SEHSCT Residential Child Care Worker Band 5

Job details

• Branch: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Location: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Salary: Band 5 (£31,049 - £37,796)
• Contract Type: To create a waiting list
• Opening Date: 22/10/26
• Closes: Thu, 05 November 2026 @ 5:30 PM
• Interview Dates: To Be Confirmed

Notes

Online and Manual applications accepted. If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title of Post: Residential Child Care Worker

Band of Post: Band 5

Directorate: Children’s Services

Reports to: Registered Manager / Home Team Leader

Accountable to: Director of Children’s Services & Executive Director of Social Work

Initial Base Location: TBC

Type of Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours) per week rota. Day, evening, weekend and bank holiday working will be required. Varied hours will be considered.

The Band 5 Residential Child Care Worker will undertake enhanced residential childcare responsibilities under the supervision and direction of the Registered Manager, Home Managers and Residential Social Workers. The post holder will provide trauma-informed care and therapeutic interventions to young people residing within SEHSCT Children’s Residential Services, acting as a designated Co-Worker and contributing to assessment, care planning, intervention, risk management and multi-agency working.

Young people in residential care may have experienced multiple adverse and fragmented relational experiences and can present with a range of attachment, trauma-related, emotional, social and learning needs. The post holder will develop safe, caring and supportive relationships that promote stability, choice, participation and positive outcomes.

The commissioning model for the service is primarily social work based. The therapeutic intervention models of care include Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and the Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care (NIFITC). The Residential Child Care Worker will practise effectively within approved models, using a person-centred, trauma-informed and relationship-based approach to meet assessed need and evidence best outcomes.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical / Professional / Specific Responsibilities

Under the supervision / direction of the Home Managers/ Residential Social Workers, the Band 5 Residential Child Care Worker will:

Have shared responsibility for the day-to-day care, safety, wellbeing and development of young people accommodated within the home.

Act as a designated Co-Worker rather than primary Key Worker, contributing to assessment, planning, intervention and review in partnership with Residential Social Workers, field Social Workers, families and relevant professionals.

Participate in co-working arrangements with fieldwork staff and partner agencies to support the development, implementation and review of care, safeguarding and therapeutic plans.

Contribute to the completion, review and updating of Health and Wellbeing Plans, Individual Crisis Support Plans (ICSPs), risk assessments and other care planning documentation, under the oversight of the Band 6 Residential Social Worker.

Deliver direct therapeutic and relationship-based interventions in accordance with TCI, NIFITC and other approved models of care.

Develop and maintain positive, appropriate and therapeutic relationships with young people, promoting emotional wellbeing, resilience, self-esteem, stability and positive outcomes.

Support young people to develop emotional regulation, independence and life skills, educational engagement, positive relationships and community participation.

Work collaboratively with colleagues and external professionals to assess, plan and deliver care that is consistent, evidence-informed and responsive to each young person’s assessed needs.

Appropriately support young people during incidents, crises, safeguarding situations or periods of heightened need, applying approved therapeutic interventions and safeguarding procedures.

Promote and support young people’s physical, emotional and mental health needs, personal care, education, family relationships, cultural identity and participation in decisions affecting them.

Contribute effectively to multidisciplinary meetings, reviews, planning meetings and statutory processes, providing relevant information and professional observations.

Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality records in accordance with legislation, Regional Policy and Trust procedures, including daily records, contact records, incident reports, assessments, care planning records and electronic systems.

Ensure safeguarding concerns, emerging risks, behaviours of concern, welfare issues and significant events are identified, recorded, shared and escalated appropriately.

Maintain an up-to-date working knowledge of each young person’s risk assessments and ICSP and contribute to updating these records as required.

Participate actively in handovers and maintain effective communication to support continuity, consistency and a team approach to care.

Promote environmental safety, complete required checks within the home and respond appropriately to fire panels, safety alerts and emergency procedures.

Undertake transport duties as required, using your own vehicle, or one provided to the home, recognising that this forms part of safeguarding and child protection, including responding to missing-from-care incidents and working with relevant agencies to ensure young people's safety.

Demonstrate knowledge and application of relevant legislation, regulations and standards, ensuring all practice meets required expectations and best practice within residential childcare.

Key areas include

The Children (NI) Order 1995

Regional Child Protection Policies and Procedures

Children's Homes Regulations (NI) 2005

Minimum Standards for Children's Homes (2014)

Children's (Secure Accommodation) Regulations (NI) 1996

Philomena Protocol

Adhere to Trust requirements relating to data protection, confidentiality, health and safety, infection prevention and control, medicines, finances and records management.

Maintain a working knowledge and practical application of relevant legislation, regulations, minimum standards, safeguarding procedures and Trust policies.

Participate in quality improvement, audit, inspection preparation, service development and governance activity as required.

Maintain registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and demonstrate personal accountability in accordance with NISCC Standards of Conduct and Practice.

Take responsibility for the management of their own work and for identifying and addressing ongoing learning and development needs.

Engage in supervision, appraisal, training, reflective practice and team forums, recognising that attendance at daytime meetings and development activities forms an integral part of the role.

Work flexibly across the agreed rota, including day, evening, weekend and bank holiday working as required.

Undertake Band 4 direct-care duties alongside enhanced Band 5 responsibilities in assessment, planning, therapeutic intervention, risk management, recording, review and multi-agency working.

Work within the boundaries of the post. The role does not include formal staff supervision, shift leadership, rota management, staff induction, delegated management duties or formal mentoring responsibilities.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through their own actions and practice.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND Residential Child Care Worker – Band 5

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE Children’s Services

SALARY £24,907 - £30,615

HOURS Full Time (37.5 hours) per week rota – including day, evening, weekend and bank holiday working.

Ref No

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience and Qualifications

Degree in a relevant care related subject i.e. Youth work, social care plus 1 year experience working with young people aged between 12 and 18 years living in residential care

Or

HNC/D in a care related subject plus plus 2 years’ experience working with young people aged between 12 and 18 years living in residential care

NVQ Level 3 in a care related subject plus 3 years’ experience working with young people aged between 12 and 18 years living in residential care

Successful applicants must prior to commencing employment, complete registration with NISCC or other Council e.g. GSCC

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Must hold a full, valid driving licence with unrestricted entitlement to drive in the UK; licences valid only for a limited period under overseas driving entitlement arrangements are not acceptable.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Ability to successfully complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training within 3 months of appointment.

Ability to work under stressful and demanding conditions.

Good recording skills and report writing.

Computer skills

Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing

Ability to complete assessments/risk assessments

Time management and organisational skills

Evidence of decision making and assessment

Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge of Trauma based therapies and how this may impact on presenting behaviours of young people.

Knowledge of relevant legislation / policies & procedures.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Experience

Applicant has already successfully completed Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training and accreditation is current.

Qualifications

Have additional qualifications relevant to the post which are equivalent or above.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information

To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,

Click Here

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times