Residential Childcare Officer - Alfriston School

Overview

Alfriston offers pupils the opportunity to board at school for 3 nights each week during term time. All pupils go home on a Thursday after school and return as day girls on a Friday. We promote a supportive and consistent environment working on positive praise and encouragement, building the girls’ confidence and self-esteem as well as their independence and social skills. We believe it is paramount that we provide a safe and secure environment for our boarders. Our excellent residential team are dedicated to meet the emotional, physical and medical needs of all the girls during their stay.

The Residential Childcare Officer is a key position, and we are looking for dynamic, inspiring individuals to join our team. We are seeking to appoint caring, child-centred, hardworking and resilient individuals with a motivation to be a positive role model and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people. You must have a range of both professional and personal qualities. You must be self-motivated, work well in a team, with an ability to work independently. Being open minded and having the ability to listen and be empathetic is crucial to this role. We are looking for someone who has the strength to cope with challenging situations and to help others learn and develop from these.

If you are passionate about working with children and young people we want to hear from you!

Term time only: Yes

Salary: Bucks Pay Range 1-2 ISN 6-15 £23,297 - £26,961 FTE, Pro Rata
Actual Salary £8,064 - £9,332 + Sleeping in Rate £34.50 Per Night

Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only

Hours: 18 Hours - Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday (3.00-9.00pm) + the option of sleeping in if required.

Start Date: As soon as available

Closing date: 25/11/2024 09:00

Interviews to be held: Wednesday 27th November 2024

About us

Our school is an outstanding Special School Academy, and we are committed to ensuring that all our pupils become the best that they can be and they can enjoy and achieve in all that they do. Our teachers have a strong sense of commitment and use their excellent subject knowledge to provide interesting and creative lessons in which all pupils learn well. They have high expectations of their pupils and develop good supportive relationships within a positive learning atmosphere where the girls can thrive.

Alfriston School is based in Beaconsfield. The school benefits from outstanding modern facilities, all of our classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and access to class sets of laptops or iPads. All teachers are provided with a laptop that is renewed every three years. The school enjoys a recently modernised performing arts and music facilities that include the use of a dance studio, sound/recording studio and performance space, along with our exceptional sports facilities that caters for a range of indoor and outdoor activities including mountain biking, trampolining, cycling, football and many others. The school also enjoys use of its spacious swimming pool designed by a bespoke architect, as part of an upgrade of the sports facilities at Alfriston, the architects developed a concertina-like roof structure that echoes the shape of the pitched roofs on other buildings in the area causing minimal sound reverberation which is beneficial for the use of our students with their Special Educational Needs.

Website: http://www.alfristonschool.com/

About the role

The Residential Childcare Officer is a key position within the organisation, occupying a role critical to the overall welfare of young people in the residential setting. The purpose of the role is to provide care and support to young people in safe, stimulating and secure environment whilst ensuring that the work is in keeping with legislative, procedural and good practice requirements and guidance. To actively promote the rights of the children and young people as individuals and provide them with quality care in accordance with the policies and procedures of the organisation. The ability to maintain confidentiality of client information is critical to this role. The ability to work within Equal Opportunities and Quality Assurance Frameworks are required and may include undertaking delegated responsibilities for designated tasks.

Main Responsibilities

• To uphold the standards and expectations that exist within the aims of Alfriston School and to respond positively to the physical and emotional needs of the pupils.
• To work collaboratively with all the staff in Alfriston and to be actively involved in meetings and staff training where appropriate.
• To maintain a safe, secure and stimulating environment for the residential pupils
• To provide a planned programme of evening activities
• To contribute to the writing and monitoring of individual care plans and boarding administration records
• To record information about pupils as required and to liaise with parents when appropriate.
• To assist in transporting and supervising pupils on off-site activities.
• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection; and report all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Develop and promote positive working relationships with staff, pupils and parents and promote the school positively at all times.
• Reinforce the standards and expectations that exist within the Aims of Alfriston School.
• To take part in the supervision and appraisal processes which exist for residential staff.
• Be willing to work towards a minimum NVQ Level 3 Qualification in Caring for Children and Young People.
• To undertake other duties and responsibilities from time to time which may be reasonably required by the Headteacher or Head of Care / Deputy Head of Care.

About you

Desirable Experience
Working in a mainstream or special school
Working with children with special needs

Qualifications and Training
Minimum NVQ Level 3 Qualification in Caring for Children and Young People or have a willingness to work towards these qualifications.

Knowledge and Skills
Have an excellent understanding of the National Minimal Care Standards - Desirable
Capabilities in relation to reviewing the safety and welfare of children and young people
Give support and commitment to the work of the team, making effective efforts to develop skills and competences of yourself and others
Recognise own areas of responsibility and accountability.
Have a consistency of approach in work practice
Able to lead teams and individuals
Able to use ICT to support teaching and learning
Understanding of promoting positive relationships within the wider school community
Understanding equality and diversity issues and implications for policy and practice
Ability to drive the school minibus

Other information

Visits to the school are warmly welcome. To arrange a visit or to find out more about the role, please contact Ellie Davison on the details below.

Please send completed application forms to the email address below.

Tel No: 01494 673740

Email: [email protected]

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children which will be reflected throughout recruitment. The selected candidate will be required to provide suitable references and undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check before taking up the post.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).