Residential Child Care Worker - Orpington

We are recruiting for our residential children’s home in Orpington, Kent. We are a social enterprise that provides caring, bespoke residential homes for young people aged 7-18 who have had a difficult start to life. You will join a team of compassionate, child-focused adults whose mission is to give the best experiences to our children and young people. You will also be supported as part of a bigger team with our integrated services including our Clinical and education colleagues. We specialise in trauma-informed care following our therapeutic model to help their lives around.

You won’t need specific experience for this role - we will train, teach, and guide you with all you will need to know to be successful. We are looking for people who want to make a difference to a young person, and who are patient and resilient when times are challenging.

As a Children Support Worker, you will be involved in events and activities including:

• Kayaking
• Rock climbing
• Swimming
• Skating
• Arts and crafts
• Beach adventures and walks in the forest
• Movie nights
• Camping in the back garden

Being a role model guiding and supporting our children to make good choices. Cleaning, cooking meals, maintaining the home, and learning new skills like nutritional meal planning, first aid, Health & Safety, and gardening: the list is endless.

Developing your professional career as a children’s support worker through the Level 4 apprenticeship in residential childcare. Clear career pathways for your future development. Part of the role involves some overnight stays in the home. You will need to do between 2 and 3 of these ‘sleep‑ins’ per week. For each sleep-in you would receive an additional £50 per night - if you completed nine sleep‑ins per month, you could earn an additional £4,500 per year to help towards that well-deserved holidays!

You will need to have good written, verbal, and IT communication skills, know how to have fun, and understand the importance of play to children. We will support you to achieve your Level 4 Qualifications. Ideally, you will have a full driving licence and be over the age of 19.

We are a social enterprise. Our homes are run by kind, compassionate, and resilient people who give children a sense of security they may have struggled to find until now. These individuals open their hearts to the children they look after, forming deep connections that help turn children’s lives around. They are dependable, responsible role models and their positive influence can last a lifetime.

We are an award‑winning organisation: we are proud to hold the Investors in People Gold Award, Children & Young People’s Employer of the Year, and Apprenticeship Providers’ Employer of the Year. Looking after you is important, so we offer benefits to provide you with a range of support:

• 30 days (22 days plus 8 bank holidays) of annual leave (plus a holiday purchase scheme)
• 3-week rolling rota given 6 weeks in advance
• £50 per sleep‑in payment on top of your salary
• Simplyhealth – medical cash‑back plan
• Ongoing training and support through our Learning & Development Team, with in-house and external trainers
• We will pay for your Level 4 Diploma in Residential Child Care
• Employee Support programs including 24/7 GP service, counselling, and advice
• Enhanced Maternity Leave package for mothers with over one year’s service
• Meals as part of a family when on shift
• Blue Light discount card eligibility
• Refer a Friend bonus

Hours: On average 39 hours a week for full-time. However, if you are interested in part‑time hours, we would also love to hear from you. Talk to our recruitment team today and make a difference in children’s lives by calling 01722 435750 option 2 or email us at Recruitment@five-rivers.org.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful candidates must be willing to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including employment references and a DBS check (the cost of which will be met by us). We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.