Job Description: Senior Residential Support Worker Employer: Bright Haven Children’s Home Location: Havering, London Reports to: Registered Manager / Deputy Manager Working arrangements: Rota-based, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in or waking-night duties as required. Purpose of the role Provide safe, nurturing and individualised care for children with emotional and behavioural needs. Lead shifts, guide colleagues and support management with safeguarding, staff development, recording and the daily running of the home. Key responsibilities 1. Shift leadership Lead shifts, allocate duties and ensure staff understand children’s needs, risks and activities. Check staffing and supervision arrangements against assessed needs and escalate shortfalls. Deliver handovers covering significant events, changes and outstanding actions. Make decisions within delegated authority and seek management support when required. Model respectful communication, professional boundaries and accountable practice. 2. Care and relationships Build trusting relationships through consistent, compassionate and dependable care. Use trauma-informed and PACE-informed approaches to support emotional wellbeing. Follow placement plans, support plans and risk assessments, contributing to reviews. Support personal care, healthy eating, sleep routines and independent living skills. Respect children’s identities, cultures, beliefs, privacy and preferences. 3. Safeguarding and risk management Recognise and respond promptly to abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm and other safeguarding concerns. Follow safeguarding, allegations and missing-from-home procedures, escalating concerns immediately. Ensure staff understand and follow individual safety plans. Respond appropriately to disclosures and maintain accurate records. Challenge unsafe practice and follow whistleblowing procedures when necessary. 4. Positive behaviour support Maintain clear, consistent and respectful boundaries. Help children understand emotions, express their needs and develop safer coping strategies. Use agreed de-escalation techniques and follow behaviour support plans. Use restrictive interventions only when trained and authorised, following policy and applicable requirements. Ensure incidents receive welfare checks, recording, debriefs and management review. 5. Keywork and participation Deliver meaningful keywork linked to support plans, risk assessments and goals. Guide staff to use engaging approaches, including storytelling and practical activities. Record children’s views, session outcomes and follow-up actions. Support house meetings, complaints, feedback and access to independent advocacy. 6. Education, activities and independence Encourage school attendance, learning and personal development. Coordinate meal and activity plans with children’s involvement. Organise appointments, outings and transport with suitable staffing and risk assessments. Develop children’s budgeting, cooking, shopping, personal hygiene and household skills. Celebrate achievements and encourage interests and aspirations. 7. Medication and health Administer medication only when trained, assessed as competent and authorised. Ensure MAR records are accurate and completed promptly. Check medication storage, stock and outstanding entries within delegated responsibilities. Escalate omissions, errors and discrepancies immediately. Follow clinical advice and contingency plans when medication cannot be administered as prescribed. Support access to physical, dental and mental health services. 8. Recording and communication Complete and check daily logs, summaries, handovers, incident reports and keywork records. Ensure entries on the recording system are factual, timely, respectful and clear. Prepare weekly reports for social workers and contribute to reviews and professional meetings. Communicate appropriately with families, schools, health professionals and other agencies. Maintain confidentiality and handle information securely. 9. Staff development Support induction and guide new or less experienced colleagues. Provide feedback and identify training or practice concerns. Undertake delegated supervision and competency observations where appropriately prepared. Attend supervision, appraisal, training and team meetings. Share learning from incidents, audits and feedback. 10. Home environment and quality assurance Ensure cleaning, food hygiene, fire safety and health and safety checks are completed. Report hazards, maintenance issues and equipment faults promptly. Complete delegated audits and monitor agreed actions. Support improvements arising from management reviews, children’s feedback and independent visits. Manage petty cash, receipts and children’s allowances in line with procedures. Person specification Essential Relevant experience supporting children in residential care. Relevant Level 3 residential childcare qualification or accepted equivalent. Understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and children’s individual needs. Ability to lead colleagues, remain calm and exercise sound judgement. Effective communication, teamwork and accurate recording skills. Willingness to work the rota and complete required training. Desirable Experience leading shifts, mentoring staff or contributing to audits. Training in leadership, trauma-informed care or positive behaviour support. Experience supporting children affected by trauma, exploitation or disrupted placements. Experience using an electronic care-recording system. Full driving licence and willingness to drive for work. Appointment requirements Appointment is subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, references, identity and right-to-work checks, qualification verification and employment history review. The postholder must work within their competence and delegated authority. Duties may be reviewed to reflect children’s needs and the operation of the home.
