The young people we educate and care for come to us with a huge variety of needs and difficulties. Our challenge is to help them build the hope, confidence, knowledge and skills to unlock their potential. From innovative educational experiences to national curriculum programmes, supported by passionate teams of specialists and key workers, we actively enable each young person to achieve their personal best, all in an environment that best suits them.
Cambian Wing College
Wing College is a specialist further education college offering both day and 38-52-week residential placements. We provide holistic education for students aged 16-25 years who have a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and associated mental health conditions. At Wing College we use specialist education approaches, therapeutic support and environments and staffing expertise to prepare students to meet the demands of adult life in a positive way.
Purpose and Summary of the Role
The role is about supporting the appropriate Manager to maintain a stable, happy and caring environment that puts the health, safety and welfare of our young people first. To provide appropriate physical and emotional support to young peoples in residence as part of a team of care staff within a residential environment. The emphasis is upon effective management of a number of day and night care staff, which involves motivating, coaching, managing performance via supervision/appraisal and appraising the quality of care your staff provide. This role is critical in ensuring that standards set by legislation are exceeded. It also provides the opportunity to develop and improve practice.
Important qualities of this role include an understanding of what ‘good care’ looks like, being an excellent role model, conducting yourself in a professional manner and being able to relate to staff in a supportive and motivational manner. It is important that you adhere to all policies and procedures.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Ensure that all staff for whom you are responsible receive supervision and appraisal to the required standard, at the correct time and which is properly recorded. This includes helping to identify young people or team training needs.
2. In the absence of the appropriate manager, be responsible for the effective management of the team, including effective rostering and deployment of staff, across the house/unit or school/college.
3. To ensure that communication between senior management, other sources and your team, in all directions, is as effective as possible. This will involve actively using a range of strategies. It is expected that you will always communicate, in a professional manner, using the required level of confidentiality.
4. To have knowledge of and oversee the young people, using this knowledge to contribute to assessments and care planning. This will include auditing records, provision of information to other staff, liaising with young people’s families, representing young people’s preferences and wishes, where appropriate, and contributing to case reviews.
5. To be part of the recruitment and selection process where required.
Person Specification
6. NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification in child/adult care/support or willingness to work towards this.
7. Knowledge of basic aspects of management practice including principles of effective supervision and appraisal.
8. Knowledge of learning disabilities and/or special needs including recent developments
9. Ability to follow a work pattern and attend work punctually and reliably, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays (and to do ‘sleep ins’ at the establishment if required)
We pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities Employer. And we are committed to safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks.
Cambian will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.