Our role in the WhiteTrees Group
It is our role to oversee the recruitment, training and development of new and existing team members. It is our responsibility to ensure that our young people are provided with the best care and support.
Services we provide
Bespoke, recruitment and human resource services:
- Recruitment of new staff members.
- New employee induction.
- Training, mentoring and performance management.
- Open door policy continued support of staff.
- HR support.
- Staff retention.
- Identifying individuals for promotional opportunities.
A Snapshot of a day at SureCare Residential
Morning
Our shifts start at 8.00 a.m. The shift will start with Handover which is one of the most important information sharing forums. Planning is of key importance. It is a chance for all staff to reflect how they feel or if they have any concerns or considerations for the shift ahead.
The first task will be to support the young people to wake and rise. For many of our young people, bed can be a sanctuary, especially if they are worried, upset or not happy with life. We encourage our staff to consider and plan the settling process for later that evening, even when waking a young person in the morning ,as holding their needs in mind and understanding the young person with a clear plan in place will assist in the structure and the positive outcome for that young person and the day ahead.
Staff then support young people to follow their weekly planned Actives with them for the weekends and school holidays. Staff may at times support young people within school.
During non-school day’s staff will be supporting young people with leisure activities, life skills and hobbies/developing social interests and integrating as part of the wider community. Staff will also support home contact visits if young people have an agreed contact plan to see family, friends or significant people in their lives.
Afternoon
Lunch times may be staggered depending on whether all young people are in or out of the home and so this time can be adaptable where staff prepare and offer food as required. After lunch may well be a time when the manager can arrange for the team to get together for support meetings, supervision and performance management with those on shift.
This time can be both the most difficult time and the most productive and enjoyable. Our young people need structure and stability in planning their free time. When young people finish school the time between finishing school and the journey home is a legitimate time to let off steam and discuss their day.
Tea time is usually around 5/6 pm and this is a cooked meal prepared by staff with input from young people if they will, from a planned menu. Meal times are a chance to encourage all young people and staff to sit and eat together at the communal table and discuss their day, plan the evening and interact socially with support to clear the table once finished.
Evening
From 6.00p.m. to bed time (times may vary due to age), this is what we call “free time”, when the children and young people can socialise with their peers and staff in a structured and planned way. It is also a time when key workers can spend time listening and working with individuals on care plans or simply talking through concerns or the events of the day. There may also be off site leisure activities planned. Once a week there will be a young person’s house meeting held to discuss and consult a shared view about their care and placement.
Night
Young people have assigned bed times and these may vary with age. It is important to be thoughtful, that bed can be a sanctuary in the morning but can be anxiety provoking to the same individual at night time. For some children who are missing family or have had dysfunctional bed times caused by trauma, this can be a stressful and unsettling time, so that – as in the morning – staff must be mindful.
Settling time is a key therapeutic tool at SureCare. Young people will have the time with allocated staff to unwind, watch TV in their room, talk, read a story or chill and prepare for bed. A young person may have additional resources to support their sleep and settling such as music, or a night light.
Recording & Reporting
Whilst recording information and documenting the work carried out in support of our young people is carried out periodically throughout the day, Once the young people are in bed a staff member (if there are no waking night staff) will be allocated to a landing to monitor, the staff will then catch up and finish off all recording and reporting as required. The staff team may debrief and discuss how well the day went and reflect on achievements, outcomes and areas of future development.
Recruitment Process
If you are looking for your next career move please call our friendly and helpful recruitment team to discuss the role that you are interested in.
Potential candidates can expect to go through the stages outlined below.
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Your initial job contact:
Via online job board, our website or direct contact. Candidates will be asked to submit a C.V for review.
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Initial Phone Call:
Successful candidates from stage one will be contacted by a member of our recruitment team for an initial conversation to discuss elements of the role. This is inclusive of details such as hours, shift pattern, pay scales and career progression.
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Formal Interview:
Successful candidates from stage two will be invited for a face-to-face interview at our head office with a member of our recruitment team. This will consist of competency based questions and a skills assessment.
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Provisional Job Offer:
Successful candidates will receive a call from the recruitment team to extend an offer of employment. Offers are subject to successfully meeting all criteria of our compliance process.
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Compliance:
Once a provisional offer is accepted, our compliance administrator will contact candidates to advise of all documentation required. To ensure safer recruitment we ask for:
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• References covering ten years of work history.
• Completion and return of our application pack and additional forms.
• Explanation of any employment gaps.
• Proof of I.D (passport, driving licence, proof of address)
• Evidence of any periods of self-employment.
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Induction:
We provide our new starters with a comprehensive six-day induction program which includes: an introduction the company & our ethos, three days of therapeutic practice training, safeguarding and child protection. Inductions are held at the beginning of each month and new starters will be enrolled on the first available induction on successful completion of the compliance process.
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Shadow Shifts:
All new staff complete ‘initial shadow shifts’ to ensure a smooth transition into working with WhiteTrees. This will give you the opportunity to read through essential paperwork and visualise how a shift runs. At this point you will also be given the opportunity to engage and interact with the young people while being supported by an experienced full-time member of staff.
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On Rota:
Once shadow shifts are successfully completed new starters are assigned to their team and full-time rota. All new staff have a contractual six-month probation period, with a pre-probation meeting at three months. Continued support is provided through staff supervisions, which are fortnightly for the first three months and monthly thereafter.
Employee Assistance Programme
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