About this role
Job summary
Lagans Foundation is looking for an experienced and compassionate Advanced Childrens Play and Health Care Worker Carer Level 3 to join our specialist care team across Greater Manchester.
This is an opportunity to use your complex care skills to make a meaningful difference to children, young people and their families. You will provide safe, individualised care and respite within childrens own homes and communities, supporting children and young people aged 019 with complex and high-dependency health needs.
As a Level 3 Carer, you will bring previous complex care experience and advanced clinical competencies, including essential experience and competency in tracheostomy care. You will work confidently within individual care plans while building trusting and professional relationships with the children and families you support.
At Lagans Foundation, excellent care is about more than clinical skills. It is about understanding each child as an individual and providing care with dignity, patience, consistency and empathy.
In return, you will join a supportive childrens charity where your experience is valued and where you can continue to develop your clinical knowledge, confidence and career.
Main duties of the job
As an Advanced Childrens Play and Health Care Worker Carer Level 3, you will provide skilled, compassionate and individualised care to children and young people with complex and high-dependency health needs in their own homes and communities.
You will support each child in accordance with their individual care plan, risk assessments and clinical protocols. Depending on the needs of the child, this may include tracheostomy care, respiratory support, enteral or parenteral nutrition, seizure management, medication, personal care, positioning, mobility and communication support.
You will monitor the childs wellbeing, recognise changes or signs of deterioration and respond appropriately, escalating clinical, care or safeguarding concerns when required. You will maintain accurate and timely care records and work closely with families, colleagues and health and care professionals.
As an experienced Level 3 Carer, you will also support and mentor less experienced colleagues, share good clinical practice and contribute to a safe, consistent and high-quality care service.
Above all, you will take time to understand each childs individual needs, routines, preferences and communication, helping families feel confident that their child is receiving safe and compassionate care.
About us
Lagans Foundation is a unique childrens charity that provides specialised in-home and community support for children with complex health and developmental needs. Our work is rooted in compassion, creativity and connection we believe in supporting children not only through care, but through meaningful play, positive experiences and trusted relationships.
Our team is small, supportive and deeply committed to making a difference. We work collaboratively, value each others strengths and ensure every employee feels part of the Lagans family. You will be joining a passionate team who celebrate individuality, share knowledge and provide continuous support and encouragement.
We offer ongoing training, professional development and emotional wellbeing support, including access to unlimited counselling, a Health Cash Plan, and flexible benefits. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
At Lagans Foundation, you will never be just a worker you will be part of a community making real change in childrens lives.
Job description Job responsibilities
Advanced Childrens Play and Health Care Worker Carer Level 3
Location: Greater Manchester Role Type: Permanent, Full-time Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Flexible availability is required Monday to Sunday on a rolling rota, in line with service delivery needs. Shifts will fall within our core operating hours of 6:00am10:00pm. Salary: £26,325 per annum (£13.50 per hour)
Make a Difference Where It Matters Most
Lagans Foundation is a specialist childrens charity providing home health care, respite and support to families of children and young people aged 019 with complex health needs.
Our charity was founded from lived experience of caring for a child with complex congenital heart defects and feeding difficulties, and from understanding just how difficult it can be for families to find the right support once they are at home.
Today, our carers work alongside families across the North West, providing individualised care and respite to children and young people with a wide range of complex and high-dependency health needs.
For some families, having a skilled carer they trust means a parent can rest, spend time with another child, have a meal, take a shower or simply have some time knowing that their child is being safely and compassionately cared for.
For the child or young person, our role is to understand their individual needs, their communication, their routines, their preferences and the clinical care that keeps them safe and well supported.
No two children, families or shifts are the same.
Were Looking for an Advanced Carer
We are now looking for an experienced Advanced Childrens Play & Health Care Worker Carer Level 3 to join our specialist care team.
This is not an entry-level care position.
You will already have experience supporting people with complex or high-dependency health needs and have the confidence and clinical competencies required to provide more advanced care.
You will work in children's own homes and communities, providing safe, compassionate and individualised support while giving parents and unpaid carers valuable respite.
Depending on the individual child, this could include complex respiratory support, enteral or parenteral nutrition, seizure management, medication, personal care, positioning, communication support and other specialist interventions.
Just as importantly, you will get to know the individual child and family and understand what good care means for them.
What Youll Be Doing
As a Carer Level 3, you will:
Provide safe, high-quality care to children and young people with complex and high-dependency health needs. Work confidently within individual care plans, risk assessments and clinical protocols. Deliver advanced clinical interventions within your assessed competencies. Recognise changes or deterioration in a child's condition and escalate concerns appropriately. Administer medication safely in accordance with care plans, training and policy. Provide personal care while maintaining dignity, comfort, privacy and respect. Support feeding, positioning, mobility, communication and respiratory needs where required. Understand each child's individual way of communicating and respond to their preferences and needs. Build professional, trusting relationships with children, parents and families. Provide families with confidence that their child is receiving safe and compassionate care while they take a much-needed break. Maintain accurate and timely care and clinical records. Support and mentor other carers in clinical practice. Share your experience and help less experienced colleagues develop their confidence and competence. Work closely with Area Care Team Leaders, our Clinical Lead and other health and care professionals. Identify and escalate clinical, safeguarding or care concerns promptly. Maintain your professional development, mandatory training and clinical competencies. The Experience Youll Bring
For our Carer Level 3 position, you will need:
Level 3 Health & Social Care qualification or higher Demonstrable experience in complex/high-dependency care Experience supporting children or young people with significant health needs Experience providing personal care Experience supporting medication and clinical care Confidence working independently within a family home The ability to remain calm and respond appropriately when a child's condition changes An understanding of professional boundaries and when to seek clinical support Excellent communication skills with children, families, colleagues and professionals A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle with business-use insurance An Enhanced DBS covering the Child and Adult Workforce Advanced Clinical Competencies
You will have experience and competency in:
Tracheostomy care essential Experience and competency in one or more of the following would be advantageous:
NP suction / airway clearance Rescue medication for uncontrolled epilepsy/seizure management TPN management CPAP / BiPAP support Advanced airway management All appointments at Carer Level 3 will also be subject to completion of Lagans Foundation's required internal competency assessments and Level 3 clinical sign-off before carrying out relevant procedures independently.
What Makes Care at Lagans Different?
Technical competence is essential but it isn't everything.
When you enter a family's home as a Lagans carer, you are being trusted with someone incredibly important to them.
We therefore look for carers who understand that excellent complex care is also about dignity, consistency, patience, communication and trust.
Some children we support may communicate verbally and be active within their community. Others may communicate non-verbally, have very limited mobility or require significant clinical intervention throughout their care.
Good care looks different for every child.
Your job is to understand the person you are supporting, work safely within their individual care plan and help provide the family with reliable, compassionate support.
Our Values
At Lagans Foundation, we expect our team to demonstrate our values in the way they care for families and work with one another:
Passion Taking pride in providing excellent care and making a meaningful difference to families.
Resilience Remaining calm, dependable and adaptable when caring for children with complex needs.
Integrity & Communication Being honest, professional and clear, following care plans and speaking up when something isn't right.
Empathy Understanding that every child and every family's circumstances are different and providing support without judgement.
Develop Your Career With Lagans
Joining us at Level 3 doesn't mean your development stops.
We want experienced carers to continue building their clinical knowledge, confidence and leadership skills.
Depending on your career ambitions, development could include further formal qualifications and progression towards roles such as:
Nursing Associate Registered Children's Nurse Senior carer positions Leadership opportunities within our care service Progression is based on competency, qualifications, experience, performance and the needs of the organisation.
Why Join Lagans Foundation?
Lagans Foundation was created because families caring for children with complex health needs can need support that doesn't always fit neatly within traditional services.
We work to help bridge the gap between health services, community care and the realities families experience at home.
As part of our team, you will be joining a charity where your skills have a direct impact not only on the child you care for, but on their wider family.
Youll also receive:
£26,325 annual salary (£13.50 per hour) 28 days holiday (FTE) Pension scheme Health Cash Plan through Hospital Saturday Fund Perkbox Unlimited counselling Flexible benefits and salary sacrifice options Specialist clinical training and competency development Regular supervision and support Ongoing professional development Opportunities for career progression Be You, With Us
At Lagans Foundation, we welcome you all of you.
We embrace diversity, value individuality and recognise the different experiences and perspectives people bring to our organisation.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and employment.
Could You Be the Experienced Carer Our Families Need?
If you already have complex-care experience, advanced clinical competencies and want to use those skills to provide safe, individualised and compassionate care to children and families, we would love to hear from you.
Send your CV to [email protected] or call 01204 800304 for an informal chat.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Demonstrable experience of providing care to people with complex or high-dependency health needs Experience of supporting children or young people with significant or complex health needs Experience and competency in tracheostomy care Experience of providing personal care to children or young people while maintaining dignity, privacy and respect Experience of supporting medication administration and clinical care in accordance with individual care plans and procedures Experience of working within individual care plans, risk assessments and clinical protocols Experience of recognising changes or deterioration in a child or young persons condition and responding and escalating concerns appropriately Experience of working independently and safely within a child or young persons home Experience of communicating effectively with children, young people, parents, families and health and care professionals Experience of maintaining accurate and timely care and clinical records
Desirable
Experience and competency in NP suction and airway clearance Experience and competency in rescue medication for uncontrolled epilepsy and seizure management Experience and competency in TPN management Experience and competency in CPAP / BiPAP support Experience and competency in advanced airway management Experience of supporting children or young people with multiple or high-dependency clinical needs within their own homes or community settings Experience of supporting or mentoring less experienced carers in clinical practice Experience of working collaboratively with a range of health and care professionals
Qualifications Essential
Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care, or a relevant equivalent or higher qualification Demonstrable experience of providing care to people with complex or high-dependency health needs Experience of supporting children or young people with significant or complex health needs Experience and competency in tracheostomy care Experience of providing personal care while maintaining dignity, privacy and respect Experience of supporting medication administration and clinical care in accordance with care plans and procedures Ability to recognise changes or deterioration in a childs condition and respond and escalate concerns appropriately Ability to work confidently and safely within individual care plans, risk assessments and clinical protocols Confidence and ability to work independently within a child or young persons home Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, professional boundaries and when to seek additional clinical support Excellent communication skills and the ability to build professional and trusting relationships with children, young people, families, colleagues and other professionals Ability to remain calm, resilient and adaptable when supporting children with complex health needs Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with appropriate business-use insurance Ability to work flexibly across a rolling rota, Monday to Sunday, in line with service delivery requirements Ability and willingness to complete Lagans Foundation internal competency assessments and achieve the required Level 3 clinical sign-off before undertaking relevant clinical procedures independently
Desirable
Experience and competency in nasopharyngeal suction and airway clearance Experience and competency in administering rescue medication for uncontrolled epilepsy and seizure management Experience and competency in Total Parenteral Nutrition management Experience and competency in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure support Experience and competency in advanced airway management Experience of supporting children and young people with multiple or high-dependency clinical needs within their own homes or community settings Experience of supporting or mentoring less experienced carers in clinical practice Experience of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary health and care professionals Evidence of ongoing professional development relevant to childrens complex care Additional relevant clinical care training or qualifications above the minimum requirements of the role
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Lagan's Foundation
Address Futura One, Suite E
Futura Park
Bolton
Horwich
BL6 6PG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://lagans.org.uk/news-and-more/ (Opens in a new tab)