Children's Residential Worker
7 hours ago
Walton on Thames
This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £30,647 per annum, based on a 36-hour week plus enhanced rates of pay for weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in duties. Are you committed to providing a caring and safe home environment for children and young people? We are excited to be hiring Children's Residential Workers to join our fantastic team, based at our home in Walton on Thames! As a 24/7 service operating all year round, our roles work on a rota basis. Shifts are usually between 10 and 12 hours to ensure consistent care for our children and young people, though this may vary slightly depending on staffing arrangements and the needs of our children and young people. We'll talk through shift patterns and rotas during the Teams call so you're clear on what to expect. Our Offer to You 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents Relocation bonus Refer a friend payment of £750 as a thank you for finding the right residential workerAbout The Role When a young person joins us at our home in Walton, which supports children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, they're not just looking for support- they're looking for stability, encouragement and someone who believes in their potential. Residential Support Workers are the heart of our homes, working directly with children to create a safe, supportive, and enriching space they can call home. You'll play a key role in promoting their physical, emotional, and social development through meaningful engagement and consistent, compassionate care. Building effective relationships, co-ordinating activities and holidays, creating meaningful care plans, working together with partner organisations, writing reports and ensuring records are kept clear and up to date are some of the ways our Residential Workers support our children. Like all supportive, caring, and compassionate home environments; no two days are the same, they throw up complex and challenging situations and are on 24/7 - 365 days of the year. So, let's be honest, if you are looking for a 9-5 job which is straight forward and predictable, you might want to sit this one out. When working in our home you may support children and young people, who present with complex needs including: Trauma histories Attachment difficulties SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health) needs ADHD, anxiety, behavioural dysregulation Risk of exploitation or criminal involvementIf you have experience of supporting young people with these types of challenges- whether in education, special educational needs settings, youth work, or community roles this would be highly transferable into a role and future career with us. While the role can be challenging, the rewards can be profound. Watching a child grow in confidence, develop new skills, and begin to believe in their future is an experience like no other. Supporting You We will support and invest in you to achieve the mandatory, nationally recognised, Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (within two years of starting) if you do not already have this. We have a proven track record of supporting staff to pass their qualification and are proud of the achievements of all staff we invest in. Gaining this qualification will unlock opportunities for you to progress to a Senior Residential Worker (starting at £33,552 per annum) and will help you grow the skills and confidence needed to be an effective Residential Worker. Working in children's residential services is a great opportunity and gateway to developing a career within care. We offer a clearly defined career pathway and progression opportunities with our expanding children's residential service as we continue our journey to open further homes this year and beyond. You will have access to a wealth of personal development and resources to ensure you feel confident to succeed and progress in your role, working as part of a wider network with support from professionals such as Psychologists and our Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) service to enrich your practice. To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following 4 questions: Looking at our advert please tell us what it is about the role that has motivated you to apply? Please tell us about the relevant experience or transferable skills you have in relation to this role? What three qualities do you have that would make you a good Support Worker and why will these be important? Please tell us how you would you handle a situation where challenging behaviour was present? Please offer a relevant example if you can.Our Requirements Due to our legal obligations, we can only accept applications from people 22 years old and above. This role requires a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or an equivalent qualification. If you do not currently hold this qualification (or equivalent) but are successful in the interview and meet the enrolment criteria (including English and Maths skills), you will be enrolled in a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, subject to funding. In addition to the above, to meet the criteria of the Level 3 Diploma, you must have lived in the UK/EEA for the last 3 years and you must also have the right to remain and work in the United Kingdom for the duration of the study programme. Failure to achieve the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or losing your right to remain and work in the United Kingdom may result in the termination of your employment. We are unfortunately not able to offer sponsorship at this time. Surrey has both urban and rural areas and our residential workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle, to support our young people to attend appointments, activities or trips as agreed. What Next? Applications will be reviewed and considered on an ongoing basis. If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore your answers to the above questions (lasting approx. 10-15 min), and if successful following this, invited to meet us at one of our homes for an interview. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis so feel free to submit an application as soon as you wish, and we will come back to you as quickly as possible. An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role. We are committed to the safe recruitment of staff in our Residential homes across Surrey therefore if you are successful in being offered a role within our service, we will work with you to collect all required checks in line with government guidance. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities
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