Top Qualities for Working in Children’s Services

Did you know that in 2022/2023, according to the NSPCC, there were around 107,000 children in care in the UK? Children’s services matter. Now, more than ever, their vulnerability is high, and these young patients require special care.

Beyond the surface level, childcare roles require complete compassion and dedication to positively impact the physical and emotional well-being of children in care.

Cucumber specialises in childcare staffing and is committed to appointing efficient staff to cover at short notice or fulfil a full-time role successfully. Read below to discover the top qualities for working in children’s services that we look for when hiring a professional in childcare.

Being Emotionally Resilient in Challenging Environments

Emotional resilience is what makes a good residential childcare worker. This frequently occurs in childcare because of immaturity or high stress levels.

Why are stress levels high? Childcare environments can be distressing and confusing, particularly in cases of trauma.

Unfortunately, these circumstances are common, and situations can escalate quickly. Managing stress and emotional situations and avoiding burnout as a staff member are essential skills for effective childcare. Lillio suggests time management as an effective tool to combat burnout.

Childcare is tough, but resilience in challenging events is the foundation for success in an emotionally testing role.

Bringing Genuine Compassion and Patience to the Role

Performative care–the act of compassionate actions motivated by self-interest–must make way for genuine empathy in childcare. Children are surprisingly able to pick up on authenticity, and the ongoing demands of traumatised children in care require emotional care and intelligence.

Building trust and relationships over time requires patience throughout daily work, and handling setbacks correctly will foster a stronger understanding.

Understanding Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Specialised knowledge is required to understand the mental health intricacies of those in childcare. This field values mental health awareness, trauma care, and a true understanding of diagnoses to succeed in children’s services.

Technical knowledge of child and adolescent mental health will help not only de-escalate difficult situations but also spot them before completely navigating the situation.

Developing the required skills and knowledge around younger patients’ mental health will help you thrive in this environment.

Working Well Within a Team-Based Culture

While having the above skills and expertise will help in the children’s services, the assistance of your colleagues will help for many reasons.

Firstly, it provides a support network and reduces the likelihood of burnout. Handing over shifts in the situation of absence and annual leave means day-to-day operations can continue without sacrificing quality.

As well as this, having members of multiple disciplines will create an efficient workforce. A team of purely social workers can’t cover all aspects of childcare. Instead, a team with social workers and child psychologists will gain a well-rounded team culture.

The value of clear communication is considerable. Communication fosters cohesion, improving the quality of healthcare for children and reduces the likelihood of stress and burnout among staff.

Being Dependable and Consistent for Young People

Without trust, childcare will fail beyond the essential skills for working with children. Most young people need to know that you will consistently turn up and be dependable. Building trust and relationships will remove any anxiety, and behaviour management can be smoother.

Childcare isn’t just a tick box; children require dependable workers that they can rely on during such a high-stress period, especially those handling past trauma.

Using Communication and De-escalation Skills Effectively

Workers must remain calm and communicate effectively in childcare. Recognising triggers, using calm language and developing strong listening skills can avoid tough situations, and help you understand what it is like working in a children’s residential home.

This way, you can navigate unnecessary conflict or aggressive behaviour. Staff trained in these areas can de-escalate the situation constructively, keeping both children and staff safe.

Adapting to the Dynamic Nature of Care Work

Understand that no two days are similar. Children in care are unpredictable due to immaturity, past trauma, and mental health issues. On top of this, staff turnover is high, so the environment is forever changing.

Adaptability is key to overcoming the changes and challenges. Alongside this, dynamic thinking and strong mindsets will allow you to adapt effortlessly to care work.

Having a Positive Attitude and a Sense of Humour

Most importantly, being positive goes a long way. Light-hearted and playful attitudes will build positive relationships, and even de-escalate potentially difficult situations.

Joking with children and staff–without crossing boundaries–will boost the overall attitude in childcare. Humour is a powerful tool that can’t be overlooked in an emotionally challenging environment like childcare.

Looking to Step into Childcare?

Are you ready to step into the challenging but rewarding field of childcare? Explore our open roles in children’s services or contact us about childcare staffing services today and kickstart your career.