As a Senior Practitioner in our Residential Service, you will provide pivotal support to our Deputy Home Managers, staff and team around the children and young people we support. You will lead the way in improving outcomes and ensuring that our home is a safe and nurturing environment where our children and young people can thrive. This is a unique role where you will be at the forefront of working directly with children and young people through a mixture of individual and group interventions, whilst also working strategically to lead and develop your team and support high quality practice within our home. We are looking for an individual who can join our service to confidently lead our home and inspire the children, young people and staff within it. You will support the home by providing expert advice and creative opportunities to access resources that enhance the purpose and well-being of our children and young people within the parameters of national guidance, standards and regulations associated with statutory residential children's services. In return for your expertise, commitment and experience we will enable your ongoing learning and development through a culture of high support and high challenge, and access to a range of learning and development activities. Shortlisting Criteria To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence, Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Residential staff will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.
* A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, with the expectation to work towards completing level 5 in Management and Leadership
* Your ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, their families and professionals
* An applied knowledge of contextual children's safeguarding and associated issues
* Proven experience of multi-agency working
* Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths-based care planning
* Experience of delivering statutory childcare services including the residential care of children and knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
The starting salary for this role is £35,730 per annum for working 36 hours per week.
Due to internal promotion we are delighted to be offering this opportunity for a Senior Practitioner to join our fantastic team based at Hornbeam Children's Residential Homes in Walton-on-Thames. Rewards and Benefits
* 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
* Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
* Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
* Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
* A generous local government salary related pension
* Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
* 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources, 2. Please tell us about the skills and experience you have of providing children's residential care?
3. Please tell us about any experience you have of multiagency working and why this is important. 4. The work we do is very challenging (but rewarding). Using an example tell us about a time when you dealt with a challenging work situation effectively. What was the outcome and what did you learn from it?