Casual / Temporary
Full Time 37 hours per week
Do you want a challenging and rewarding career with real opportunities to change the lives of young people in secure care?
If you are dynamic, adaptable, resilient, dedicated and enthusiastic then we want to hear from you.
Who we are:
Atkinson Secure Childrens Home is a multi-disciplinary service (care, education and health) for children and young people across England and Wales aged 10-17 years who had their liberty restricted due to the risk they pose to themselves and others.
Our approach is to provide therapeutic parenting to young people who have experienced abuse and as a result they present with difficult behaviours such as aggression, self-harm and violence.
The young people we care for are often in crisis and require intensive support, psychological interventions and physical intervention (restraint) at a last resort.
Why Choose Us:
Working at the Atkinson Secure Childrens Home is not just a job, it’s one of the most rewarding career choices you will make.
Our work is emotionally and physically demanding but if you have the drive, dedication, resilience, and passion then you will enjoy an exciting and stable career with us.
We understand the importance of finding the right people and valuing them with significant support through monthly one-to-one sessions, staff wellbeing meetings and direct access to our on-site psychologist alongside other health specialist support.
We offer a comprehensive induction and shadowing process for all new staff as well as excellent training and development opportunities.
We have a refurbished house for those staff who live more than 45 mins away to use which reduces the need to travel between shifts, reduces travel time and saves fuel costs.
As the home is part of Devon County Council, you also benefit from our generous annual leave and other holiday entitlements, entry into the Local Government Pension Scheme, eligibility for enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay, excellent free training opportunities, incremental pay increased within your pay grade and future career opportunities within Atkinson or Devon County Council.
About You
Your personal qualities, values and life experience will help us create an environment for young people to feel safe and begin to trust adults through positive relationships.
Through your daily interactions and consistent parenting, you will help young people to feel genuinely cared for.
Sadly, many young people in our care have only experienced abusive relationships which explains their challenging and risky behaviours.
You will help young people to feel a sense of belonging, safety and trust which, over time, improves their confidence, self-control and self-esteem.
You will then support and prepare the young people to re-integrate into a community setting.
Do you have the below abilities and qualities?
This role is unique and can be challenging. It might not be for everyone, but if you’ve read the above and are still excited about this opportunity, it would be great to hear from you.
If you are successful at interview stage, you will then be required to complete four shadow shifts, alongside our staff who will help, encourage and introduce you to the home and the young people who live there.
These shadow shifts will enable us to make informed decisions around moving forward with employment.
For an informal discussion please contact: atkinson@devon.gov.uk.
Job Description
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
Happy to Talk Flexible Working.
For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
This role requires a DBS disclosure.
This role is subject to Disqualification from Caring for Children (England) Regulations 2002 check.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Job Applicants Privacy Notice