Residential Support worker

NMSE12

I have an intterveiw for Northerncare next week as a residential support worker, anyone work for these or worked as a residential support worker???

jonty1970

I would love to do this kind of job. I've raised 5 children and a grandchild and have lots of patience.

Can I ask, what qualifications you need?

Savvy_Sue

nattprice wrote: »

I have an intterveiw for Northerncare next week as a residential support worker, anyone work for these or worked as a residential support worker???

Haven't done this myself, but I'd say expect questions on equal ops, boundaries and 'what if' scenarios covering potential difficulties. Depends on the client group.

jonty1970 wrote: »

I would love to do this kind of job. I've raised 5 children and a grandchild and have lots of patience.

Can I ask, what qualifications you need?

At 'entry level', generally very few, but you might be required to do training on the job to get an NVQ or similar.

You also need the ability to survive on a minimal wage with long hours which are generally disruptive to any kind of social life.

NMSE12

NVQ3 children and young people, a few companies will ask for jst basic GCSE's and experiance with children and will train you up to NVQ level however think they have a set time limit as min care standards require it. Im doing a degree with OU (childhood and youth studies)so hoping that will help me, Northerncare have homes all over the country look an their website they seem to be a really great company ith great values.

jonty1970

Thank you! The money is no problem. I am used to being skint and know how to have fun on a small budget (you have to these days)

The hours would be ok, as my eldest is 14. I will have a look into it. Thanks again

easilydistracted

I'm going to assume from everyone else's comments that your talking about working with children. I was a residential care worker for years prior to and whilst studying social work (which is what I do now). It was really good experience but you have to be prepared that you'll most likely be working with children that couldn't manage in foster care, often older children who can display challenging behaviour and have massive trust issues. You need to be able to be warming and caring whilst having clear boundaries and not being too gullible! I always say if you make the first few weeks you can make years, but there are quite a few who don't last the week out! And yes the hours pretty crazy. If you have any specific questions let me know, I think Savvy_Sue's suggestions for questions or pretty spot on.

NMSE12

Thankyou very much.
I'm just anxious about what to expect in the interveiw, i'm extremely passionate about this position and really want the job, i know the money is !!!! and could get paid elsewhere for alot less effort but i really want to make a difference and give these children positive outcomes. The children in the particular home is male 11-18yrs they have on site education and home about a max of 10 youths. eventualy i would love to do social work or family support work. I hope i can "hack it"

Savvy_Sue

jonty1970 wrote: »

Thank you! The money is no problem. I am used to being skint and know how to have fun on a small budget (you have to these days)

The hours would be ok, as my eldest is 14. I will have a look into it. Thanks again

I don't know your circumstances, but unless there's another responsible adult around, would you really want to leave teenagers in the house over night / at weekends? The shifts can be VERY long: I've known people who've had to do a late, a night and an early on the trot. I think it's dangerous, personally, maybe OK if you don't have a disturbed night, but there must be an expectation that something MIGHT happen overnight or you wouldn't be required to be there, and if anything does crop up you're going to be tired the next morning!