At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with learning disabilities in a therapeutic home environment.
- Company: Join a values-led team at Our Place, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days leave, flexible working, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with strong support for staff development.
- Why this job: Be part of meaningful change and help young people thrive.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare preferred.
The predicted salary is between 25949 - 25949 £ per year.
Salary: £25,949 per annum
Location: Weston-Super-Mare
Contract/Hours: Permanent Full Time - 37 hours a week
Benefits:
- 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays and options to buy or sell leave
- Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
- Pension with up to 7% matched employer contribution and included life assurance cover
- Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts
- We are a Real Living Wage accredited employer
Our Place is a long‑term therapeutic home for children aged 8–18 with learning disabilities. We provide calm, consistent care, which truly changes lives. Staff build meaningful relationships, help young people feel heard and valued, and support them to grow in confidence and resilience. Working here means seeing real progress including those moments when a child makes a healthier choice, regulates their emotions, or takes pride in themselves. It’s relational and reflective work and your voice genuinely matters. Staff at Our Place are part of a supportive, skilled, values‑led team where people feel trusted, respected, and proud of the care they provide. Support is immediate and compassionate, with space for reflection, debriefing, and shared problem‑solving within the team. We work openly, think together, and make sure every staff member feels valued and confident in the work they do.
About the Role:
As a Residential Support Worker, you’ll help keep the home safe, calm, and settled. You’ll carry out regular welfare checks, respond to any emotional or practical needs that arise, and support daily routines. The role also includes completing key household tasks, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring important information is handed over clearly to the night team. Your steady presence helps children feel secure and you’ll play an essential part in keeping the home running smoothly. Shifts run from Monday to Sunday 07:30am to 8:30pm or 09:30am until 09:30pm. Shorter shifts will be available upon request.
Responsibilities:
- Provide lead case/care planning management, including assessing, reviewing and managing risk.
- Co‑ordinating responsibilities within the service, with multi‑agency and producing family information, including analysis and written reports.
- Supporting with taking part in fun activities, learning new skills and working towards independence.
- Supporting with personal care, communication, administration of medication and clinical procedures.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Experience working with children or young people in a supportive or care‑based setting.
- Ability to stay calm and consistent when situations become unpredictable or emotionally heightened.
- Willingness to work as part of a team, take guidance, and follow established care plans.
- Strong safeguarding awareness, with the confidence to raise concerns appropriately.
- Possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) or a commitment to learning and development, including working towards required qualifications.
Good to know: we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:
At Action for Children, we’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under‑represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Residential Support Worker in Weston-super-Mare employer: Action for Children
At Our Place, we pride ourselves on being a Real Living Wage accredited employer that offers a supportive and values-led work environment for Residential Support Workers. Located in Weston-Super-Mare, our team enjoys generous benefits including 29 days of annual leave, flexible family leave options, and a pension scheme with up to 7% matched contributions. Here, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children with learning disabilities while being part of a compassionate team that values your voice and fosters personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Support Worker in Weston-super-Mare
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action for Children.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action for Children!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action for Children, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action for Children or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Residential Support Worker in Weston-super-Mare
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action for Children! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
