Job Description:

Provide safe, nurturing and individualised care to children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Support their wellbeing, rights, development and independence through consistent, child-centred practice as part of the residential care team.

• Deliver planned daily care and routines in line with individual care plans, placement plans, communication profiles and assessed needs.
• Work cooperatively with colleagues and follow the direction of the shift lead, Deputy Manager and Registered Manager.
• Build trusting, appropriate professional relationships with children while maintaining clear boundaries.
• Recognise and challenge unsafe or poor practice, take immediate steps to protect children where necessary and report concerns promptly.
• Support children with meals, appointments, education, leisure, family contact and meaningful activities.
• Participate in shift handovers, team meetings, induction and reflective discussions; seek guidance when uncertain.
• Take responsibility for completing allocated duties, communicating delays and escalating matters beyond your competence or authority.

• Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, disclosures, allegations and signs of harm; follow reporting and escalation procedures without delay.
• Ensure accurate, factual and timely recording of safeguarding matters, incidents and actions taken.
• Promote children's rights, dignity, privacy, voice, participation and access to complaints and advocacy arrangements.
• Maintain professional boundaries and safeguard children during activities, transport, contact arrangements and daily routines.
• Follow individual risk assessments and report changes in presentation, risk or unmet needs promptly to the shift lead or management.
• Work cooperatively with social workers, families and other professionals within agreed information-sharing arrangements.

• Provide care consistent with each child's placement plan, care plan, communication needs and personal preferences.
• Use accessible communication, reasonable adjustments and individualised approaches for children with learning disabilities and autism.
• Use agreed positive behaviour support strategies, proactive approaches, low-arousal responses and least-restrictive practice, within training and individual plans.
• Promote emotional wellbeing, relationships, education, health, independence, recreation and community inclusion.
• Undertake key-working tasks where allocated, helping children work towards meaningful goals and recording progress.
• Support personal care respectfully and in accordance with each child's preferences, dignity and support needs.
• Encourage a warm, homely environment and involve children in everyday choices and household life.
  
  5. Medication, records and communication
  
  
  • Administer or support medication only when trained, assessed as competent and authorised, following medication policy and recording requirements.
  • Complete daily notes, handover information, incident reports, key-work records and other required documentation accurately, factually and promptly.
  • Report medication errors, recording omissions, injuries and significant events immediately through the required procedures.
  • Communicate relevant information to colleagues and managers, and with external professionals where authorised.
  • Maintain confidentiality, secure information and comply with data protection requirements.
  
  
  6. Health, safety and home environment
  
  
  • Complete allocated fire safety, health and safety, infection prevention, housekeeping and environmental checks in line with training and policy.
  • Report and respond to hazards, maintenance needs, accidents and emergencies according to policy.
  • Support safe transport and community activities, following relevant risk assessments and driving requirements.
  • Ensure children's living areas remain safe, clean, welcoming and respectful of their needs and belongings.
  • Use company resources responsibly and report operational concerns to the shift lead, Deputy Manager or Registered Manager.
  
  
  7. Training and professional standards
  
  
  • Follow the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, the Statement of Purpose and relevant organisational procedures as applicable to the role.
  • Cooperate with quality assurance, audits and improvement actions by maintaining accurate records and following agreed changes.
  • Complete mandatory and role-specific training and maintain relevant professional qualifications.
  • Participate actively in supervision, team meetings, learning from incidents and continuous improvement.
  • Follow the Employee Handbook, uphold equality and inclusion and report concerns through appropriate channels.
  • Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the Residential Childcare Worker role, as directed by management.
  
  
  Person specification
  
  
  
  Essential
  
  
  • Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or recognised equivalent, or willingness to work towards the required qualification within the applicable timescale.
  • Commitment to delivering safe, compassionate and child-centred support to children and young people.
  • Ability to work as part of a rota-based team, follow care plans and manage allocated tasks reliably.
  • Understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries, confidentiality and accurate record keeping, or willingness to develop this through training.
  • Ability and willingness to support children with learning disabilities and/or autism using individualised communication and positive behaviour support.
  • Patience, emotional resilience, sound judgement, reliability and willingness to raise concerns.
  • Ability to meet the shift pattern and driving requirements where these are essential to the post.
  
  
  Desirable
  
  
  • Experience supporting children or young people in residential care, education or a relevant care setting.
  • Training or knowledge in autism, communication approaches, positive behaviour support or approved physical intervention.
  • Experience of key-working, supporting medication or contributing to care records.

Barker Ross Group values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.