Support Worker, Child Development​/Support

Support Worker - Residential Therapeutic ABC Children’s Services

Role Details

Reports to:

Registered Manager or day-to-day direction from the Deputy Manager

Location:

The appointed children’s home and agreed activities in the community

Hours:

As contracted, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins or waking nights where agreed
Regulatory body:
Ofsted — children’s homes in England

Role Purpose
To provide safe, nurturing and consistent care for children living in the home, helping them feel valued, listened to and supported to make progress.

As a Support Worker you would build trusting relationships and provides practical and emotional support in line with each child’s plans, the home’s therapeutic approach and Statement of Purpose.

The postholder contributes to the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards through everyday practice. They are accountable for their own actions, decisions, recording and reporting.

Key Responsibilities
Therapeutic Care and Relationships

* Use trauma-informed, attachment-aware and relationship-based approaches to understand the needs behind behaviour.

* Respond calmly to distress, maintain predictable routines and fair boundaries, and help children develop trust, emotional regulation and a positive sense of self.

* Apply agreed therapeutic recommendations consistently and record progress or difficulties.

Safeguarding and Child Welfare

* Recognise and respond promptly to abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, online harm, self-harm, unsafe relationships and changes in risk.

* Listen calmly to disclosures, record the child’s words accurately and report concerns immediately through the safeguarding procedure.

* Take immediate action to protect children and escalate concerns about unsafe practice through the appropriate procedures.

Daily Care and the Home Environment

* Provide individualised support with meals, hygiene, clothing, sleep, appointments and daily routines, including personal care where required by the child’s plan and within training and competence.

* Protect privacy and dignity and encourage age-appropriate choice and independence.

* Share cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry and household tasks to keep the home safe, welcoming and personalised.

Children’s Voice, Education and Development

* Listen to children and involve them in decisions about their care and the home.

* Promote identity, equality and belonging, and support safe friendships, family contact and community participation.

* Support education attendance, homework, hobbies, physical activity, play and practical life skills such as cooking, travel and budgeting.

Care Planning and Key Worker Responsibilities

* Read and understand current placement plans, risk assessments, health plans, behaviour support plans and relevant therapeutic guidance.

* When allocated as a key worker, build a purposeful relationship with the child, undertake planned key-work sessions, track agreed goals and record progress.

* Contribute factual observations to reviews, care planning and transitions.

Positive Behaviour Support

* Use prevention, co-regulation, de-escalation and the child’s agreed strategies to reduce distress and avoid restrictive interventions.

* Never use humiliating, threatening or punitive treatment, prohibited sanctions or restraint as a punishment.

* Follow the home’s policy and staff training when responding to incidents, and report and record any intervention promptly.

Health, Safety and Medicines

* Support children’s physical, emotional and mental health needs, attend appointments and seek timely advice when concerns arise.

* Handle or administer medicines only when trained, assessed as competent and authorised.

* Follow risk assessments, fire procedures, infection prevention, food…