Job Description

\xc2\xa321,575 - \xc2\xa326,845 pa plus 15% shift allowance Pay for casual role: \xc2\xa311.18 per hour. Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Children\'s Services Attachments

Residential Child Care Practitioner Job description

Brighter Futures for Children

Residential Child Care Practitioner

Permanent and Casual posts available

We will also accept the application for Casual Waking Night post

About us

Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children\xe2\x80\x99s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.

Cressingham is a short break service offering overnight support to children and young people aged 8-18 years with complex needs and learning disabilities.

About the role

The staff team support the young people to enable them to lead as full a life as possible. Our aim is to empower young people to achieve and develop skills that will give them a solid foundation to succeed. We further aim to promote social inclusion to access everyday opportunities and community participation.

About you

• You will require a Level 3 in children and young people\xe2\x80\x99s residential care pathway or equivalent qualification or be able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to achieve this.
• Experience in working with young people with disabilities in residential childcare or in a similar caring environment is preferred. Ongoing development and training will be provided.
• We are looking for candidates with a child-centred approach who have an understanding of the needs of children and young people with disabilities. Candidates should be enthusiastic and creative people who are able to work effectively as part of a team or use their own initiative when required within the policies, procedures and guidelines. You will be expected to have good written and verbal communication skills, basic IT skills and produce clear legible reports.
• The ability to provide individualised care to young people and to communicate and foster positive relationships with children, staff, families and other professionals is essential.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you\xe2\x80\x99ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme - includes generous employer contribution
• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years\xe2\x80\x99 service)
• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season train ticket loans
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• A range of local shopping discounts

For more information about the role and for an informal discussion please contact: Samantha Whitehouse, Registered Manager on

Please note that these dates are indicative at this stage and may be subject to change.

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.

Closing date: 15 October 2023

Interview date: To be confirmed

We look forward to hearing from you!

Job title Residential Child Care Practitioner Job reference BFC0643 Date posted 22/09/2023 Application closing date 15/10/2023 Location Reading Salary \xc2\xa321,575 - \xc2\xa326,845 pa plus 15% shift allowance Pay for casual role: \xc2\xa311.18 per hour. Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Children\'s Services Attachments Job description

Brighter Futures for Children

Residential Child Care Practitioner

Permanent and Casual posts available

We will also accept the application for Casual Waking Night post

About us

Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children\xe2\x80\x99s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.

Cressingham is a short break service offering overnight support to children and young people aged 8-18 years with complex needs and learning disabilities.

About the role

The staff team support the young people to enable them to lead as full a life as possible. Our aim is to empower young people to achieve and develop skills that will give them a solid foundation to succeed. We further aim to promote social inclusion to access everyday opportunities and community participation.

About you

• You will require a Level 3 in children and young people\xe2\x80\x99s residential care pathway or equivalent qualification or be able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to achieve this.
• Experience in working with young people with disabilities in residential childcare or in a similar caring environment is preferred. Ongoing development and training will be provided.
• We are looking for candidates with a child-centred approach who have an understanding of the needs of children and young people with disabilities. Candidates should be enthusiastic and creative people who are able to work effectively as part of a team or use their own initiative when required within the policies, procedures and guidelines. You will be expected to have good written and verbal communication skills, basic IT skills and produce clear legible reports.
• The ability to provide individualised care to young people and to communicate and foster positive relationships with children, staff, families and other professionals is essential.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you\xe2\x80\x99ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme - includes generous employer contribution
• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years\xe2\x80\x99 service)
• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season train ticket loans
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• A range of local shopping discounts

For more information about the role and for an informal discussion please contact: Samantha Whitehouse, Registered Manager on

Please note that these dates are indicative at this stage and may be subject to change.

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.

Reading Borough Council