About Us
Breakwater offers short to medium term residential care for children aged 12-17 on admission. You will be working with children who present a range of social, emotional, and mental health difficulties due to family breakdown and early childhood trauma. Children who are referred to Breakwater are often victims of exploitation, involved in crime, and may have experienced a breakdown in education provision. They may be at risk of becoming homeless and have limited support around them.
Alongside the main part of the home, Breakwater also offers two smaller self-contained flats to support children who are looking to move into semi-independent living. We recognise that the transition to adulthood can be challenging, and that we need to promote emotional and social development alongside practical skills to achieve readiness for the future. The two flats are fully equipped for children to meet all their independence needs, with the additional support of staff being on hand when needed. While living in these flats, the children complete a six-month programme, which prepares them for independent living. The Breakwater team are trained in a range of interventions to promote independence and support children during this transitional period.
For more information, please visit our dedicated Residential
The Opportunity
Salary: NJC Grade 9 £36,810 to £39,738 per annum, pro rata £20,891 to £22,553 per annum (Full Time Equivalent: £35,235 - £37,938 per annum for salary, weekend working £1,575 to £1,800 per annum)
Working Pattern: 21 hours per week, part time, plus rota for evening and weekend work
Contract: Permanent
Location: Shoreham-By-Sea
Children’s Residential Recruitment and Retention Payment scheme - £1500 during your first 18 months.
To succeed at this role, you will help to provide a nurturing, positive and safe environment for our children and young people, ensuring that we meet our statutory obligations to the highest standards possible. With direct responsibility for designated children or young people, you will ensure that each person is given the appropriate care and support to achieve their full potential.
As a Team Leader for our Residential Home in Shoreham, you will lead on key areas such as health and safety, training and supervision of staff, creating rotas and overseeing medication for children.
You will be expected to play a key part in new referrals to the Home, leading and arranging activities around children’s needs and ensuring all children are safe with their emotional, physical, educational and social needs met. You will motivate children and staff to reach their full potential through positive role modelling, mentoring, planning and resolving problems and barriers.
To succeed in this role, you will build positive relationships with key professionals, the child’s family and the child. You will motivate staff and children to achieve their full potential whilst effectively prioritising tasks and managing your time.
Shifts and rotas - for day work, you will be required to work on a shift rota between 07:00 – 22:00, which will include every other weekend and sleep in duties when needed. This will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate.
Experience and Skills
1. Experience of working within a team, dealing with a diverse range of situations while prioritising the wellbeing of children and achieving set targets.
2. Significant level of experience within a position relevant to the residential care of children.
3. Sound experience of key working, in order to create assessments and plans for individual Children.
4. Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent qualification.
5. Developing knowledge of a childcare related specialism.
6. Experience of working within internal policies and procedures and statutory responsibilities e.g. Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Social Care Inspection Framework.
Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.