At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people in a residential home, ensuring their safety and well-being during the night.
- Company: Join a compassionate team dedicated to empowering young lives in Basildon.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with every other weekend off and a supportive management team.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your career in social care.
- Qualifications: Compassionate individuals with strong communication skills; experience with children is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 43232 - 43232 £ per year.
Permanent, Full Time
£34,169 to £43,232 per annum (includes allowance)
Location: Basildon
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Closing date: 22nd July 2026
Join our brand-new children's homes to help shape and empower brighter futures for our young people. Are you looking to work in a brand-new children's home that makes a positive, lasting difference to children's lives? Are you compassionate, empathetic and resilient? If so, this opportunity could be perfect for you to start your career within Social Care!
We are looking for a team of compassionate and patient Residential Workers - Night Support to support and make a difference to the lives of young people and families who experience difficulties and inequalities.
Role Overview
The role will be based across our brand-new Basildon sites - where you'll help create safe, nurturing environments for young people aged 11-17 who have experienced trauma. The Residential Worker - Night Support is focused on supporting the Residential Home Manager in the care and development of young people in residential homes, ensuring their safety at night-time, as well as ensuring the environment is suitable to adequately safeguard their welfare. The role requires you to be empathetic and resilient to ensure our young people feel safe and protected. In return, you'll be part of a team of passionate, like-minded professionals, supported by an encouraging and approachable management team. You'll also benefit from access to high-quality training and development opportunities, helping you grow and advance your career within the child and family sector.
What You'll Get
- 37-hour working week + potential overtime opportunities
- 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy more
- Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
- Essex Rewards - discounts at hundreds of retailers
- Lifeworks Health & Wellbeing Platform
- 2 paid volunteering days (individual) + 2 team volunteering days annually
- Ongoing learning and development to support your career journey
What You'll Do
This role calls for a compassionate, resilient, and dedicated individual who can make a real difference in the lives of young people during the night. You will be awake during the night to:
- Directly support children and young people within a residential home, ensuring all regulatory requirements and codes of practice are consistently met.
- Contribute to care planning, helping assess individual needs and develop clear, actionable placement plans that are regularly reviewed and updated.
- Facilitate positive family contact, supporting young people in maintaining healthy relationships and preparing for adulthood.
- Empower young people to make informed decisions about their lives, encouraging independence and self-confidence.
- Collaborate with the management team to maintain a healthy, safe, and supportive living environment that promotes independence.
- Support access to education and personal interests, helping young people grow, learn, and prepare for a successful transition into adulthood.
- Contribute to the operational effectivity of the residential home, including monitoring care standards and occasionally leading shifts.
- Work towards individual and shared objectives, reviewed annually as part of the performance management framework.
What We're Looking For
Previous experience of working in a children's home would be desirable; however, there are many skills that you might have that would make you suitable for the role. We are looking for individuals who want to make a difference to the futures of our young people to allow them to grow.
Essential skills
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete within 2 years - fully funded).
- Strong communication and listening skills and the ability to engage with others effectively and at all levels.
Desirable skills
- Evidence of working with young people to explore their behaviours and develop an understanding of their individual needs.
- Evidence of an awareness of child protection issues.
- Understands and demonstrates the ability to promote people's equality, diversity and rights alongside experience of being able to protect children from abuse.
- Experience of contributing to the development, provision and review of Placement, and other care management plans, with evidence of the ability to encourage young people to develop and maintain a positive sense of identity.
You will work an average of 37 hours a week with shift times being 9.15pm to 7.15am and you will have every other weekend off. The salary quoted is comprised of a basic salary of £26,284 to £33,256 per annum, plus a guaranteed additional 30% allowance per annum. Due to the nature of this role, any applicants need to be at least 21 years old to undertake this post.
If shortlisted, the interview process will be a video interview, followed by a face-to-face interview at the home.
Ready to Apply?
If you're ready to bring your skills, compassion, and energy to a team that's changing lives, we'd love to hear from you.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Worker - Night Support in Basildon
✨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 Essex County Counci.
✨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 Essex County Counci!
✨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 Essex County Counci, 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 Essex County Counci 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 Worker - Night Support in Basildon
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 Essex County Counci:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Essex County Counci! 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 Essex County Counci
✨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.
