Able Health Care
Able Health Care currently operates two registered children’s homes in Suffolk. We have a commitment to helping and preparing young people to grow and develop into adulthood, through building positive relationships and living and learning together within nurturing homes.
Liberty Lodge cares for up to 6 young people and is located a short distance from Ipswich Town Centre. Fern Lodge cares for up to 4 young people and is located in Leiston, close to the Suffolk Coast.

The children we care for are aged 9-17 with Social, emotional, mental health, and behavioural difficulties. Liberty Lodge is rated Outstanding in all areas and Fern Lodge is rating Good in all areas. Adjacent to Liberty Lodge, and also part of Able Healthcare, is a registered independent school for up to 6 pupils.

Safe Working
Able Healthcare are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding the children and young people in our care to the highest standard. All appointments will be made using robust recruitment procedures and will involve and be subject to enhanced DBS checks and vetting.
What we are looking for An experienced senior care worker or care workers who are ready for their next challenge. Applicants should have experience of working with children who present behavioural challenges, possibly those with additional mental health and wellbeing needs, Autism or ADHD.
The successful candidate will have resilience and an empathetic and understanding nature, be able to lead a team of staff, and support the management team in the home to achieve the statement of purpose.

The Role

The Senior Support Worker you will work as part of the wider staff team to achieve the statement of purpose of the children’s home. As a Senior Member you will act as the lead support worker on your shifts and will need to plan, guide and manage a team of staff working with you. You will play a proactive role in supporting the management of the home to achieve the care plans for each child and will promote this ethos amongst the care worker team.

Role Responsibilities
• To contribute to the provision of a sensitive and therapeutic residential service for the young people which best meets their social, psychological, educational, cultural, physical and health needs
• To ensure the care given to the young people and the work of Able Health Care and its employees reflects the Statement of Purpose
• To provide support and guidance to staff regarding effective daily operations and practice issues, and to delegate duties effectively.
• to ensure shifts are planned in a way that resources are appropriately allocated and responsive to need, including the supervision of young people
• To provide advice, guidance and support to young people and staff in setting and maintaining the boundaries and structures in place and adhering to the organisation’s expectations
• To carry out domestic tasks to maintain reasonable levels of hygiene and maintenance and ensure that the building remains in a reasonable condition
• To attend relevant meetings
• To empower and support staff and young people in positive decision making
• To role model good practice always
• To provide support and leadership to staff members
• To provide formal supervision to staff members
• To source staff cover in the event of staff absence or sickness in conjunction with Manager
• To provide sleep-in cover as part of a team on a regular basis
• To develop and implement an activities programme for the home, and to risk assess these activities with oversight from management.
• To support care planning and behaviour support plans
• To ensure that the events of the shift are all accurately recorded in the logbook and that incident forms and young people’s logs contain all the relevant information
• To always ensure confidentiality
• To provide all the relevant information for the next team at handover and making sure that everything is accounted for, and all recording is up to date
• To demonstrate commitment to personal development, e.g., through undertaking training
• To be in contact with parents, social services, or other relevant authorities as appropriate.
• To manage petty cash and purchasing as necessary.
• To undertake such duties as the Registered Homes Manager may, from time to time, request
• To support keyworkers, or be a keyworker and ensure that all Keywork tasks and young people’s case files are up to date
• To ensure appropriate use is made of the on-call protocol and for the reporting of notifiable events.

Skills
Essential
• Well-developed written and verbal communication
• Management of staff
• Behaviour management skills and knowledge of safeguarding
• Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Workforce

Desirable
• Experience of giving professional supervision
• Driving license

Personal Attributes
Essential
• Enthusiastic disposition
• Committed to achieving best outcomes for children
• Flexible in achieving objectives
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal development
• Proactive and solution focused
• Loyal and committed
• Long term vision and resilience
• Attention to detail
Desirable
• Creative
• Sporty
• Open to new activities