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About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

Are you passionate about helping children thrive and believe that, wherever possible, children should be supported to remain with or return to their families?

We are looking for compassionate, resilient and experienced Senior Residential Childcare Workers to join our innovative Family Connections Children's Home, a unique service dedicated to supporting children and families on the edge of care. Our Family Connections Home forms part of a wider Family Connections Hub and Outreach Service, providing loving, therapeutic short-term care for children aged 11–18 while intensive support is delivered to their families. Together, we work to prevent family breakdown, strengthen family relationships and, where children do need a short period of care, support their safe and successful return home.

This is not a typical residential childcare role. As a Senior Residential Childcare Worker, you will play a key role in creating a safe, nurturing and aspirational home environment where children feel valued, supported and empowered to achieve their potential. You will take the lead in delivering high-quality care, building trusted relationships with children, and helping them navigate difficult periods in their lives.

Working closely with the leadership team, you will provide guidance and support to Residential Childcare Workers, contribute to care planning, and help ensure that every child receives the highest standard of care. You will also supervise designated members of staff, promote best practice, and act as a positive role model within the home.

At the heart of this role is a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children. Whether supporting a young person through a challenging time, helping them maintain important family connections, or contributing to plans for reunification, your work will make a lasting difference to children's lives.

The role includes 24.5-hour shifts, sleep-ins and weekend working as part of a rota, reflecting our commitment to providing consistent, high-quality support whenever children need it.

If you are committed to providing exceptional care, strengthening family relationships and helping children achieve brighter futures, we would love to hear from you.

In this role, you will;

Leading: Lead, plan and manage shifts within the children’s home and provide support, mentoring and supervision of residential childcare workers. To advise and support Residential Childcare Workers in the development, implementation and review of residential placement plans, Behaviour Risk Management and other relevant plans in conjunction with children, families and significant others.

Recording: Maintain high quality records

Safety: Ensure children’s plans, policies and procedures are adhered to

Family centred: Provide high-quality residential care for children during short stays, ensuring a warm, safe, and nurturing environment.

Empower Families: Supporting the Family Connections Hub to deliver intensive, 12-week outreach interventions to parents and carers, using a strength-based approach to build family resilience.

Practice Trauma-Informed Care: Use your understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to build deep, restorative relationships with young people.

Collaborate: Work as part of a multi-agency team alongside schools, health professionals, and social workers to ensure a unified plan for every child.

Key Responsibilities:

• To advise and support Residential Childcare Workers in the development, implementation and review of residential placement plans, Behaviour Risk Management and other relevant plans in conjunction with children, families and significant others.
• To support and where required lead on the induction of staff to work within the policies and procedures of the residential home.
• To act-up in the absence of the Deputy Manager
• To provide effective support to staff, including providing advice and guidance and reflective supervision as designated by the Registered Manager.
• To be confident in leading shifts, ensuring colleagues are supported effectively in completion of task.
• To contribute to identifying and reviewing the training and development needs of staff
• Ability/willingness to work across children’s residential services if required
• Contribute to the provision of an effective, physical, social and emotional care environment.
• Develop and sustain effective professional relationships with individual young people, providing day to day care and support in accordance with the Homes Statement of Purpose, Quality Standards and the child’s placement plan
• Encourage young people to develop and maintain a positive sense of self and individual identity.
• Promote and maximize educational and developmental opportunities and achievements for individual young people.
• Contribute to the good health and wellbeing of children and young people in keeping with their health plan and placement plan.
• Contribute to the social well-being of young people including promoting the principles of social inclusion and the active development of interests in the community.
• Contribute to the evaluation of risk and the protection of young people from harm, including the provision of a safe and stimulating living environment.
• To encourage positive behaviour and manage any challenging behaviour in accordance with legislative and organisational policy and practice requirements
• Work in partnership with young people, their family and friends, colleagues and other agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
• To assist children and families to maintain positive relationships through supporting contact and/or home visits as detailed in the child’s placement plan, including assisting children and families within their own homes if required.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of residential placement plans and other relevant plans in conjunction with children, families and significant others.
• To deliver services within a children’s rights framework
• To contribute to domestic duties and the preparation of nutritious meals for/with young people
• To contribute to the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources in compliance with the council’s financial and other procedures and regulations
• Ensure the preparation and maintenance of necessary records to the required standard, including computerised records, in accordance with council policy and Data protection.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Fixed Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 4+ days in the office
• Spends most or all of their time in the office, due to nature of the work but can be for reasons such as unsuitable home working conditions or a desire for separation of home and work life.
• The office remains a shared space with cultural encouragement for clear desk policies.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about caring for children and young people, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

Resilient & Empathetic: You can stay professional and calm in challenging situations while showing genuine warmth and sensitivity.

Qualified: You hold a Level 3 NVQ/QCF in Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent.

Experienced: You have significant experience working with children and families either in a residential home setting, school or community setting and experience of working in the community and in a multi-agency way, working within Children’s Services, community or educational setting. You have knowledge and experience of child protection and safeguarding procedures as well as Children’s Home Regulations.

Flexible: You understand that families need support outside of office hours and are happy to work a flexible rota, including weekends and sleep-in duties which also supports excellent work life balance.

Mobile: You have a valid driving license and access to a vehicle to visit families across the community.

Desirable Criteria:

Qualified: You hold (or are committed to achieving) a Level 5 NVQ/QCF in Caring for Children and Young People.

Experience: Experience as a senior residential childcare worker, providing care to children and young people who are looked after in a residential setting.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Carrie Worth, Registered Manager, at carrie.worth@n-somerset.gov.uk

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.