Therapeutic Child Care Worker

**Job Title**:TherapeuticChild Care Worker

**Location**: Crowborough, East Sussex

**Salary**:£22,000 - £26,000 per annum

**Job type**:Permanent, Full Time.

**Reporting To**: Registered Manager

**Qualifications, Experience and Training**:

- Good standard of education to GCSE or equivalent.
- Experience of working with children in a residential environment.
- Experience of working with challenging behaviour.

**Key Tasks and Responsibilities**:

- To provide primary basic care and a nurturing, (therapeutic) environment.
- To be a positive role model for the child and encourage the child to develop meaningful relationships and attachments.
- To contribute to the normal development of the children to enable them to reach their fullest potential by providing a stimulating and varied lifestyle.
- To work with firm and consistent boundaries in order to create safety and containment for the children.
- To work with children and young people who because of past trauma display extreme challenging behaviour.
- To work alongside the Registered Manager/Social worker to provide a comprehensive history of a child’s life.
- To be willing to learn how to identify signs of distress or abuse, and to ensure that children are monitored and protected.
- To talk and listen to children, and to observe their behaviour, and record significant features.
- To be aware of the child’s rights and to work in an anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive manner.
- To work effectively alongside shift partner and other team members to ensure the child develops in a caring and consistent environment/atmosphere.
- To help child to integrate into mainstream school and social activities.
- To work alongside therapists to enable effective integration of care and therapy.
- To assist in preparation for reviews, meetings and attend when required.
- To be a key worker of a child.

**Household Responsibilities**:

- To share in the practical activities necessary to maintain a home.
- To set high standards in home making.
- To care for the fabric, equipment and grounds.
- To be accountable for monies allocated for specific purposes.
- To take responsibility for running the household effectively, setting and maintaining high standards of cleanliness.
- To ensure the children have a balanced diet.
- To be responsible for accurate, concise recording of information about the child.

**Personal Attributes**:

- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and other professionals.
- Ability to demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with children in a residential environment.
- Familiar with all aspects of confidentiality.
- Able to demonstrate practical skills in order to maintain a home.
- Able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of good parenting skills.
- Able to respond positively to situations that arise whilst also working proactively to assist in improving current practices.
- Able to work with challenging behaviour including being physically able to deal with violence ad aggression.
- Able to be a key worker to a child and supervising staff.

**Specific Demands**:

- Commitment to undertaking an NVQ or other relevant professional qualification.
- Commitment to working therapeutically with children.

**Desirable**:

- Smart appearance
- Hold a full clean driving licence
- Able to work shifts, including sleeping in when required
- Access to telephone
- Able to work overtime if required
- Ability to take part in various leisure activities with the children
- 21 years of age or over