Residential Child Care Worker

Due to continued growth and success at Pebbles Care we have an exciting opportunity for a Residential Child Care Worker to join our dedicated and professional team.

**The Role and Responsibilities**

You will be responsible for ensuring that our children and young people are cared for in every element of their lives. We are looking for Child Care professionals who are passionate about their role as a key worker and view it as a vocation, not just a job. This career will enable you to make a positive difference to all aspects of our children and young people by providing care and support to enable children and young people to reach their full potential, safeguarding and promoting the rights of children and young people in our care, teaching coping skills, building confidence, accompanying them to and from school or college, facilitating family contact, creating a warm and comforting environment, shopping, cooking, cleaning and encouraging participation in local activities and hobbies.

Our children and young people often have experienced trauma and early years attachment difficulties and or may have serious physical and mental disabilities and or learning disorders. We offer them understanding, through meaningful relationships aimed at keeping them safe and able to enjoy the world around them. We desire excellent listening skills to fully understand their views, wishes and feelings.

The role can be extremely challenging at times and requires patience, resilience, self-motivation and determination. Although the role can be challenging, the personal rewards are immense.

**Essential Qualities that we look for include**:

- A nurturing and caring nature
- An engaging personality, allowing you to form non-judgemental relationships
- A consistent and professional manner
- An active and supportive listener
- Deeply empathetic to every situation
- A creative ability towards having fun and learning new skills
- Highly responsible and accountable when it comes to safeguarding our children and young people
- A resilient approach to the role
- A willingness to learn and develop your skills and abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proficient IT skills and experienced in using Microsoft packages
- A full UK driver's licence

**Desirable Qualities include**:

- One years' experience in child care or youth settings
- An SCQF Level 7 or Level 3 Diploma / relevant to Children and Young People's Residential workforce, or working towards
- An interest in pursuing relevant Child Care qualifications
- Familiar with the Codes of Practice set out by regulatory bodies, i.e. SSSC
- An existing PVG / DBS certificate

**Remuneration and Hours of Work**

The starting salary is £27,861.60 to £29,328.00 per annum, pro rata, depending on experience. Your salary includes paid rest breaks and sleeps.

Full-time average hours spent at work is 56.4 hours per week. This includes an average of 33.9 waking hours and 22.5 hours of sleeps.
- Shift start times are usually between 7.30am and 9.00am
- Sleeps usually commence at 10.30pm
- Shift end times are usually between 7.45am and 9.15am

Shift start and end times vary depending on which site you are based at.

Shifts usually operate on a three week rolling pattern of one day on and two days off. You will usually work on average 10 or 11 shifts per month.

**Benefits include**:

- Life Assurance (x 1 basic salary)
- Healthcare Cashback Plan
- Employee Assistance Helpline
- Pension - Auto-enrolment
- Excellent training courses
- Paid rest breaks
- Monthly Employee Recognition Awards

In addition there is of course the usual annual leave entitlement.

**About Us**

At Pebbles, we have over 17 years' experience in supporting some of the most vulnerable young people across the UK. We aim to nurture and develop, so that children and young people can flourish in our care.

Our teams are spread across 45 residences and 2 schools that continue to meet the needs of young people and provide supportive ways developing and learning. We have excellent learning and development resources to ensure all our employees have access to high quality, up-to-date training and support.