Residential Child Care Worker

Residential Child Care Worker – £24,156-£28,382 + NJC Sleeping-In Duty Payments – Ramsden Heath, Billericay, Essex CM11 1HN. Term Time Only. Pay Award Pending.

The Role

Do you have experience supporting children with social, emotional, and behavioural needs? Are you confident working in a residential setting, offering structure, care, and guidance to young people? Are you passionate about learning? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you.

No experience in a residential setting? No problem. If you have experience working with children or providing care for others—and a genuine passion for making a difference—we’d love to hear from you.

We are looking for a dedicated Residential Child Care Worker to join our team at Ramsden Hall Academy – a residential special school for boys aged 10 to 16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Working as part of a supportive residential care team, you will provide structured and engaging care to pupils from the end of the school day until they return to school the next morning.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Supporting students after school, during evenings and overnight, helping them prepare for the following school day.
• Preparing and sharing healthy meals and snacks, and encouraging good hygiene routines.
• Participating in and encouraging recreational and physical activities such as games, sports, walks, beach visits, cinema trips, quizzes, and more.
• Promoting and supporting learning through homework, conversations, and structured activities.
• Supporting positive bedtime routines and maintaining a calm evening environment.
• Helping pupils prepare for their day in the morning, including breakfast and school readiness.
• Attending residential trips and undertaking driving duties as required.

This is a term-time only role, working 39 weeks a year, hours of work are 40.75 per week on a set rota, issued half-termly. Shifts include one day shift (7:30am–3:30pm) and four evening shifts (2:30pm–10:45pm) per week. Sleep-in duties are required and paid at £41.78 per night. No weekend shifts, public holiday or school holiday shifts are required.

If you’re ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable young people, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help shape a brighter future.

Key Responsibilities:

• To be actively involved in the school’s recreational and social programme and engage individuals and groups of pupils in constructive, enterprising, and socially extending leisure pursuits.
• To participate in the general supervision of pupils, ensure that they adhere to acceptable standards of behaviour, personal hygiene, tidiness, and dress.
• To participate in the implementation of an agreed pattern of sensitive, effective care and control, to provide the children with a secure, safe, and stimulating environment conducive to physical, emotional, educational, and social development, so that pupils enjoy a calm and relaxed group living experience.
• To be responsible for the safety of children by exercising adequate control and supervision, particularly in relation to lunch and break-times and during the daytime as required.
• To respond appropriately to the material, physical, and emotional needs of pupils.
• To be responsible for a group of students in a “key worker” capacity ensuring all relevant information is updated and correct.
• To supervise pupils at lunch and at break-times during the school day, evenings, and weekends as required.
• To escort pupils on visits to doctors, dentists, shopping trips, etc., as required.
• To attend, as required, meetings about individual pupils and/or matters affecting the general running of the school.
• To undertake such sleeping-in duties as may be determined by the needs of the school.

The Company

Ramsden Hall Academy is a residential special school for boys aged 10 to 16 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for SEMH. We are part of the Parallel Learning Trust (PLT), a Multi-Academy Trust with schools in London, Medway, and Southend.

We admit up to 100 boys from across the county, with transport provided by Essex LA. Every student has an EHCP and various social and emotional needs. We group pupils according to need and learning styles in all areas.

As the duties involve regular contact with children, any offer will be conditional upon an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service, medical clearance, and satisfactory references. We will also conduct an online search on shortlisted candidates to identify any incidents or issues publicly available online.

The Person

Experience working with/caring for people with special needs is preferable.

Experience working with/caring for children and young people.

Experience of working in a residential setting is preferable.

No residential experience? No problem. If you have experience working with children or providing care for others—and a genuine passion for making a difference—we’d love to hear from you.

Ability to administer medication.

A relevant qualification, such as an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare (or equivalent), is desirable. Alternatively, you must be willing to complete the mandatory Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification following a successful probationary period. This qualification will be fully funded by the employer after probation.

Driving qualification (minibus) is desirable.

Good understanding and effective implementation of child protection procedures and behaviour management policies.

Current clean car driving license.

Good knowledge of First Aid.

Ability to write detailed reports, letters, etc.

Understand and support the differences in children and adults and respond appropriately.

Good understanding of child development. Ability to assess progress and performance and recommend appropriate ways to support development.