At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead shifts and support a team in providing trauma-informed care for children aged 6-17.
- Company: Join a nurturing residential children's home with a supportive leadership structure.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, 28 days leave, free meals, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth and well-being initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare and experience in a similar role.
The predicted salary is between 16.5 - 16.5 £ per hour.
We are recruiting a dedicated and experienced Senior Support Worker to join a beautifully presented residential children’s home supporting children aged 6–17 years. You’ll be part of a supportive leadership structure, working closely with the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager to provide consistent, trauma-informed care in a safe and nurturing environment. This is a key role for someone who enjoys leading shifts, supporting teams and role-modelling excellent practice, while remaining closely connected to direct work with children.
Location: Histon, Cambridgeshire
Salary: £16.50 per hour plus additional sleep in payments
Shift Pattern: Full-time hours, working shifts with occasional sleep ins - £62.00 per night.
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Senior Support Worker Benefits:
- 28 Days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays
- A highly competitive rate of pay
- Paid Breaks and meals provided.
- Length of Service Bonus Scheme
- Free access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Free Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check and Annual Update Fees paid for by us
- Annual salary review
- Blue Light Card Scheme paid for
- Ode Health Service Discounts
- Comprehensive induction, training and professional development opportunities to complete further qualifications
- Support from an experienced Registered Manager, Deputy Manager and a wider senior leadership team
- Refer a Friend Scheme rewarding £500 for every person you refer*
- Free access to well-being initiatives
- Free on-site Parking
- Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme
Senior Support Worker - key responsibilities:
As a Senior Support Worker, you’ll play a vital role as part of a dynamic residential team, helping to create a safe, supportive space where children can thrive. Your work will be essential in empowering children, strengthening relationships and building the foundations for long-term stability and positive change.
You will support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager to ensure high standards of care and support in a safe, nurturing environment for the children. You will supervise, mentor and support a team of Residential Support Workers, helping them deliver outstanding care that promotes stability, growth, independence and positive outcomes.
This is a key role in shaping the future of the home, leading by example and taking responsibility for ensuring that shifts run safely and that all routines, risk management processes and sufficient staffing levels are adhered to. You’ll participate in the induction of new team members, as well as being involved with performance management including supervisions and appraisals and ongoing professional development.
You will form part of the wider team to help ensure the home meets all legislation, including Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, Safeguarding and company policies.
Senior Support Worker key requirements:
- Level 3 in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- Safeguarding Level 3 would be desirable.
- At least 1 year of experience as a Senior Support Worker or minimum of 2 years’ experience working within a Residential Children’s home as a Support Worker, ready to take the next step.
- If you’ve had experience supporting with audits, Regulation 44 reviews or Ofsted inspections this would be beneficial.
- Understanding of Ofsted legislation and safeguarding procedures.
- Proactive, enthusiastic and a strong people person with a hands-on, inclusive approach.
- A calm, reflective approach to managing conflict and behaviour.
- Experience with rotas and basic operational tasks (desirable, not essential)
- Full UK driving licence.
*Terms and conditions apply
If you have professional integrity and a commitment to making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply online today:
Children's Senior Support Worker in Histon employer: Excelcare Holdings
Excelcare is an exceptional employer, offering a warm and supportive work environment at our St Georges Court Care Home in Cambridge. As a family-owned care home group with over 34 years of experience, we prioritise outstanding care and employee well-being, providing generous benefits such as 28 days of holiday, free on-site parking, and opportunities for professional growth through funded qualifications. Join us to be part of a compassionate team where your contributions truly make a difference in the lives of our residents.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children's Senior Support Worker in Histon
✨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 Excelcare Holdings.
✨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 Excelcare Holdings!
✨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 Excelcare Holdings, 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 Excelcare Holdings 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 Children's Senior Support Worker in Histon
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 Excelcare Holdings:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Excelcare Holdings! 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 Excelcare Holdings
✨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.
