Children's Residential Senior Practitioner
Details
- Reference: SCC/TP/288898/2167
- Positions: 1
- Salary: £35,730 - £38,585 per annum
- Category: Care - Children and Young People
- Contract type: Permanent
- Working hours: 36 hours per week
- Posted on: 18 November 2024
- Closing date: 2 December 2024
- Directorate: Children, Families & Lifelong Learning
- Location: Guildford, Surrey
Description
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this role is £35,730 per annum for working 36 hours per week.
Due to internal promotion we are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a Senior Practitioner, to join our fantastic team at The Annexe, one of our Children's Residential Homes in Guildford. This is a chance for a qualified Senior Residential Worker to further enhance their knowledge and leadership skills, working alongside the team and fully supported by management.
Rewards and Benefits
- 26 days' holiday rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the Role
Our home provides specialist care and support for children and young people who require a solo placement due to their needs. The Annexe is a short term placement linked to the main children's home, which aims to support young people onto their next steps. The Senior Practitioner will work with colleagues to deliver a multi-agency partnership support service for all our children and young people who come to live at the home. You will be required to work across both of the homes.
On a day to day basis you will:
- Support the smooth running of The Annexe
- Lead and co-ordinate the running of the Solo Placement
- Support the planning of transition of placements whilst remaining child centred, and completing appropriate risk assessments
- Coordinate bespoke placement arrangements and meetings
- Work directly with children and young people with complex and demanding needs
- Lead shifts and promote positive outcomes for all our children and young people
- Supervision and role-model best practice, while maintaining high levels of feedback and support
- Lead and advocate in an area of specific focus for the improved practice within the home through effective reflection and learning
- Be part of on-call duty
In all that you do you will ensure our services are compliant with national good practice, guidance, regulations and legislation, including Ofsted frameworks. You will also contribute to regular audits and inspections to ensure that we are effective and delivering key outcomes.
In return for your expertise, commitment and experience we will enable your ongoing learning and development through a culture of high support and high challenge, and access to a range of learning and development activities.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:
- A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent with the expectation to work towards completing level 5 in Management and Leadership
- Your ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, their families and professionals
- An applied knowledge of contextual children's safeguarding and associated issues
- Proven experience of multi-agency working
- Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths-based care planning
- Experience of delivering statutory childcare services including the residential care of children and knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
As part of your application you will be asked to submit a CV and answer the following questions:
- Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
- Please tell us about the skills and experience you have of providing children's residential care?
- Please tell us about any experience you have of multiagency working and why this is important.
- The work we do is very challenging (but rewarding). Using an example tell us about a time when you dealt with a challenging work situation effectively. What was the outcome and what did you learn from it?
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Residential staff will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.
Contact details
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Sarah Muzzall by e-mail at residentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 2nd December with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
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