At a Glance
- Tasks: Support autistic children with daily living activities and promote their independence.
- Company: Join a new autism-specialist children's residential home in Mansfield.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, sleep-in payments, ongoing training, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible shifts in a supportive team environment with a focus on wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of autistic children and help them thrive.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in relevant fields or willingness to complete it within two years.
Join our new autism-specialist children's residential home in Mansfield, providing high-quality care and support for autistic children and young people aged 4-18 years. We are seeking caring, enthusiastic, and dedicated individuals to join our team as Senior Residential Support Workers, Residential Support Workers, and Waking Night Support Workers. This is a unique opportunity to help create a nurturing home environment where autistic children can feel safe, understood, respected, and supported to thrive.
Our Ethos
- A safe, caring, and stable home.
- To be understood as an individual.
- Consistent, nurturing relationships with trusted adults.
- Opportunities to develop independence, confidence, and life skills.
- Respect for their communication style, sensory needs, and preferences.
- The chance to achieve their full potential in their own way and at their own pace.
Our practice is built upon compassion, respect, inclusion, and a commitment to understanding autism through a strengths-based and person-centred approach.
Our Aims
- Feel safe, valued, and listened to.
- Develop positive relationships and social skills.
- Build emotional resilience and self-confidence.
- Access education and community opportunities.
- Learn practical life skills and increase independence.
- Understand and regulate emotions with appropriate support.
- Enjoy meaningful experiences and positive childhood memories.
- Achieve outcomes that reflect their individual aspirations and abilities.
Statement of Purpose
Our home provides care and accommodation for up to three autistic children and young people aged between 4 and 18 years. The home adopts an autism-informed and child-centred approach, recognising that every child has unique strengths, needs, interests, and communication preferences. Through consistency, structure, positive relationships, and therapeutic support, we aim to provide an environment where children can feel secure, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes.
Our team works closely with families, education providers, health professionals, and other agencies to ensure children receive holistic support that promotes their emotional wellbeing, personal development, and independence. The home is committed to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding while ensuring every child is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding.
What the Role Involves
- Support autistic children with daily living activities and personal care where required.
- Develop trusting and positive relationships.
- Promote education, independence, and community engagement.
- Support emotional regulation and wellbeing.
- Implement individual care plans and behaviour support strategies.
- Record and report information accurately.
- Promote the rights, dignity, and individuality of each child.
- Work collaboratively with families and professionals.
- Maintain a safe and nurturing home environment.
Year-Round Service Commitment
As a children's residential home, our service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including weekends, bank holidays, Christmas, New Year, Easter, and all other seasonal periods. The children and young people living in our home rely on consistent care and support throughout the year. Therefore, all staff are expected to contribute fairly to the rota and be available to work across seasonal periods and public holidays as required.
We recognise the importance of work-life balance and ensure that weekends, sleep-ins, bank holidays, and seasonal shifts are allocated as fairly as possible across the team through our 4-week rolling rota system.
Shift Patterns and Flexibility
Our home operates a 4-week rolling rota designed to provide consistency for the children we support and predictability for our staff teams.
- Residential Support Workers and Senior Residential Support Workers
- Full-time hours: 35-37 hours per week
- Part-time hours: 15-22.5 hours per week
- A mixture of:
- Early shifts
- Late shifts
- Sleep-in shifts
- Weekend working
- Bank holiday working
- Seasonal holiday working
- Waking Night Support Workers
- 10-hour waking night shifts
- 140 contracted hours per month
- Worked across a 4-week rolling rota
- Includes weekend, bank holiday, and seasonal holiday working where scheduled
Important Information
This is not a fixed-shift role. Successful candidates must be willing and able to work a mixture of shifts as part of a 4-week rolling rota. Flexibility is essential to ensure our autistic children and young people receive consistent, high-quality care all year round.
By joining our team, you will play a vital role in providing stability, routine, and meaningful relationships to children who need support every day of the year, regardless of weekends, bank holidays, or seasonal celebrations.
Essential Requirements
- NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, Children and Young People's Workforce, or an equivalent qualification.
- OR a willingness to undertake and complete the Level 3 qualification within the first two years of employment.
- You will also demonstrate:
- A genuine passion for supporting autistic children and young people.
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Commitment to person-centred care.
- Ability to remain resilient and calm in challenging situations.
Safeguarding Statement
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility and is central to everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment where autistic children can thrive. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and safer recruitment checks in line with Children's Home Regulations.
Why Join Us?
- Competitive salary
- Sleep-in payments
- Comprehensive induction programme
- Ongoing training and development
- Autism-specific training
- Support to achieve the Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification
- Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation
- Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Support.
- Blue Light Card eligibility, providing access to thousands of discounts on shopping, travel, leisure, hospitality, and more
- Refer a Friend Scheme with a financial reward for successfully introducing new colleagues to our team (subject to scheme terms and conditions)
- Pension scheme
- Opportunity to be part of a brand-new autism-specialist children's residential service from day one
Senior Residential Autism Practitioner in Mansfield employer: Autism East Midlands
Sutherland House School is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of autistic children and young people. With a strong commitment to employee development, we provide comprehensive training and a supportive work culture that fosters collaboration among staff, therapists, and families. Located in a nurturing environment, our team enjoys the satisfaction of delivering personalised education while being part of a passionate community dedicated to enhancing the lives of our pupils.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Residential Autism Practitioner in Mansfield
✨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 Autism East Midlands.
✨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 Autism East Midlands!
✨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 Autism East Midlands, 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 Autism East Midlands 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 Senior Residential Autism Practitioner in Mansfield
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 Autism East Midlands:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Autism East Midlands! 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 Autism East Midlands
✨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.
