Senior Support Worker

Full Job Description

Senior support worker
Senior Support Worker - Job purpose & Role Dimensions
A Senior support worker has a duty to each young person in their care. As a PCCS Senior Support worker you are task with supporting the house lead in providing a level of leadership and management, working collaboratively with them to provide consistency to the young person being supported.
The senior support worker’s role is essential to the wellbeing of the young person we support and to the team.
The post holder will understand and respond to the needs of children and young people, particularly the most vulnerable or disadvantaged.
Key Principles for the Senior support worker
* Senior support workers are expected to act as an appropriate role model for both young people and staff.
* Supporting young people aged 16 to 19 in semi-independent living.
* Recognising development opportunities for each young person
* Using creative and inclusive approaches to support young people's development
* Improving young peoples' aspirations through 1 to 1 key work sessions
* Liaising with external agencies
* Adhering to policies and procedures to safeguard young people from harm and abuse.
* Promoting a safe environment for young people and staff
* Managing challenging behaviour and difficult situations
* Improving young people's well being
* Updating confidential records/Report writing.
* Helping to keep the house clean and tidy.
* Putting children at the centre of all that we do.
* Building and sustaining trusting relationships.
* Develop a "one team" culture and identity across the staff teams and individual units
* Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving.
* Being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.
* Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure.
Adopting the PCCS ethos.
Senior Support Worker - Essential skills and abilities:
A good knowledge of education, children and young people policy and practice.
Knowledge and experience of relevant legislation and guidance, including Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Adoption and Children Act 2002, Children Act 2004, Children and Families Act 2014, Working Together 2018, Adoption Regulations, Fostering Regulations.
* To maintain Health and Safety standards (including fire safety) of the site and the service.
* To have a responsibility for Safeguarding, as is all staff.
* To maintain a high quality of care and support which meets the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and cultural needs of the young person/people within the care of PCCS.
To be able to offer advice, guidance and assistance where appropriate.
To work from the guidelines from the 1989 Children’s Act, National Minimum Standards, Every Child Matters and any other relevant legislation.
To provide a caring, supportive and nurturing environment in which young people can feel secure and free from harm.
To establish positive relationships with young people and always offer unconditional and positive regard.
Helping young people gain self-control by challenging unacceptable behaviour and rewarding acceptable, pro-social conduct.
Attending to practical matters in relation to childcare (cooking, cleaning, general maintenance around the home etc)
Establishing relationships which young people perceive to be positive, warm, and rewarding
Providing advice, assistance and support on a 1:1 basis to enable young people to address past andpresent difficulties
Providing emotional support at times of difficulty or stress.
As a PCCS support worker you must plan and deliver weekly Keyworker/re flective space sessions with the young person.
To update the weekly expenses form when necessary.
To adhere to the staff timetable for the unit.
To contribute the daily logs and weekly reports as and when requested.
To contribute to the organisation and effective running of the placement.
To adhere to companies’ guidelines on CPD.
Support house leads and support workers.
Delegate work where appropriate.
Lead shifts when necessary.
Attend meetings when required.
Report any concerns directly to coordinators.
Provide detailed, updates to coordinators when requested.
Reasonable adjustment
Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.
Special Conditions
Able to work flexibly and to plan travel in a cost and time efficient manner.
Able to work outside of normal office hours, including evenings and weekends.
Undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure prior to employment.
Candidate may be required to work in additional sites