At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide care and support to children with learning disabilities while leading a dedicated team.
- Company: Midlands Care Services, a trusted provider of children's residential care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, overtime pay, birthday time off, and free food on shift.
- Other info: Enjoy increasing annual leave and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Residential Childcare and experience with children with learning disabilities.
The predicted salary is between 26674 - 32602 £ per year.
Midlands Care Services is an established provider of children's residential care in Burton upon Trent, built on stability, consistency and strong leadership. We are recruiting for a Senior Residential Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities children's home — someone ready to lead by example and support both young people and the wider team to thrive. We invest genuinely in our team's ongoing development.
What you will be doing:
- Providing direct care and support to children with learning disabilities, ensuring their safety, dignity and wellbeing at all times
- Supporting the day-to-day running of the home alongside senior management
- Leading shifts, supervising and developing team members
- Contributing to care plans, risk assessments and keyworking responsibilities
- Working in partnership with other professionals and agencies
What we are looking for:
- NVQ Level 3 or Level 4 in Residential Childcare, or Children, Young People & Family Practitioner (essential) — social work and equivalent qualifications considered
- Experience working with children with learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, sensory impairment or complex behavioural needs
- Supervisory or team-leading experience essential
- Full UK driving licence
Additional Benefits:
- Overtime paid at time-and-a-half
- £500 salary increase on completing probation
- £500 salary increase per year of service
- Voucher scheme for bank holiday/festive working
- Birthday time off, in addition to holiday entitlement
- Increasing annual leave entitlement each year
- Free food on shift
- Funded DBS and Update Service
- *Based on undertaking 5 sleep-ins per month; additional sleeps also paid at £60 each. Sleeps can vary month to month.
Senior Support Worker — Children's Residential LD Home employer: Midlands Care Services
Midlands Care Services is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for both our team and the children we care for in Burton upon Trent. We prioritise employee development with ongoing training opportunities, competitive benefits like overtime pay and annual salary increases, and a vibrant work culture that values teamwork and leadership. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying unique perks such as birthday time off and free meals during shifts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Support Worker — Children's Residential LD Home
✨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 Midlands Care Services.
✨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 Midlands Care Services!
✨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 Midlands Care Services, 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 Midlands Care Services 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 Senior Support Worker — Children's Residential LD Home
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 Midlands Care Services:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Midlands Care Services! 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 Midlands Care Services
✨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.
