Relief Support Practitioner

Job Description

Playing a game, eating lunch together, visiting a beach. Theyre everyday things. But in this job, theyre powerful tools: for building trust, creating memories and improving young lives. Because the children in our care have faced more challenges thanmost, and its our job to help them realise their potential and integrate back into their communities. Here, at CrossReachs residential service, children live in small community houses and learn at a new purpose-built school,all supported by caring professionals like you. Its a place made with positive experiences and clear structure in mind somewhereto heal in time, grow as individuals and succeed in the future.Which makes this a job with incredible impact. Youll play a vital role in assessing childrens needs and supporting the Lead Practitioners in implementing positive and robust care plans. As part of a close-knit team, youll take a whole-child approachfocusing on everything from completing everyday tasks to improving relationships.Ideally, youll have an HNC Social Care and SVQ Level 3 qualification, plus some experience in a care or education role. However, if youve got an emphatic approach with the ability to see beyond behaviour to the reasons why, well provide full trainingfor the role. Youll also need a driving licence.Even though CrossReach is one of Scotlands largest social care organisations with services across the country, we genuinely value the individual. For the children here, that means being treated with respect, whatever the circumstances. For professionalslike you, it means being part of an environment where you can contribute ideas, have your needs recognised and achieve your ambitions.Because as you support the childrens future, well look after yours, with ongoing training and support for achieving additional qualifications. Youll also receive a competitive salary, together with generous pension, health benefits and access to a rangeof leisure and retail discounts.A full candidate information pack can be found here. If you would like to talk to someone or arrange a visit, please email us atMain FunctionAll those employed within the CrossReach Children & Family Services will, with a commitment to our Christian values, work as part of a holistic team to deliver a service that ensures that the needs of the children, young people and their families that wesupport, are fully met. You will be expected to work to the highest professional standards of those working within the Childrens workforce and adhere to professional codes of practice of SSSC, GTCS and other relevant professional bodies; ensuring that theaims and objectives of CrossReach and those specific to Children & Family Services and the section within which you are based are metAll adults within our services, regardless of specific job remit & role, have a responsibility to promote a Therapeutic Environment and contribute to the Relational Health of children and young people in our services and have an understanding of how theirrole contributes. The following values and attributes are applicable to all those employed within Children & Family services and not solely to those whose primary role is to support the direct care and education of children and young people.In undertaking your role you will be expected to demonstrate, from an asset/strengths based approach the following core principlesInclusion: Understanding that our role is to include those who, for whatever reason, have been excluded from the mainstream of our society through

1. 1. Including Children, young people and families in decisions that affect their lives
   2. Listening to Children and Young People and to giving them opportunities to be accepted, understood and to give them a life free of stigma across all communities in Scotland.
   3. Using positive experiences and strengths to overcome the difficulties and barriers faced by Children and Young People
   4. Taking an active role to ensure that everyone is included within their immediate and wider community

Relational Health: understanding the impact of our relationships and interactions with those around us, including

1. 1. The impact that past experiences have on how individuals understand themselves and the world around them
   2. Understanding that our role is to provide positive experiences which can start to heal past harm and build trust through positive and genuine relationships with children, young people and their families
   3. Being mindful in all our interactions of language usedboth words and tone; body language of stance & facial expression and how this may be perceived by others, based on their past experiences
   4. Being aware that your own past experiences has had an impact on who you are

Advocating: Understanding that our role is to ensure that all needs are met

1. 1. Explaining all decisions that affect individuals as well as the implications of these decisions in a way that they are able to understand.
   2. Being aware of who else and what other agencies can support individuals to have their needs met
   3. Supporting children, young people and their families to be able to communicate and express their emotions, feelings and needs in a constructive approach

The above core attributes takes cognisance of CrossReach Values

• CrossReach Children & Families Services Values & Ethos statement
• Getting It Right For Every Child
• Curriculum for Excellence
• Common Core of Skills, Knowledge & Understanding and Values for the Childrens Workforce in Scotland

Main DutiesTo meet the care needs of children and young people, as their Children & Young Person Care Mentor: GIRFEC Support Practitioneryou will:1. Ensure that children & young peoples primary care needs are fully met

• Safety
• Health
• Active
• Nurtured
• Achieving
• Respected
• Responsible
• Included

2. Support Key-worker to meet needs of individual children and young people.&n