Children's Residential Support Worker

• Kettering, Northamptonshire

• £27,040 to £37,260 with sleep-ins £34,240 to £37,360pa

• 2 on 4 off

The key facts:

• Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire, within easy reach of Corby, Wellingborough, Desborough and Rothwell

• Role: Children's Residential Support Worker (Residential Childcare Worker)

• Setting: a small three-bed children's home supporting young people with emotional and behavioural needs

• Pay: £13 to £14.50 per hour, which works out at £27,040 to £30,160 per year as a base salary

• Sleep-ins: £60 per night, taking realistic annual earnings to between £34,240 and £37,260 before any overtime

• Overtime: paid at an extra £2 per hour on top of your normal rate

• Shift pattern: 2 on 4 off, which means four full days at home after every two days at work

• Contract: full-time and permanent, with applications welcome from experienced support workers and from people ready to start their residential childcare career

Why people choose to build their career here:

• Every inspected home within the group holds a Good rating from Ofsted, which tells you the standard of care, leadership and teamwork you'll be stepping into from your very first shift

• A sister home locally has progressed to Outstanding under a Registered Manager who began their own career as a Residential Support Worker, so the route from the floor to leading a home is something people here have walked for real

• Progression from Support Worker to Senior, Deputy Manager and Registered Manager is an active pathway, supported through mentoring and professional development

• The organisation is growing, with new homes opening across Leicestershire and Kent, which creates genuine opportunities for people who want to move up into senior and leadership roles over the next few years

• Small homes mean small, close teams, so you'll know your colleagues well and the young people will see the same familiar faces day to day, which is where trust really begins to grow

What your days will look like:

• Supporting three young people in a warm, trauma-informed home where relationships come first and every child's story is understood and respected

• Building consistent, trusting relationships that help young people feel safe, valued and listened to, so they can start to enjoy being children again

• Helping to shape daily routines, fair boundaries and positive role modelling that give young people a sense of security and structure

• Supporting young people through moments of distress with patience, empathy and professional judgement, using the de-escalation skills you'll develop through full training

• Getting out and about together, whether that's local outings, community activities, sports, days out or helping with everyday life skills like cooking and budgeting, which can involve plenty of walking, carrying equipment and floor-based play

• Encouraging young people with their education, hobbies, friendships and family time so they can see real progress in their own lives

• Writing clear, thoughtful daily records and handovers that capture each young person's voice and celebrate their achievements as well as their needs

• Working a 2 on 4 off pattern that includes evenings, weekends and sleep-ins, which is how young people experience genuine continuity of care from the adults around them

What you'll bring:

• An NVQ, QCF or Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or a willingness to work towards the qualification with the full support of the home

• Experience in residential childcare

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as you'll be recording each young person's journey and working alongside social workers, schools and families

• An understanding of the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, or an eagerness to learn them as part of your induction

• A patient, composed and compassionate approach to supporting young people when emotions run high, including the use of safe holding techniques as a last resort once you're fully trained

• A full UK driving licence, as you'll be taking young people to school, appointments and activities

• A willingness to complete Proactive Approaches training within your first three months, which equips you with confident, child-centred ways of keeping everyone safe

• Flexibility to work a 2 on 4 off rota that includes evenings, weekends and sleep-ins

Pay and benefits:

• A base salary of £27,040 to £30,160, rising to £34,240 to £37,260 with sleep-ins before overtime is added

• Overtime paid at an additional £2 per hour for any extra shifts you choose to pick up

• A quarterly performance bonus when the home reaches full occupancy

• A £500 retention bonus after 12 months, recognising the difference your consistency makes to young people

• A £300 bonus for every colleague you refer who joins the team

• A health and wellbeing programme designed to support the people who support young people

• Mentoring and ongoing professional development to help you move towards Senior, Deputy and Registered Manager roles

• A workplace pension, cycle to work scheme, company events and a relaxed dress code that keeps things homely for the young people

Safer recruitment:

• All offers are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references, in line with safer recruitment practice for children's homes

• As this role involves regulated activity with children, applicants must not be barred from working with children

• Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be arranged as strong applications arrive, so early applications are warmly encouraged

If this sounds like the kind of home you'd be proud to be part of, send your CV today and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch to talk you through the role, the home and the progression on offer.