Jobs

Temporary for 12 months, Full time, 37 hours per week.

Our recent successful application for further DfE funding ensures that the innovation project will not only endure but expand over the next year, as such, we are looking to employ a Senior Residential Practitioner to join this growing team. This extension allows for the project to grow and amplifies the potential impact of our work.

Furthermore, as we transition beyond the tenure of the innovation project, our strategic intention is to seamlessly incorporate the knowledge, experience, and personnel gained into the fabric of our residential and short break service offerings. This strategic alignment underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing a dynamic and harmonious service environment.

Do you have a desire to collaborate with partners, especially children, to introduce a new model of community-based short breaks in Rotherham? If so, this role may be an ideal fit for you.

Following a highly successful first year of our innovation project, we were invited to submit a second year bid with the DfE, which we've successfully secured. This funding infusion will bolster the expansion and outreach of our already well-established innovation project. Consequently, we are actively seeking to bring on board a dedicated Children's Senior Residential/Short Breaks Practitioner to expand our team.

This pivotal role is set to make a profound impact, as it will be instrumental in delivering both in-house and community-based services for some of Rotherham's most vulnerable children. By taking up this position, you'll be contributing significantly to the cause of ensuring that more children have access to essential local support within Rotherham, allowing them to stay in close proximity to their communities, families, and schools.

This innovative service will operate within Rotherham's existing short breaks service (Liberty House) and provide intensive community-based short breaks for some of our most complex children and young people.

We are particularly interested in Senior Practitioners who not only possess experience in short break settings and expertise in working with complex needs and disabilities but additionally demonstrate an unwavering resilience that will be indispensable in this role, along with transferable skills suitable for a Short Breaks setting.

This initiative builds upon the success of our Children and Young People Service, which received a 'Good' rating from Ofsted in August 2022, and furthers the practice of our Short Break Service currently judged as `Outstanding`.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Promote, safeguard, and protect the welfare of looked after children across the borough.
• Apply evidence-based therapeutic and behavioural management approaches and practice models.
• Provide opportunities for children to influence decisions affecting them and the service they receive.
• Collaborate systematically within a team to ensure a child-centred service.
• Manage and adapt arrangements to ensure safe levels of support for children and young people.
• Support the management of staff groups, providing supervision, training, and inductions for new staff.
• Engage in the operation of the service, including activities, meals, personal care, recording, report writing, and medication administration in line with the council's policy.
• Participate in and audit the completion of relevant records and reports.
• Provide and promote a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment.

Key Benefits:

• Strong support and clear direction from Managers.
• Comprehensive training program for professional development, incorporating the Rotherham Family Approach, Signs of Safety, and Restorative Practice.
• Collaboration with our high-quality in-house therapeutic service.
• Involvement in innovative Edge of Care Services and a robust Early Help offer.
• Prioritisation of Looked After Children for CAMHS assessment and intervention.
• An opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and families.
• Investment in your development as a senior practitioner, including support, supervision, training, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Local Authority pension and 30 days of annual leave, aligned with the agreed weekend annual leave schedule outlined in the employer handbook.

About You: We are seeking inspirational, resilient, and child-focused senior practitioners who are committed to:

• Developing their skills and practices to provide outstanding residential services to children and young people.
• Supporting and caring for some of our most complex children and young people, even in solo provision.
• Adapting to evening, weekend, and sleep-in shifts as part of the residential team.
• Promoting and participating in a culture of learning and coaching.

Our vision is for the children and families of Rotherham to consistently experience and describe our services as outstanding, achieved by putting the child first in everything we do.

Please note that this role requires community outreach work and as such, you will need access to your own vehicle and hold a full valid UK Driving Licence.

About Yorkshire: Rotherham and the wider South Yorkshire region offer a great quality of life, beautiful countryside, and easy access to major towns and cities like Sheffield and Leeds. Property prices are reasonable, and it's just a 2-hour train journey from London.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this role further, please contact Richard Fisher at richard.fisher@rotherham.gov.uk or Letitia Robertson at letitia.robertson@rotherham.gov.uk.

This post involves working with children and therefore if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check 

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. For further information, please visit our website.

Until 31st March 2026 employees paid at Band D and above are subject to a temporary pay reduction of 1.15% spread out by means of a monthly deduction from each pay period over the full financial year. In recognition of implementing this temporary measure, those who experience a pay reduction will be awarded three additional days leave (pro rata for part-time).

Confirmation of this appointment is also subject to a medical assessment.