At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead shifts and provide consistent care for children in a supportive environment.
- Company: Join Inkfish, a small, nurturing home focused on child development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, extra pay for sleep-ins, structured training, and career progression.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare and experience with children required.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 35000 £ per year.
£32,000–£35,000 a year (depending on experience), plus £70 for each sleep-in, paid separately. Full-time, permanent · 40 hours a week · Two extended duties a week (7:00am to 7:30am the next morning, including a sleep-in).
The role
- Lead the shift while staying part of everyday life in the home.
- Support your colleague, organise the work and help the team provide safe, consistent care.
- A Senior at Inkfish isn't an extra layer of management; you're there to make good care more consistent.
- When you lead, the Residential Support Worker alongside you should feel supported by you, not managed from a distance.
Could this suit you?
- Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England), or an accepted equivalent, held on appointment.
- Experience working with children or young people; children's residential experience is strongly expected.
- Evidence you can organise a shift and make safe decisions under pressure.
- Strong safeguarding understanding.
- Clear, factual, respectful recording.
- The ability to guide, support and challenge colleagues.
- Availability for the rota, including weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins.
Why Inkfish
- A small home: Compass House is our first home, small by design, for up to two children.
- Leadership that stays close to the child; every shift is led by a Senior, Deputy or Registered Manager.
- Development for leaders: structured supervision, reflective practice and training, with a route to Deputy Manager or specialist practice.
Everyday work
- Building safe, trusting relationships through direct, everyday care.
- Modelling trauma-responsive, PACE-based, DDP-informed practice.
- Staying curious about what behaviour may be communicating, while holding clear and predictable boundaries.
- Supporting education, health, family time, identity, independence and community life.
- Leading shifts safely, and taking delegated responsibility when the Deputy or Registered Manager isn't leading.
- Safeguarding children, and recording, reporting and escalating concerns promptly.
- Writing high-quality daily records, incident reports and key-work records.
- Responding to incidents with the least restrictive approach, prioritising de-escalation and repair.
- Speaking up when something is unsafe or inconsistent with a child's plan.
- Coordinating the shift, allocating tasks and making sure actions are followed through.
- Supporting and coaching the RSW alongside you.
Working pattern
- Two staff stay with the children through the day, evening and overnight.
- Each extended duty starts at 7:00am and finishes at 7:30am the next morning.
- Waking duty runs until 10:30pm, followed by a sleep-in until 7:00am and a short handover.
- Full-time roles are 40 hours a week on a rolling 7-week rota that's planned in advance, with weekdays and weekends shared across the team.
- Each sleep-in is paid an extra £70.
Pay and development
- £32,000–£35,000 base salary, depending on experience.
- £70 for every sleep-in, paid separately on top of your salary.
- Structured supervision, reflective practice and training.
- A route to Deputy Manager or specialist practice.
- Company pension.
- Free on-site parking.
How to apply
- Answer three everyday scenarios in your own words.
- Add your details and CV, then review your application before you submit it.
- If shortlisted, meet us; you'll meet the Registered Manager and a senior leader for the Inkfish Conversation.
More information
- Nice to have: a year or more in a children's home; Senior, Team Leader or shift-lead experience; PACE, DDP or attachment-aware practice; mentoring experience.
- How we work: curiosity, regulation, warmth, consistency, courage, reflection, boundaries, humility and repair.
- Recruitment checks: all appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks: identity, enhanced DBS, references, full employment history with gaps explained, qualification verification and right to work.
Senior Residential Support Worker in Dudley employer: Inkfish Care UK ltd
Inkfish Care UK Ltd offers a supportive work environment where employees can make a meaningful impact in the lives of children. The company provides comprehensive training and progression opportunities, including support for obtaining a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare. With a focus on building trusting relationships and creating a safe home environment, Inkfish Care UK Ltd fosters a culture of warmth and professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Residential Support Worker in Dudley
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Residential Support Worker in Dudley
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 Inkfish Care UK ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Inkfish Care UK ltd! 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 Inkfish Care UK ltd
✨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.
