs.
You’ve got to be able to study for a diploma at L3/4 and we are extremely supportive in achieving this and help is always available.
If you wonder if you could do the job, ask yourself, can I care? If the answer is Yes, this is the job for you because if you care, you can!
Is it just another job?
No, it isn’t, it is a career choice with many opportunities to grow and develop and if you want true progression there is opportunity within Blue Elephant to become a Senior Support Worker and almost all our manager are staff who joined us, not as managers, and have worked their way up.
But, if you have no ambition to go for promotions there are still opportunities to specialise and grow as a Support Worker.
The changes that you can make to the lives of our children are amazing, don’t think it is easy though, and we do have set backs and at times it can seem that we are going backwards with some of our kids, but often this is when they begin to feel safe and need to test the boundaries of our love for them.
The job is heart breaking at times and heartwarming at times, but it is never boring.
I am excited and want to find out more, what do I do?
Just send us a message or apply through this platform, give us a ring on 01271-373225 or email us at [email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you to the Blue Elephant Family.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £12.57-£13.14 per hour
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee mentoring programme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Profit sharing
- Store discount
Supplemental pay types:
- Bonus scheme
- Yearly bonus
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Barnstaple: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred but not essential)
Work Location: All our homes are located within North Devon
Reference ID: Support Worker - Blue Elephant Childcare (North Devon)
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £12.57-£13.14 per hour
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee mentoring programme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Profit sharing
- Store discount
Supplemental pay types:
- Yearly bonus
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Devon: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: Support Worker - Blue Elephant Childcare (North Devon)
