SCO Training Centre Assistant

Hi, my name is Steve and I work at one of Rebound’s Secure Training Centres. Our centre accommodates sentenced and remanded boys and girls whose ages range from 12 to 17 years of age.

I’ve been working at the centre for almost three years now, excluding an initial training programme of seven weeks that I had to attend (and pass) before I started work. The training covers many topics such as the Children’s Act, challenging behaviour, bereavement and diversity and it’s a solid base on which to develop. As the training got nearer to finishing, we were really looking forward to going on the living units and working with the young people (the official term for the boys and girls at the centre).

When the day came to start working in the centre, it was a relief when the team members all reminded us that they remembered the feeling of being ‘the new staff member’. We spent time shadowing more experienced staff and quickly got to know the centre routines.

As a member of staff, I’m here to support and encourage the young people, helping them in education when needed and also in the living units, encouraging them to care for their personal appearance and complete their daily tasks. The centre has a strict routine and it’s part of my job to motivate the young people to abide by the rules. Sometimes it can be a little challenging, so plenty of initiative and good interpersonal skills are really important.

I enjoy seeing the young people achieving goals that they set for themselves, whether it’s a physical challenge in PE, being enthusiastic and compliant during education or completing their chores. It all helps them to build a sense of respect for both themselves and other people.

The sense of satisfaction I get when one of the young people says thank you after I’ve helped them to achieve something is fantastic and it makes my job really worthwhile. The best thing about working here is that you cannot say ‘a day in the life of...’ because no two days are the same!