At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children aged 11-17 in a nurturing environment, helping them manage emotions and build skills.
- Company: Join Southampton City Council, dedicated to improving children's lives through compassionate care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, flexible working, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Full-time role with a supportive team and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your skills in a rewarding role.
- Qualifications: Experience in childcare or residential care; NVQ Level 3 preferred but not essential.
The predicted salary is between 36362 - 36362 £ per year.
Are you a compassionate and resilient individual who is passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children aged 11–17? Southampton City Council is seeking committed and emotionally resilient Residential Care Workers to provide outstanding, therapeutic care and support at our new specialist children’s home. We offer short‑term residential placements (up to 90 days), where children receive a comprehensive assessment of their mental health and emotional wellbeing needs. This helps inform future placement decisions and aims to reduce the need for inpatient, secure, or longer‑term residential provision.
About the Role
As a Residential Care Worker, you will play a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where children can stabilise, feel understood, and be supported to move safely into longer‑term, appropriate placements. Working as part of a dedicated, multi‑disciplinary team, you will support children using a trauma‑informed and psychologically informed approach, helping them to manage challenges and build the skills needed for positive futures. This is a highly rewarding but emotionally demanding role, requiring resilience, reflection, and a consistent ability to show up for children experiencing significant challenges.
What You’ll Do
- Provide Emotional Support – Offer a consistent, empathetic presence, helping children to understand and regulate their emotions.
- Contribute to Assessments and Care Planning – Work with mental health professionals, families, and children to inform high‑quality assessments and deliver tailored support plans.
- Monitor Wellbeing and Respond to Risk – Observe changes in presentation and respond appropriately, including during periods of crisis, sharing concerns with relevant professionals.
- Support Daily Living – Help establish routines and support with personal care, education engagement, and independent living skills.
- Build Trusting Relationships – Develop positive, professional relationships that support engagement and progress.
- Respond to Crisis – Recognise and respond to behaviours of concern, including self‑harm or heightened distress, in line with safeguarding procedures.
- Work in Partnership – Collaborate with social workers, psychologists, health professionals, and education providers.
- Promote Independence – Encourage participation in activities and help build confidence and social skills.
- Maintain Accurate Records – Keep clear, confidential, and timely records to support care planning and safeguarding.
- Provide a Safe Environment – Maintain a physically and emotionally safe setting, managing risk effectively and using approved approaches such as Team Teach, with a strong focus on de‑escalation and least‑restrictive practice.
What We’re Looking For
- Experience: Working in residential care, childcare, or supporting children with complex needs.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare (or equivalent), or transferable experience with a willingness to work towards the qualification (support will be provided).
- Skills: Strong communication, teamwork, and problem‑solving abilities.
- Attributes: Compassionate, emotionally resilient, and committed to improving outcomes for children.
- Approach: A commitment to trauma‑informed practice, with the ability to remain calm, reflective, and consistent when supporting children in distress.
- Flexibility: This is a full‑time role (37 hours per week), typically worked across two long days and one shorter shift, including sleep‑ins, as part of a 24‑hour rota. The role includes weekend working on a rota basis, with regular planned time off.
- Working Arrangements: Based at Ridgeway House, with occasional work at other locations if required.
- DBS: Enhanced DBS required (Update Service desirable).
What We Can Offer You
- Salary: The salary band for this role is £32,061 – £36,362 per annum. The starting salary is £32,061 with annual progression through the salary bands.
- Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.
- Excellent local government pension with 15.2 % employer contribution.
- Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution).
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service.
- Flexible working options (role‑dependent).
- Family‑friendly policies – Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents.
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring.
- Health and wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks.
- Veteran‑friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform.
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres.
- Sustainable travel benefits – low‑emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans.
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer.
Southampton City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide satisfactory references. Join us and help shape brighter futures for children in Southampton.
Contact Details for Informal Discussion
For further information and details regarding the position, please contact Malikah Richards – malikah.richards@southampton.gov.uk
Recruitment Contact Details
Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council.
Residential Support Worker in Southampton employer: Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children aged 11–17. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer generous benefits including a robust pension scheme, flexible working options, and extensive training and development opportunities. Our supportive work culture fosters resilience and collaboration, ensuring that our Residential Support Workers can thrive while providing vital care in a nurturing environment at Ridgeway House.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Support Worker in Southampton
✨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 Southampton City Council.
✨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 Southampton City Council!
✨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 Southampton City Council, 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 Southampton City Council 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 Residential Support Worker in Southampton
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 Southampton City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southampton City Council! 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 Southampton City Council
✨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.
