As a practitioner working in children’s residential care, you could be working in a number of settings e.g. a children’s home, a residential special school or a secure children’s home. You will take the lead in developing and delivering the child’s placement plan and will work with the child to support their health, education, social and day to day needs, playing a significant role in helping them to thrive and fulfil their potential .
As a practitioner you will be working with children, young people and families, including carers, to achieve positive and sustainable change in their lives. You will demonstrate a passion to care for and about children, young people and families. You will be skilled in recognising and assessing the complex needs that children, young people and families often present.
You will agree with the child, young person or family any specific interventions or referrals. Your approach will be one of respectful curiosity that challenges and supports children, young people and families to achieve their potential and stay safe. You will work alongside other professionals and organisations to share the responsibility for improving outcomes. Each piece of work with a child or family will be different and you will exercise judgement on a range of evidence-based approaches to inform your practice.
You will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your methods and actions. Regular supervision with an experienced practitioner will encourage reflection on your practice. At the end of the apprenticeship the high quality of your practice will be making a real difference to those that you work with.
Employers will determine entry criteria. Undertaking the Disclosure and Barring Service process and providing the result is mandatory.
In addition, your apprenticeship will incorporate specialist skills and understanding required of a practitioner
in children’s residential care;
Honesty and a positive belief in helping children, young people and families. Being confident when faced with confrontation, holding a safe space to manage and contain really difficult behaviours and working with children, young people and families to challenge and enable them to fulfil their potential Communication: Your work is based on building effective relationships, being perceptive and empathetic and building good rapport.
Consideration and concern for children, young people and their families, combined with an understanding of the perspective of those you work with.
The relationships you build to effect change for children, young people and families will be informed by social care ethics and values and will be developed through reflective practice.
Creating sustainable change in others by working alongside children, young people and families and being authentic, consistent, patient, persistent and resilient.
Respecting and valuing individuals to keep them safe, being affirming and working with them to help them make a positive difference to their lives.
The apprenticeship programme will be delivered as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both online and face to face delivery. You will need to have good internet access and a suitable device such as a smart phone, laptop, or tablet to work on. Microsoft Teams is used for coaching sessions and ZOOM is currently used for taught sessions. Please discuss accessibility with your employer as these applications are required, in order for you to complete your training.
During this apprenticeship programme you will participate in training, development and on-going review activities. These typically include:
You will be allocated a Skills & Development Coach who will support and guide you for the duration
of your apprenticeship.
At gateway your employer will make the decision that you are ready for end point assessment having achieved all the mandatory requirements and qualifications set within the standard.
Following successful completion of the gateway, you will proceed to end point assessment (EPA).
The EPA is undertaken by an independent assessment organisation chosen by your employer.
The end point assessment components are:
Grades for the individual components will be combined. Overall grading for this apprenticeship is fail, pass or distinction and will be determined by the Independent End Point Assessor.
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