Kibble Admin

Jamie, Senior IT Analyst at Kibble, applied to join the team because of the training and progression opportunities. His first task upon joining 3 years ago was to set-up Wi-Fi for both staff and young people.

What did you do before Kibble?

Previously I worked for Manpower based at IBM in Greenock for 12 years doing IT work for JP Morgan Chase, Sony and BP.

How long have you worked at Kibble?

I have worked at Kibble for 3 years.

What made you want to work for Kibble?

Kibble stood out to me as the company offered great potential in developing my current knowledge and ability as training and courses were available.

The reason I was looking for a new job was because my previous role included shift work, rotating days and nights. As I had a family, I wanted a career that did not revolve around shift work.

Can you give us an overview of your role at Kibble and what area you work in? Please explain about the service?

As a senior IT Analyst I provide support across 8 sites with an excess of 600 users. I partake in the company’s on-call support rota to provide ‘out of hours’ support in the maintenance of critical systems. I have numerous responsibilities including, but not limited to, the upskilling of ICT System Analysts and Service Desk Analysts, project management and implementing new technologies.

What is the best thing about working in Kibble?

The fact that Kibble offers support to children who are at risk and have experienced trauma or something that was out with their control. It’s great to see these children progress and not only transform their own lives but help others.

Can you share a defining moment or story about your time at Kibble?

When I joined Kibble, my first major project was the configuration and roll out of Wi-Fi for both staff and the young people. It was a huge success and allowed the young people to have Gaming Consoles as part of their fun activities.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Kibble?

Kibble thrive on helping others. The Kibble culture is one to be a part of.

Please complete the following statement using one word – Kibble Inspires…

#KibbleInspires all.

Discover our latest vacancies to start a career with Kibble.

Ruby is an Operations Manager who oversees the day-to-day running of two of Kibble’s residential care homes. She ensures the young people are safe, supported and get the highest level of care. For Ruby, working at Kibble is not a job, it’s a vocation and one that she gives her heart and soul to.

Can you tell us about your role at Kibble?

As an Operations Manager, I take more of an overview of the services, ensuring Service Managers are well supported and able to meet the needs of the kids. I also ensure the children are well supported and we’re meeting their daily needs. I’ll do supervision with staff, ensure care plans are up-to-date and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of families, teachers and psychologists to provide the best outcomes for the kids.

I am also the child protection lead at Kibble, responsible for the safety of the children. Not one to sit still, I am currently studying for a PHD which looks at transitions from adolescence to adulthood.

What did you do before Kibble?

I’ve had a number of roles – I’ve been a single parent raising my children, I’ve worked in pubs, and was a house parent for a local authority children’s home. Following this, I went on to university to study social work.

I began working at Kibble on a sessional basis and then moved to part-time as I was studying and bringing up my kids. I graduated in 1998 and began working at Kibble full-time.

How long have you worked at Kibble?

I started my career at Kibble in 1996 as a part-time worker, then moved into full time employment in 1998. My first role here was on a project to help young people prepare for leaving care and onto independent living. This was an innovative project at the time and we conducted research internationally, as well as developing an international resource to help young people leaving care. Following this, I worked as part of a team to set up Kibble’s first community house.

What made you want to work for Kibble?

As a teenager I knew I wanted to get into social work. I was wild and unruly as a teen and wanted to go on to work with young people who had faced difficulties in their past and try to make a difference. I see the kids at Kibble like my own – I really care about them and want to help them find and develop their strengths.

What is the best thing about your job?

Can I really only name one thing? I am able to get involved in lots of different projects! I’m on the fostering panel and Kibble’s health and wellbeing group to name a couple. The positive feedback we get on how well the kids are doing makes the role worthwhile and I know we’re really able to make a difference.

Tell us a defining moment/story from your time at Kibble

I was supporting a child who had faced a difficult past and we spent a lot of time supporting him, and helping him feel safe. He was often verbally aggressive towards me, finding things to say that could be hurtful. I cared about him, and stuck by him and then one day as I walked down the high street, he came out of a shop and ran up to me and gave me a great big hug. He called me a year after he left Kibble to say he was sorry and he didn’t mean any of it – I told him that it was okay, I knew he didn’t mean it and I was so touched that he called.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Kibble?

You need to be aspirational and want the best for the kids. If we don’t have hope for them for the future, we won’t be able to support them towards this right now.

Complete the following statement – “Kibble Inspires…”

#KibbleInspires me to be the best worker I can be so I can achieve the best for my kids and staff.

Discover our latest vacancies and apply to work for Kibble yourself.

Jim is a Child and Youth Care Worker at Kibble. He supports young people who are part of day services and builds trusting relationships with them. Jim’s goal is to provide extra support during the school day to keep the young person happy at home with their families. He still keeps in touch with the first young person he cared for.

What did you do before Kibble?

Previously I worked with adults and teenagers with additional support needs. Many of the people I supported had complex needs and I provided one-to-one support. We ensured the young people had a range of opportunities, and set up regular social activities to meet up and have fun with their friends.

How long have you worked at Kibble?

For seven years. I started in 2012 and helped young people who had faced multiple difficulties.

I work as a key worker within Kibble’s day services. This involves providing intensive one-to-one support for a young person. I develop positive, trusting relationship with the young people and reach out to their families for us all to work together.

What made you want to work for Kibble?

I was impressed with Kibble’s reputation in the sector and the wide range of services it provided to the young people.

Can you give us an overview of your role at Kibble and what area you work in? Please explain about the service?

I am a child and youth care worker providing support to all our young people. Also I am a key worker for 3 young people who are part of our day services. I link in with families, social workers, educational psychologists – we all work together to support the young people. I place a huge focus on helping the family cope and provide advice to family members on who is best to speak to for certain questions and guidance. The extra support we provide at school often means the young person can stay in the family home.

What is the best thing about working in Kibble/tell us one thing you love about your job?

You get so much back from the kids – it is so rewarding. All the children have a range of complex emotions and behaviours and you get to know everything about them – at their best and when they are at their lowest. You are there for them through so much.

The staff are great and provide a caring and relaxed atmosphere.

Can you share a defining moment or story about your time at Kibble?

There are so many to list, however I would probably say it was seeing the girl that I first key worked grow in trust, confidence and became much more settled in her life. To this day, she still rings me up for advice and even now she’s an adult, when I give her advice it still takes me back to when she was 14 and upset over a boy that she had met. I told her not to be upset, that there were plenty more fish in the sea, and recently now that she’s settled and met someone she has since told me I was right.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Kibble?

You’ll be in good company as the staff team are great. Keep focussed and remember why you’re here – it’s for the bambinos. Focus on building relationships with the young people.

When new staff join I believe mentoring is paramount to what we do here.

Please complete the following statement using one word – “Kibble Inspires…”

#KibbleInspires progress and outcomes.

Callum is a Child and Youth Care Worker in Kibble’s Safe Centre. He provides one-to-one support to young people, providing a friendly, familiar face and a constant source of care and support. He loves seeing young people change their whole attitude to life and their ability to turn their life around.

Can you tell us about your role at Kibble?

I’m with a young person throughout their whole journey at Kibble, offering them constant care and helping them transition out of the safe centre once they are ready.

What did you do before Kibble?

Before coming to the Safe Centre, I worked at The Experience and managed the Kids’ Clubs. This was a role that kept me on my toes but was good fun! After this I worked as a track marshal, helping with the day-to-day running of the race track. Before joining The Experience, I studied an HNC in Education and Childcare.

How long have you worked at Kibble?

Between my time at The Experience, and now as a Child and Youth Care Worker it’s been two years. It’s been great that I could transition from track marshal at The Experience to working in the safe centre at Kibble. I find it amazing that Kibble have so many services available to support children and young people and this creates good opportunities for growth in your career too.   

What made you want to work for Kibble?

It was a role that matched my qualifications well and I always knew that I wanted to work with young people from a range of backgrounds. Also when I was working as a track marshal I met young people from Kibble on a weekly basis when they came down to race. I enjoyed getting to know them all and when the job came up for Child and Youth Care Worker, I jumped at the chance.

What is the best thing about your job?

Watching the young people succeed and knowing that I was a part of helping them get there. You see a young person at their lowest point, but with constant care and support you can see them changing their outlook on life. It’s amazing to see the tangible difference.

Tell us a defining moment or story from your time at Kibble

Literally changing a young person’s life. Meeting a young person at their lowest point then watching them become full of confidence and want to make something of themselves. Seeing them reach that stage is the best feeling!

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Kibble?

It’s tough but worth it! The good times far outweigh the tough moments. The staff here are brilliant, well-experienced and spend time teaching you.

Complete the following statement – “Kibble Inspires…”

#KibbleInspires people to keep going because things will get better.

We’re recruiting Part Time Child and Youth Care vacancies. Apply now to begin your career in care with Kibble.