At Downham House Residential Short Break Service we are committed to providing positive opportunities to young people while giving families a break from their caring role. The safe care of the young people is our priority and we are looking for a person to join our current staff team at this time.
You will work within the legislative framework of The Children’s Home Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the Quality Standards to provide direct support to children and young people who have a severe learning disability receiving a short break in a fully Ofsted registered children’s home.
The role will include day to day care provision including a range of tasks such as occasional light cooking duties, personal care, creative play and enabling activities together with community involvement. There is an element of practical and domestic tasks in addition to this associated with the upkeep and care of a home environment.
The role includes being a keyworker for a specific young person, overseeing their care package, liaising with other agencies and engaging in the preparation of associated plans for sharing with multidisciplinary teams and parents.
There is also shift leading responsibility on a rotational basis which involves organising staff and activities, reviewing and managing risk, being accountable for medication administration and oversight and liaising with managers.
This role requires an unwavering passion for working with children with extremely complex needs and often multiple diagnoses including but not exclusive to Autism, ADHD, ADD, OCD, severe learning disability, epilepsy and Down Syndrome.
You will be patient, skilled, self-motivated and positive.
You will understand the need to be robust and you will have a good knowledge and understanding of challenging behaviour and a willingness to work with children who may need dynamic and creative care packages at times when they are experiencing difficult periods of behaviour or families are experiencing extreme distress.
You will be prepared to work in an environment which can be busy and emotionally and physically demanding.
The role requires good planning and decision making as well as strong team working ethic. You will understand the importance of making and maintaining good relationships and you will understand the value of resilience. You will be accountable to the Registered Manager and the deputy manager within the home.
You will understand that the service works around school hours so the work is solely evening, weekend and school holiday times. The working week is made up of a combination of shifts starting at 7am and finishing at 10pm. There are split shifts during week days and full days over the weekends and holidays. The rota is a 4 week rolling pattern. You will work an average of 37 hours a week.
You will have a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or the nationally recognised equivalent or you will be willing to achieve this within 2 years of appointment.
You must have relevant and current experience of working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities including autism and associated spectrum conditions.
Safeguarding children is our priority and the post is subject to enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for working with children and adults.
This position is subject to a 6 month probationary period.
This role is not suitable for flexible working due to the needs of the service
Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.
As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact Scott Welsford, Registered Manager, on 01752 401109 or scott.welsford@plymouth.gov.uk