Advanced Support Worker

Advanced Support Worker

Responsible to: Registered Home Manager
Department: Children's Residential Services

Job role

To provide high-quality, child-centred care and support to children and young people, promoting safety, wellbeing, independence and positive outcomes through therapeutic and relationship-based practice.

As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you will lead keyworking activities, mentor and support colleagues, contribute to care planning, risk management and quality assurance, and undertake delegated shift leadership responsibilities.

Working closely with the Registered Manager and Team Leader, you will help maintain high standards of care, safeguarding and regulatory compliance while acting as a positive role model and advocate for children and young people.

Key duties

Leadership and Practice Support

• Act as a role model for therapeutic and child-centred practice.
• Mentor, support and guide new and less experienced staff.
• Support induction, shadowing and competency development of colleagues.
• Share best practice and contribute to a positive learning culture.
• Support the Registered Manager and Team Leader in maintaining high standards of care.
• Lead keyworking arrangements for allocated children.
• Coordinate and contribute to care planning reviews.
• Monitor progress against outcomes.
• Advocate for children within professional meetings.
• Produce reports for reviews and multi-agency meetings.
• Support children to achieve identified goals and aspirations

Risk Management

• Develop and update risk assessments.
• Escalate emerging risks appropriately.
• Support colleagues in implementing risk management strategies.
• Contribute to behaviour support planning.
• Promote safe and positive risk-taking.

Quality Assurance

• Complete delegated audits and follow up actions.
• Monitor quality of recordings and documentation.
• Identify trends, concerns and learning opportunities.
• Contribute to service improvement plan

Shift Leadership

• Take responsibility for leading shifts when delegated.
• Coordinate daily activities and staffing arrangements.
• Provide guidance to colleagues during shifts.
• Escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support safe and effective service delivery

Safeguarding

• Recognise, report and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Understand and comply with safeguarding legislation, policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.

Care Planning & Outcomes

• Contribute to assessment, planning, implementation and review processes.
• Maintain accurate, timely and professional records.
• Participate in key-working responsibilities.
• Support children to work towards individual goals and outcomes.

Health, Education & Independence

• Promote good physical and emotional health.
• Support educational attendance and achievement.
• Develop life skills, confidence and independence appropriate to age and ability.

Team Working

• Participate fully in team meetings, handovers, supervision and training.
• Work collaboratively with families, schools, social workers, health professionals and other stakeholders.
• Act as a positive role model
• Undertake keyworker/co-keyworker responsibilities and duties where necessary.
• To actively participate in continuing professional development.

The post holder will undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with this grade, at the initial agreed place of work or at other locations in the Company catchment areas.

Person specification

Candidates will be assessed for shortlist and interviewed against the following criteria.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Grade 4/C or equivalent in English and Maths
• Level 4 qualification in Residential Childcare or equivalent

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Experience as a keyworker for children with complex needs.
• Experience supporting children with learning disabilities, autism, trauma or behaviours of concern.
• Experience contributing to care planning and reviews.
• Experience mentoring or supporting less experienced staff
• Experience as a keyworker for children with complex needs.
• Children's Homes Regulations 2015.
• Safeguarding and child protection procedures.

Skills and attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills.
• Resilience and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrate patience, resilience and calmness
• Strong written recording and report writing.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions
• Strong commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
• Have a desire to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people

Desirable

• Be IT proficient

Company values

Essential

• Care – Demonstrates compassion, empathy and commitment to delivering outstanding support.
• Trust - Builds positive and dependable relationships through openness, reliability, accountability, and consistency. Creates an environment where children, young people, families, and colleagues feel safe, respected, and supported.
• Respect – Values diversity, promotes inclusion and treats others with dignity.
• Progress – Embraces learning, development and continuous improvement.