Residential Support Worker

Children’s Residential Home | Duston (NN5)
Salary: £31,396.80 to £33,164.80 per year
Rota: 1 on / 2 off | 8am start – 8:30am finish | £50 sleeps

A small therapeutic setting, a stable team, leaders who care about the people doing the work as much as the work itself. Duston is one of those places.

You’d be supporting children and young people who’ve lived through difficult transitions and need adults who are present, patient and emotionally tuned-in. It’s a warm, structured environment where communication is clear, expectations make sense, and you’re backed by a leadership team who genuinely value their staff..

What you’ll be doing

You’ll play a key role in creating everyday safety, connection and growth:

• Supporting young people with routines, activities, independence skills and education

• Building relationships rooted in trust, warmth and predictable responses

• Supporting personal care with dignity and respect

• Using trauma-informed approaches to guide behaviour and emotional regulation

• Keeping clear, accurate records: daily logs, risks, incidents and meaningful observations

• Contributing to placement plans and helping keep practice consistent across the team

• Working 1:1 or 2:1 depending on young people’s needs

• Communicating well with colleagues, professionals, families and schools

• Helping maintain a homely environment where kids feel they belong

What you’ll bring

• Full UK driving licence and confidence driving (day, night and motorway)

• Level 3 Residential Childcare (or working towards it with evidence of enrolment)

• Experience in residential childcare: EBD, SEMH, LD or secure

• Clear understanding of safeguarding, boundaries and Ofsted expectations

• Good written communication and reliable record-keeping

• A grounded, caring approach and the ability to hold boundaries with warmth

• A clean DBS

• Curiosity, patience and a genuine interest in therapeutic care

This home isn’t looking for perfection; they’re looking for people with heart, awareness and the willingness to learn.

Pay, rota and benefits

• £31,396.80 – £33,164.80 inclusive of sleeps

• £12.31 – £13.81 per hour

• £50 per sleep

• 1 on / 2 off rota (8am start to 8:30am finish next day)

• Overtime paid +£2.50ph after 160hrs

• Twice-yearly salary reviews (March & October)

• Probation bonus, appraisal bonus, Ofsted bonus

• Paid face-to-face training & strong CPD pathways

• Extra 8 hours of annual leave for your birthday

• Christmas party + regular team appreciation

• Refer-a-friend incentives

• Employee Assistance Programme & wellbeing support

• Company pension

Progression is very real here; Senior, Deputy, even Registered Manager routes exist for staff who want to grow.

Why this home stands out

• A small, nurturing two-bed setting where staff actually have time for the work

• Thoughtful leadership who invest in people, not just policies

• A stable team, clear structure and supportive culture

• Training that goes beyond the basics, with a strong focus on trauma, communication and emotional development

• A provider known for consistency, transparency and doing right by young people

• A genuine sense of belonging; people stay because the culture is good, not because they feel stuck

It’s the kind of home where your effort is seen, your voice carries weight, and your work makes a visible difference.

Interested?

Apply with your CV. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted quickly for an initial conversation.

All offers are subject to safer recruitment checks: Enhanced DBS, references, right-to-work and qualification verification.