Senior Residential Support Worker

Are you a passionate and experienced individual looking to take the next step in your career, making a tangible difference in the lives of young people with complex needs?

The Firs Short Breaks Residential Centre in Harrow is seeking a dedicated and skilled Senior Residential Support Worker (SRSW) to join our exceptional team!

The Firs provides vital regular short breaks for children and young people aged 5 to 18 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, offering crucial support to their families. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, homely atmosphere where young people can thrive, engage, and participate meaningfully.

As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality care and support. You will be accountable for the day-to-day management of the service on shift, ensuring the well-being and development of the children and young people in our care. This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our childcare standards.

What We're Looking For:

Essential:

• Sound knowledge of childcare law (Children Act 1989 & 2004, Children’s Home Regulations and Quality Standards 2015).
• Understanding of child development, behaviour, and the needs of disabled children.
• Ability to respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.
• Clear understanding of the roles of Residential Support Workers, Care Assistants, and Night Care Assistants.
• Substantial experience in residential support work, working with children/young people, or working with people with severe learning disabilities.
• Experience leading shifts and supervising staff in a residential setting.
• Experience planning, evaluating, and risk-assessing activities for young people with special needs.
• Experience in report writing and administrative tasks.
• Effective leadership, role modelling, and motivational skills.
• Ability to work constructively with challenging behaviour and special care needs (Positive Behavioural Support ethos).
• Ability to work with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and those with special needs.
• Willingness to undertake Gastrostomy feeding training if required.
• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Child Care (England) or equivalent (or willingness to attain within the relevant timescale).
• Ability to work flexibly, including shift work (midweek, weekends, bank holidays, early starts), stand-by, and sleep-in duties on a rota basis.
• Ability to meet manual handling requirements (training provided).
• Clear capacity to establish professional boundaries.
• DBS enhanced clearance.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a children’s home.
• Experience of writing policies and procedures.
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management or equivalent (or willingness to attain within the relevant timescale).
• Qualified First Aider (or willingness to complete this training).

Unsocial Hours Enhancements: Additional pay for working after 8 pm.

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria