Residential Support Worker

Salary: £25,500 per annum, pro rata

Location:  City of Edinburgh

Contract/Hours:  Permanent / We have a range of hours available from Full Time (37 hours) Part Time or casual contracts per week (hours include evenings and weekends)

Benefits:  

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help 

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK. 

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.   

Why Action for Children? 

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives. 

 A bit about the role 

Our Residential Support Workers create a safe and supportive environment for children and young people to grow and develop. You will ensure their wellbeing is prioritised by delivering personalised care, guidance and advocacy. It is key that they stay safe and healthy and can reach their full potential.

In return we offer an in-depth induction and amazing opportunities for career progression. We'll enrol you on necessary industry qualifications along with regular supervision and team meetings to ensure you feel part of our team.

Once you have gained the relevant experience and qualifications you will be ready to progress to the next step in your career with us.

About the service

Our Gilmerton Road Project provides short breaks and outreach support for children and young people (aged 5-21) with learning disabilities and we're excited to offer a unique opportunity for experienced Residential Support Worker's to join our dedicated team.

As a Residential Support Worker, you'll play a pivotal role in empowering children and young people to explore their world, build connections, and create lasting memories by;

Facilitating Short Breaks: As part of a highly skilled team of practitioners, you'll welcome the young people we support to make the most of their short breaks, developing new skills, socialising, and gaining independence while they are in our care.

Community Engagement: You'll also spend time out and about, supporting our children to access local communities. Whether it's a trip to the beach, an afternoon at the zoo, or playtime in the park, you'll be there to facilitate enriching experiences.

We also work in partnership with CAMHS ID and our own Behaviour Consultant to develop and deliver person centred support plans that offer consistency and clear outcomes for all our young people.

How you'll help to create brighter futures 

Some key responsibilities of the Residential Support Worker role;

• Provide lead case/care planning management, including assessing, reviewing and managing risk.
• Co-ordinating responsibilities within the service, with multi agency and producing family information, including analysis and written reports.
• Attendance at professional meetings including reviews, court work etc.
• Help young people in all aspects of their daily lives. 
• Have good communication skills and the ability to engage well with both young people, colleagues and other professionals.
• Be a creative thinker and having a solution focused approach.

Let's talk about you 

Are you resilient and have a positive approach to change and challenge? We're looking for someone with a ‘can do' attitude to join our team. Ideally you'll have: 

• Demonstrable experience of working in a care setting and developing positive relationships through trust.
• Application of a range of techniques to co-ordinate and communicate with service users and their families.
• Demonstrate a solution focused approach to address problems, individually and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate emotional resilience to respond to the challenging nature of the role.
• Possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or recognised equivalent) or if you do not possess this you must be prepared to complete this within 2 years of commencing employment with us, full support will be provided.  

Diversity, equality and inclusion 

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children. 

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.  

Don't meet every single requirement? 

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.