At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people facing challenges and help them develop essential life skills.
- Company: Breakwater, a nurturing residential care provider for vulnerable youth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, excellent pension, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to creating a safe and encouraging environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young lives while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or willingness to obtain it.
The predicted salary is between 31015 - 31015 £ per year.
About Us
Breakwater provides four young people aged 12 – 17 short to medium-term residential care facing social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Children referred to Breakwater are often victims of exploitation or involved in crime and may have experienced disrupted education. They may be at risk of becoming homeless and have limited support around them. Alongside the main home, two self-contained flats offer semi-independent living for those preparing for adulthood. Children complete a six-month independence programme that develops emotional, social, and practical skills. The Breakwater team are trained in interventions to promote independence and guide young people through this transition.
About the Role
- Salary: £29,542 - £31,015 per annum (includes weekend working allowance) plus sleep-in enhanced pay, excellent pension, annual leave and additional benefits.
- Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
- Contract: Permanent
- Location: Shoreham-By-Sea
- Shifts and Rotas: for day work, you will be required to work on a shift rota between 07:00 – 22:00, including every other weekend and approximately one sleep-in duty per week currently with enhanced pay.
As a Residential Childcare Worker at Breakwater, no two days are the same. Guided by each young person’s individual care plan, your role may involve supporting them through challenging behaviour, offering emotional reassurance when it’s needed most, and ensuring their safety when returning from time spent in the community. The ideal candidate will have experience working alongside young people who have faced social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Your care, understanding and resilience will help create stability and trust for the children in our care. At Breakwater, while the role can be challenging at times, the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our young people and support positive outcomes is incredibly rewarding. You will have support from our fantastic team along with excellent professional development opportunities and closely with a wide network of professionals. Together, we provide consistent, high‑quality care in a homely, nurturing environment where children feel valued, safe, and encouraged to thrive.
Experience and Skills
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent. If you do not have this, the service will support you to complete this qualification; you must achieve this within two years of appointment as it is a statutory requirement of this post.
- Sound communication and interpersonal skills to a range of children and families.
- Ability to promote and encourage a multi-agency approach to support the child.
- Ability to use initiative to resolve problems within given parameters.
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work.
- Ability to work as part of a team around a child.
- Good standard of literacy e.g. ability to write reports around individual young people and significant incidents and to be able to write application for level 3 diploma if required. Could be gained through formal education or vocational experience.
- Knowledge of how to support children who have experienced trauma, harm or abuse - Desirable.
Rewards and Benefits
In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive:
- an excellent local government pension scheme
- generous holiday entitlement 244.2 to 266.4 hours
- ability to apply for a Blue Light Card
- access to a wide selection of retail discounts and savings such as groceries, shopping, travel and more through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform.
- a range of commuting and business travel discount and initiatives
- maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave
- health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- financial wellbeing support including access to educational tools and webinars, loans or debt consolidation options and savings scheme
- training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
Further Information
The reference number for this role is CAFHE06460. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and an occupational health check. A full employment history will be requested and covered for this role. Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver.
Residential Childcare Worker - Breakwater in Shoreham-by-Sea employer: EMEA3 Recruitment
Blick Rothenberg is an exceptional employer that prioritises your professional growth in a supportive, partner-led environment. With flexible working hours, comprehensive study support, and a commitment to delivering high-quality tax advice, you will thrive as part of a dynamic cross-border team while enjoying a competitive salary and extensive benefits.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Childcare Worker - Breakwater in Shoreham-by-Sea
✨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 EMEA3 Recruitment.
✨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 EMEA3 Recruitment!
✨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 EMEA3 Recruitment, 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 EMEA3 Recruitment 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 Childcare Worker - Breakwater in Shoreham-by-Sea
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 EMEA3 Recruitment:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to EMEA3 Recruitment! 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 EMEA3 Recruitment
✨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.
