Child and Youth Care Worker (Annualised)

Who are we?

Kibble is Scotland’s specialist provider of services for at risk children and young people. By providing a range of integrated services, we help build positive futures for children and young people aged 5 plus, with complex social, emotional and educational needs.

What is Annualised Hours?

Due to the nature of annualised hours, your working week may fluctuate. You will work a variety of shifts which may include night shift. The aim of annualised hours is to reduce the need for overtime, therefore any extra hours will not attract overtime payments unless you have exceeded full-time hours at the end of each financial year, at which time you will be paid at the appropriate rate for any excess hours. Full-time hours equal 1924 hours per year (1 April – 31 March).

What is the job function?

Direct work with children and young people supporting and assessing their individual needs.

The job role follows the placement cycle of a young person incorporating the assessment phase, care programme and recording and reporting.

Assessment phase of the child or young person

You will be responsible for reading relevant reports and records, identifying any medical, social, religious or dietary requirements and ensuring that next of kin are aware of the location and telephone number of the establishment as well as contact names(s) and visiting times.

In addition, you will be responsible for ensuring that the child or young person understands; the reason for admission, the social and educational programme he/she will be undertaking, shown all the facilities of the school, the visiting and home contact arrangements, the rules and regulations of the school, the procedures to contact staff over personal concern and complaints and understands the roles of those involved in his/her care plan.

The Care Programme

· You will have direct responsibility for the care and development of a number of children and young people. Each child or young person will have a placement programme involving social and educational targets, which will be regularly reviewed.

· You will be required to liaise with all relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team within the Centre to ensure a mutual understanding of these targets and to monitor and facilitate their achievement.

· You will be required to liaise with the area team social worker to ensure that there is both a mutual understanding of the school’s social and educational targets and a linkage between these targets and the tasks being undertaken by the social worker.

· You will meet with the parent(s) or other relative(s) of the child or young person to ensure that family contact is continuing, to seek their co-operation in achieving social and educational targets, to ensure that home leave is viable and to assist the linkage between the school’s work and the area team social worker’s tasks. Therefore, a driver’s licence is essential for this post.

Recording and Reporting

· You will be responsible for ensuring that the placement plan for the child or young person is recorded in the format required by the Centre.

· You will be responsible for ensuring that the reports required by the Reporter to the Children’s Panel or the Clerk of the Court or the Procurator Fiscal and the area team social worker are provided within the required timescales.

Who are we looking for?

To be successful you must be able to:

· Relate to children and young people in a way that promotes their trust and involvement in meeting the requirements of the Children’s Hearing or Court and the social and educational targets of the school.

· Respond positively and calmly to physical and verbal aggression.

· Understand the dynamics of relationships between the young people in the house and in the community, ensuring that action is taken to stop bullying, prevent isolation, avoid unhelpful friendships or pressure for sexual activities or substance, drugs and alcohol misuse.

· Establish relationships with young people within which incidents of physical, emotional or mental abuse can be revealed.

· Understand the roles and responsibilities of all individuals, groups and organisations that are involved in the care of the young people both within and out with the Centre.

· Work unsupervised and on own initiative.

· Communicate clearly and precisely orally and in writing both within the Centre and with external agencies.

· Co-work with representatives from other agencies e.g. social work, educational psychologist, psychiatrist. The co-working will involve objective and clear representation of the needs and progress of the child or young person as well as the policies, procedures and practices of the Centre.

· Display a knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation. In addition, the Child and Youth Care Worker will understand the stages of human growth and development, the causes and outcomes of offending behaviour and the dynamics of inter-personal relationships.

· Manage and motivate self in forming and sustaining relationships with children and young people, in working with internal and external colleagues and in undertaking administrative and allied duties.

What qualification and experience are we looking for?

· As a minimum you will have an HNC in Social Care or an SVQ Level 3 in Care or equivalent.

· Be registered with the SSSC, preference will be given to those candidates who are already eligible for unconditional registration.

· Two years’ experience of working within the social care sector is essential.

· Previous experience of working within residential child care is desirable.

· Be willing to work in any service including the Safe Centre or Community Based Services.

· Possess a full driving licence, and be willing and able to drive school transport, unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.