Children's Residential Support Worker (Crook / North)

Description

Children's Residential Support Worker – Day Shifts

• Location: Crook, County Durham
• Job Type: Full-time | Permanent
• Salary: £33,488 per annum
• Hours: 40.25 hours per week on average
• Contract: Permanent

About the Role

We are looking for a caring, reliable and committed Children's Residential Support Worker to join our team at our children's residential home in Crook, County Durham.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting children and young people, helping them feel safe, valued and supported while developing the skills and confidence they need to achieve positive outcomes.

You may have previous experience as a Residential Support Worker, Children's Support Worker, Care Worker, Youth Worker, Behaviour Support Worker, Therapeutic Support Worker or within a similar childcare or social care setting.

Experience in children's residential care is desirable, but we also welcome applications from individuals with relevant transferable experience and the right attitude.

You will play an important role in providing consistent, child-centred care, building positive relationships and creating a safe, stable and nurturing home environment.

About the Role

Working as part of a dedicated residential childcare team, you will support children and young people with their day-to-day needs, emotional wellbeing and personal development.

You will build positive and trusting relationships, provide appropriate guidance and reassurance, promote positive behaviour and help maintain a structured and supportive home environment.

You will work in line with individual care plans, risk assessments, safeguarding procedures and organisational policies, ensuring that each young person receives consistent and appropriate support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day care and support to children and young people within a residential setting.
• Build positive, trusting and professional relationships with young people.
• Provide emotional support, reassurance and positive role modelling.
• Support children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD).
• Promote positive behaviour through consistent boundaries, encouragement and relationship-based approaches.
• Support daily routines, including personal care, meals, activities and morning or evening routines where required.
• Encourage independence, confidence, social skills and personal development.
• Carry out welfare checks in line with individual care plans and risk assessments.
• Recognise, respond to and report safeguarding concerns, incidents and changes in behaviour or wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate daily records, reports and handovers.
• Follow individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.
• Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming home environment, including completing light household duties.
• Follow health and safety, security and fire safety procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, managers and external professionals to support positive outcomes for young people.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and respect each young person's privacy, dignity and individual needs.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

We welcome applications from candidates with experience in:

• Children's Residential Care
• Residential Childcare
• Children's Support Work
• Youth Work
• Social Care
• Behaviour Support
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) settings
• Foster Care or Supported Accommodation
• Other relevant childcare or care settings

You'll also have:

• Experience supporting children or young people, ideally within a residential or care environment.
• A genuine passion for supporting children and helping them achieve positive outcomes.
• A calm, patient and resilient approach, particularly when dealing with challenging situations.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding, child protection and professional boundaries.
• Good written communication and record-keeping skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• A flexible, proactive and child-centred approach.
• A willingness to undertake relevant training and work towards the required residential childcare qualifications where applicable.
• A full UK driving licence is desirable.

Working Hours & Conditions

• This is a full-time, permanent position working an average of 40.25 hours per week on a rotating shift pattern.
• Two to three extended day shifts per week on rotation.
• Day shifts run from 07:15 to 22:00.
• One sleep-in shift per week, from 22:15 to 07:00.
• Sleep-ins are paid separately at £70 per sleep-in through the overtime payment process and are not included in the annual salary.
• The rota includes weekends and bank holidays.
• Flexibility is required to meet the needs of the home and ensure continuity of care.

Benefits

Salary & Benefits

• Annual salary of £33,488, based on an average of 40.25 hours per week.
• Additional payment of £70 for each completed sleep-in.
• Permanent, full-time employment.
• Supportive working environment.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Opportunities to develop your skills and progress within residential childcare.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All employees are expected to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, professional conduct and appropriate boundaries.

This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants will be required to disclose relevant convictions and cautions that are not protected under current filtering legislation.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks, including:

• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a children's barred list check where applicable.
• Verification of identity and right to work in the UK.
• Two satisfactory written references, including a reference from the most recent employer where applicable.
• A full employment history and satisfactory written explanations for any gaps.
• Verification of relevant qualifications.
• Appropriate pre-employment suitability checks.
• We are looking for individuals who share our commitment to providing safe, consistent and high-quality care to children and young people.