Looked After Children Support Worker

Job Purpose

To provide high-quality, safe, and nurturing support to Looked After Children (LAC) in unregulated placements. You will promote independence, life skills, emotional well-being, and positive outcomes for young people in care. This support is often at short notice and offers a bespoke package of care for young people, often who have mental health difficulties and challenging behaviour. These placements are generally a solo placement.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Support:

• Support young people aged mainly between 10-18, often at short notice. These young people often have some form of mental health difficulties or learning disability along with challenging behaviour and have 24 hour supervision.
• Promote independence, life skills (budgeting, cooking, cleaning, employment/education), and personal development.
• Encourage and support engagement in education, training, and employment and sometimes accompanying the young person to their school or education setting.

Safeguarding:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of young people at all times.
• Follow safeguarding policies and procedures, including reporting concerns and working closely with social workers and other agencies.

Emotional & Behavioural Support:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• Provide emotional support and respond appropriately to challenging behaviours using trauma-informed approaches and sometimes involving restraint.
• Support young people with mental health needs and emotional regulation.

Administration & Compliance:

• Maintain accurate, clear records of daily logs, incidents, and progress.
• Contribute to risk assessments, support plans, and reviews.
• Adhere to policies, procedures, and regulatory expectations (e.g., local authority requirements, OFSTED guidance where applicable).

Multi-agency Working:

• Liaise with social workers, personal advisors, schools, CAMHS, and other professionals to ensure cohesive support.
• Attend meetings (e.g., LAC reviews, professionals’ meetings and risk management meetings).

Household & Environment:

• Help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.
• Support young people to manage their accommodation responsibly.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable young people (preferably Looked After Children or care leavers) including those with mental health difficulties.
• Understanding of safeguarding, child protection, and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of issues affecting care-experienced young people (e.g., trauma, attachment, CSE, missing episodes).
• Ability to promote independence and model positive behaviour.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle and business insurance or willing to obtain.

Desirable Criteria:

• Level 3 Diploma in childcare or health and social care.
• Experience in unregulated settings
• PMVA or MAPPA training (restraint training)