What is meant by a children’s residential environment, and what purpose do they serve in our society?
As perhaps anticipated, the term “child” categorises anyone up to the age of 18. Residential services are available to children who are, for whatever reason, unable to live with their families. You’ll find that the breakdown of residential homes can be vast, although, it’s likely relative to gender or condition. There are largely two types of residential homes that children will be separated by – emotional behaviour difficulties and learning difficulties.
Emotional behavioural difficulties (referred to as EBD, in the industry) is a term used to describe psychological challenges that are experienced by others. EBD can include a range of conditions, such as attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), to name but a few.
Learning difficulties (often abbreviated to LD) can involve a variety of conditions, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, which influences how information is processed by those with this kind of diagnosis. Learning difficulties can often include other conditions, such as Autism.
Although the nature of a Children’s Residential Support Worker shares similarities with parenting, it’s important to recognise that there may be responsibilities in this line of work, which don’t directly correlate to generic parental practice. As mentioned above, children who are in care may face neurological or psychological conditions, which require therapeutic intervention.
Is a career in residential childcare right for me?
Don’t panic if you don’t have a psychology degree – there are plenty of funded training and development opportunities within this industry. You’ll get the opportunity to complete an NVQ in Children and Young People’s Workforce, which will help provide you with the tools you need to adhere to safeguarding policies and ultimately, to grow in your new role.
People enter the industry for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps they grew up in care themselves, or they have prior experience in teaching those with special educational needs (SEN), or they have an interest in psychology and want to make a difference. This role is indiscriminate of background or experience, although there tends to be certain characteristics which stand out in those who have built successful careers in the industry - here are the ones that we think have the most impact…
1. Compassion
Caring for others must be a part of your nature. Whether it’s helping people physically or emotionally, you must have the capacity to remain sensitive and respectful towards the people you are helping. Due to the nature of this industry, you’ll be dedicating your time to helping others reach their potential, in whichever setting.
2. Emotional intelligence
To build a successful career in this industry, emotional intelligence is among some of the most desired traits to have. The ability to manage your emotions is necessary; you'll also be expected to take into consideration the emotions of others. Emotions can run high in this industry and it's therefore crucial that you can bounce back when faced with challenging behaviours.
3. Confidence
No matter the role in healthcare, confidence is an attractive trait. Your clients will look to you for guidance and support, therefore a confidence in your ability to act as a role model is essential. You’ll need to make decisions with assurance throughout your job role.
4. Adaptability
This role isn’t a standard 9-5. Due to parental-like responsibilities, you’ll need flexibility to cover all kinds of shifts. This includes weekends, public holidays and ‘sleep-ins’ (as needed).
5. Strong communication skills
This is a trait that's often mentioned in the corporate world, but communication skills are essential for positions in this industry. It's part of the ‘person specification’, and here's why...
You'll be in direct contact with clients, other staff members and third parties such as social workers or doctors. It's therefore vital that you can interact both professionally and articulately with each. A part of your role will likely involve report writing, which will require medical terminology and client specific detail. A good level of written communication skills is therefore needed, alongside the ability to communicate verbally.
Still thinking about a career in Children’s Residential?
We hope we’ve answered most of your questions about what it’s like to work within this sector of the healthcare industry.
If you have any further questions, or you would like to highlight your interest in the role, contact our Recruitment Specialists for a confidential chat today!