Information for Applicants

APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL

The responsibility is yours to ensure your application is received by 5pm on the closing date given in the advert as late applications cannot be considered. All applications must be made on the supplied application form. Applications cannot be accepted on CV. Applications for the post below should be marked Private and Confidential and returned to: Recruitment Team, Human Resources, Peterborough City Council, Bayard Place, Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1FF. If sending by post please ensure the correct postage is paid as we do not receive underpaid items. You may return applications by email to . However if you do your application form and personal statement must be in .doc or .pdf format and be sent as an attachment to an email.

Job Description

Department Children’s Services

SectionAll Children’s Homes
Job TitleResidential Worker

Post No.

GradeScale 7/8

Reports toSenior Staff Member/Manager

Job purposeTo provide young people receiving residential care with the necessary support, care, guidance and positive adult role models. To act in a professional, parental capacity towards these young people, whilst sharing this responsibility (and supplementing it where necessary) with the young person’s own family. To ensure that each child and young person consistently maximises their potential and achieves the outcomes from Every Child Matters.

Responsibilities

  1. Act as a keyworker for particular child/children under supervision including befriending, advising and acting as an advocate, so as to ensure that they receive appropriate levels and standards of individual care and support.
  2. Maintain standards of recognised good practice at all times when dealing with children and young people by establishing purposeful and constructive relationships and appropriate role modelling so as to assist with the development of their life and social skills and age-appropriate independence.
  3. Work in line with Departmental procedures, unit policies and legislative frameworks.
  4. Take appropriate action to ensure that care plans are designed, implemented and reviewed, so that children’s behaviour is managed, their health, social and emotional development is monitored and appropriate opportunities are made available to assist with cultural/spiritual needs.
  5. Communicate and engage with children so that their stay in the unit is purposeful and enjoyable.
  6. Assist with the induction of new staff by providing them with workshadowing opportunities and contribute towards the evolution of good practice by supporting new staff, so that they can acquire the basic skills of their roles in a systematic way.
  7. Maintain and produce required records and files, attend and contribute towards reviews, case conferences and planning meetings and assist with routine administration, so as to help ensure that the Home has efficient systems. Produce reports as required.
  8. Take responsibility for personal development including participating in and contributing to supervision/appraisals as well undertaking a comprehensive training programme.
  9. Take occasional responsibility for defined aspects of the daily running of the Home as delegated by a senior member of staff or manager, so as to ensure that at all times a designated person is in a position to take necessary decisions.

Variation Clause

This is a description of the job as it is constituted at the date shown. It is practice of this authority periodically to examine job descriptions, update them and ensure that they relate to the job performed, or to incorporate any proposed changes. This procedure will be conducted by the appropriate manager in consultation with the postholder.

In these circumstances it will be the aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to make changes to your job description following consultation.

Flexibility clause

Other duties and responsibilities expressed and implied which arise from the above nature and character of the post within the department (or section) mentioned above or in a comparable post in any of the Organisation’ other sections or departments.

Person Specification

JOB TITLE:Residential Worker POST NO:

SCALE:7

DIVISION: Community HealthDEPARTMENT: Children’s Services

ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL CRITERIA / DESIRABLE CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE / Knowledge and understanding of good Customer Care.
Must have understanding of child development & children’s physical & emotional needs. / Knowledge of play and activities.
Knowledge of relevant legislation guidance and policy
Knowledge of family systems theories
SKILLS / Ability to communicate verbally & in writing with children and families.
Ability to complete relevant training including NVQ3
Have confidence to establish & maintain positive relationships with individuals & groups. / Report writing & recording skills.
EXPERIENCE / Involvement with children as a paid worker, volunteer or carer. / Experience and understanding of the role of KeyWorker within a residential establishment.
ABILITIES / Able to work within policy & procedures & use judgement appropriately.
Ability to communicate with other services. E.g. Education, Medical Professionals.
Ability to engage children in physical and energetic activities. / Ability to learn communication skills with disabled children.
QUALIFICATIONS / Current driving Licence.
NVQ Qualification
Relevant Childcare Qualification
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES / Willingness to work to guidelines & policy on smoking at work.
Able to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, sometimes at short notice.
EQUALITY / Demonstrate understanding of, acceptance and commitment to the underlying Equal Opportunities.
Understanding of different racial/cultural/gender needs.

Person Specification

JOB TITLE:Residential Worker POST NO:

SCALE:8

DIVISION: Community HealthDEPARTMENT: Children’s Services

ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL CRITERIA / DESIRABLE CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE / Knowledge and understanding of good Customer Care.
Must have understanding of child development & children’s physical & emotional needs.
Knowledge of relevant legislation guidance and policy including child protection procedures.
Knowledge of play and activities / Knowledge of family systems theories.
SKILLS / Ability to communicate verbally & in writing with children and families.
Ability to complete relevant training.
Have confidence to establish & maintain positive relationships with individuals & groups.
Ability to write reports and maintain records. / .
Ability to complete NVQ 4.
EXPERIENCE / 3 years experience in working in a childcare setting.
Understanding of the role of Key Worker within a residential establishment / Residential experience.
Experience of working with children and young people who exhibit challenging behaviour
Experience of working with children who have disabilities.
ABILITIES / Able to work within policy & procedures & use judgement appropriately.
Ability to communicate with other services. E.g. Education, Medical Professionals.
Ability to drive the full range of vehicles available in the unit.
Ability to engage children in physical and energetic activities / Ability to learn communication skills with disabled children.
QUALIFICATIONS / Current driving Licence
NVQ 3 Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent / .
Relevant Childcare Qualification
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES / Willingness to work to guidelines & policy on smoking at work.
Able to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, sometimes at short notice.
EQUALITY / Demonstrate understanding of, acceptance and commitment to the underlying Equal Opportunities.
Understanding of different racial/cultural/gender needs.

Summary of Main Terms & Conditions of Employment

NB. This is a summary of terms and conditions generally applicable, some types of employment have variations to these. Full details of terms and conditions are specified in the offer letter / contract to successful candidates.

Pay and Terms and Conditions of Employment / Subject to the Scheme of Conditions of the National Joint Council for Local Government Services and the Eastern Provincial Council as supplemented by local collective agreements reached with the trade unions recognised by the City Council and by the policies and procedures of the Council.
Salary Review / The Council is undertaking a job evaluation review using the NJC (National Joint Council) job evaluation scheme and your grade/salary will be reviewed as part of this process.
Probationary period / Appointments are subject to a satisfactory probationary period of 6 months if the postholder is not joining with continuous local government service.
Annual Leave / Leave year - 1 April to 31st March and includes
  • 8 public and bank holidays
  • half day on the afternoon of the Council’s last working day before Christmas, normally from 12 noon. Where the service is not able to close for business, time off in lieu will be given; plus either:-
  • 24 days where less than 5 years service, or
  • 29 days where 5 or more but less than 10 years service, or
  • 30 days where 10 or more but less than 15 years service, or
  • 31 days where 15 or more years service.
Service means continuous Local Government Service.
In the case of part-time employees, the entitlement is given in hours, proportionate to the hours of work.
Pension / Contributory Pension Scheme
  • 9% Employer Contributions (Variable)
  • 6% Employee Contribution (Fixed)

Additional benefits /
  • No smoking environment
  • Free car parking during working hours
  • Childcare Voucher Scheme (subject to meeting criteria)
  • Relocation Scheme (subject to meeting criteria)
  • Flexible working hours (in certain circumstances)
  • Loans for Car Purchase (where posts carry Essential Car User status)

Special Conditions /
  • All appointments are subject to medical clearance by the Council’ Medical Adviser.
  • All appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory references.
  • Some posts are subject to certain provisions in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986. Applicants for these posts will be required to disclose any cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as criminal convictions.
  • If the post for which you are applying involves working with children or vulnerable adults, your appointment will be subject to a Disclosure check being made to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
  • Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Section 8 – Prevention of Illegal Working – this Act came into force on 27 January 1997 and states it will be an offence to employ a person with no immigration entitlement to work in the United Kingdom. If you are successful you will be required to provide documents to prove that you comply with this requirement.