Assistant Team Leader – Residential Social Work & Intensive Outreach Service

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £22.07 - £24.64

Days and Hours of Work:
4 days a week, 9.25 hours a day
To start April 2023

East Lothian Council have a rare and exciting opportunity to join the Leadership Team of Lothian Villa, (Residential, Outreach and Aftercare services for young people). Lothian Villa has a long established reputation in the provision of high quality care that endeavours to meet the individual life long growth needs of our children and young people. The Service operates over 2 main residential houses (Tranent & Musselburgh). Each residential house is registered for the care and support of six young people.

In line with The Promise and Signs of Safety framework we work closely with families to promote strengths, build resilience and promote secure attachments with children. To do so we practice in ways that seeks to understand behaviour and recognise unmet growth needs. We endeavour to respond to unmet needs rather than reacting to the presenting behaviour.

This post will be part of the leadership team delivering residential care whilst also being involved in the wider functions of outreach and aftercare services. Both of these strands are in development and it is an exciting time to be able to help shape these crucial services.

The teams in each residential house consists 1 x Team Leader, 2 Assistant Team Leaders and 9 Day Residential Childcare Support Workers, 1 x Family Support Worker and 2 Night RCSW’s covering a 24/7 service. The service also has its own administrator, cook and domestic staff.

Applicants must have a sound relational caring value base, excellent assessment communication and report writing skills and a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of children and family’s social work role and responsibilities. Applicants should have the skills to manage a team and be an enthusiastic and motivated leader with a passion for residential child care. The role will be based on a 4 day week, working 37hrs on a shift pattern that includes late, early and sleep-in duties for which an enhancement is paid.

East Lothian Children’s Services are keen to recruit workers who are passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families. We are committed to promoting an open and trusting culture at all levels of the organisation and prioritise continuous professional development and learning. We view our staff are our greatest asset and we strive to be supportive, inclusive and child centred by prioritising effective supervision, manageable caseload duties and a healthy work life balance.

Our vision is to support children and young people to live and learn in East Lothian and our staff are involved in developing services and implementing improvement activity around this goal. We have accessible, on site senior management team who are committed to recruiting the best people to compliment the wide range of knowledge and experience that exists throughout the service.  If you wish to discuss this job vacancy or working for Children’s Services in East Lothian Council, please feel free to contact the recruitment manager on the details below:

Max Smart, Team Leader/Manager, Lothian Villa Meadowmill, Tel: 01875610794

Job Details

To have delegated authority in the absence of the Residential Services Manager for the effective running of the residential child care unit and to maintain the highest levels of professional and managerial practice in the unit and its services.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job.  You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form.  You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work.  Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours.  Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Professional social work qualification or SVQ4/diploma in residential childcare (or equivalent approved qualification).
SSC Registration is an essential requirement of this role.

PVG Membership
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. 

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council. 

Please note:
PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail).  All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form.  Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.