Support Workers- Semi Independent Services

Salary:

• £27,823 per annum - Day Support Worker (primary base: North Kensington or Lewisham)
• £30,119 per annum - Waking Night Support Worker (primary base: North Kensington only)

Shifts: 40 hours per week on a shift rota, including weekends and bank holidays.

• Day Shifts: work between 8 am and 10:30 pm

• Waking Night Shifts: work between 10 pm and 8 am

Contract: Full time/ Permanent

Overtime: Paid at time and a half for hours worked beyond 40 hours per week and for bank holiday working.

Locations: North Kensington, W10 / Lewisham, SE13

If you are passionate about helping young people, adaptable and if you are looking for a rewarding role offering professional development and career progression, we would love to hear from you.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity caring for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK. We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We provide positive and life-changing support experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home. Our offering in underpinned by therapeutic expertise and young people in our care also benefit from extensive life-skills and participation opportunities as well and learning support regarding their education.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong. We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher's Academy

At St Christopher's, we offer more than a job in social care- we offer a real career pathway. You'll have the chance to build your skills, grow your knowledge and make a lasting difference to young people's lives as well as your own.

When you join us, you will receive a tailored development plan designed around your goals. Whether you want to move into a different service, progress into a leadership role or just explore your current role further, we will support you every step of the way. If you want to learn more about St Christopher's Academy, please click here

Our development programme, St Christopher's Academy is built to help you reach your full potential - and the results speak for themselves:
84% of our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are promoted internally.

About the Role

As Support Worker in one of our Semi-Independent Homes, you will play a key role in helping young people aged 16-21 build independent and fulfilling lives.

You will develop meaningful relationships with residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing, offering guidance and maintaining accurate support records. You will also liaise with other professionals involved in their care.

Support is always available - you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. You will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly one-to-one supervision with your manager.

As part of our commitment to a collaborative and supportive, resource sharing culture, successful candidates may be asked to work across different services from time to time (during their probationary period and throughout their employment). This will be discussed openly, supported appropriately and aligned with both organisational needs and individual development.

Applicants should have

• At least one year's experience working with young people in a professional support role, such as children's homes, semi-independent or supported accommodation, youth work or a related setting, caring for Young People with complex or additional needs, which may include neurodiversity, mental health, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation or risk-taking behaviours.

• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.

• An understanding of the issues facing Young People and an understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.

• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.

• Good communication and team working skills.

• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.

• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.

• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Competitive salary with opportunities for performance-based pay increases.

• 4 weeks full induction and training program (paid).

• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services; tailored career development plan through our "St Christopher's Academy".

• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children's right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.

• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years' service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.

• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.

• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.

• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.

• Cycle to work scheme.

• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK both in store and online.

• Discretionary funded training programs for you to explore and attain new and relevant skills.

• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher's we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.

For the full Job Description and Person Specification - please see our website. CVs will not be accepted.

Application Process:

1. Application: Complete our online form and include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. Applications without supporting statement will not be considered

2. Interview: Shortlisted candidates attend a face-to-face interview at our Putney office.

3. Second Stage: Successful candidates will visit the home they applied to.

We advise applying as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act 'occupational requirement'.

• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.

• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

• Applicants should ideally be registered with the DBS Update Service otherwise, DBS check will be completed by St Christopher's before employment begins.