Apprentice Residential Care Worker

Northumberland County Council; Stannington Station; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Pension Scheme

Onsite gym access

Staff discounts

Job summary

Northumberland County Council's Kyloe House seeks an Apprentice Residential Support Worker to learn on the job while gaining a Level 4 apprenticeship. You will shadow experienced staff, support daily routines, and help create a safe, nurturing home for young people who have faced trauma.

Training is structured with supervision, protected learning time, and clear progression milestones as you work towards becoming a qualified Residential Support Worker.

Qualifications

• GCSEs (Grade 4/C or above) in English and Maths.
• Willingness to complete a Level 4 apprenticeship qualification.
• Ability to meet safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements.
• Due to Children’s Homes Regulations, applicants must be aged 22 or over to work in a secure setting.

Responsibilities

• Support the safety, wellbeing, and development of young people in a secure environment.
• Assist with daily routines, including meals, activities, and household tasks.
• Help create a safe, structured, and nurturing home environment.
• Build positive, professional relationships with young people.
• Learn and apply behaviour management approaches, including CALM techniques.

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to begin a rewarding career while gaining a recognised qualification. As an apprentice, you will gradually build your confidence and skills. You will not be expected to manage complex situations alone. You will work as part of a supportive team, shadowing experienced staff, learning routines, and developing the practical skills needed to progress into a qualified Residential Support Worker role. This is a rewarding but demanding role. The young people we support have often experienced trauma, loss, or instability, which can sometimes present as:

Young People Behaviours & Challenges

• Strong emotions, including anger or distress
• Challenging, confrontational, or disruptive behaviour
• Periods of disengagement or difficulty building trust

You will need to remain calm, patient, and professional in emotionally charged situations, and be able to work as part of a team to maintain a safe environment. This role is not always easy – but for the right person, it is deeply meaningful. You will have the opportunity to build trust, support change, and help young people move towards a more positive future. A Realistic Look at the Work: We want you to join us with a clear understanding of the role. This work is meaningful, but it is not easy.

Situations You May Experience

• Supporting a young person in emotional crisis, including anger, tears, or complete disengagement
• Plans changing suddenly due to risk, mood, or safeguarding needs
• A young person making progress one day and stepping back the next
• Managing confrontational or disruptive behaviour as part of a team response

Practical Everyday Tasks

• Preparing meals, supporting routines, and keeping shared spaces clean
• Completing detailed written records after incidents or key events
• Being physically active throughout the shift – moving around the unit, supporting activities, and responding quickly when needed

What You Can Expect as an Apprentice

• A structured induction and shadowing period before taking on responsibilities
• Regular protected learning time for your Level 4 apprenticeship
• Close supervision and coaching from experienced Residential Support Workers
• Gradual exposure to more complex tasks as your confidence grows
• Clear progression milestones so you always know what’s expected at each stage

Working Pattern

Flexible shift pattern including early, late, and sleep-in shifts. Shifts can be long and fast-paced, and sleep-ins form a regular part of the rota. You will often work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. This role suits people who can adapt to changing plans and maintain energy across varied hours.

Key Responsibilities – Care & Support

• Support the safety, wellbeing, and development of young people in a secure environment
• Assist with daily routines, including meals, activities, and household tasks
• Help create a safe, structured, and nurturing home environment

Relationship Building

• Build positive, professional relationships with young people
• Support the delivery of individual care plans and structured routines

Learning & Development

• Work alongside experienced staff to develop practical skills and knowledge
• Learn and apply behaviour management approaches, including CALM techniques
• Actively participate in training, supervision, and apprenticeship learning

Safeguarding & Behaviour Support

• Promote safeguarding and welfare at all times
• Support positive behaviour management using approved approaches

Recording & Communication

• Maintain accurate records and contribute to effective team communication
• Share information appropriately to support consistent care delivery

Apprentice Residential Support Worker (No Prior Experience Required) – Kyloe House Secure Children's Home

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Emotionally resilient and able to stay calm under pressure
• Patient and consistent, even when progress feels slow
• Able to respond professionally to challenging or confrontational behaviour
• Reflective and open to learning from difficult situations
• Genuinely committed to supporting young people who may struggle to engage
• Want to make a genuine difference in young people's lives
• Are prepared for both the challenges and rewards of residential care
• Can manage shifting emotions and uncertainty in a calm, professional way

Essential Requirements

• GCSEs (Grade 4/C or above) in English and Maths
• Willingness to complete a Level 4 apprenticeship qualification
• Ability to work shifts, including sleep-in duties
• Ability to meet safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements
• Due to Children’s Homes Regulations, applicants must be aged 22 or over to work in a secure setting

Desirable

• Experience working or volunteering with children or young people
• Basic understanding of safeguarding or behaviour support, This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check
• Northumberland County Council follows robust safer recruitment processes

About Kyloe House

Kyloe House provides a safe, structured and nurturing environment for young people who have experienced significant challenges. Many arrive feeling unsafe, mistrustful, or overwhelmed, and their emotions can change quickly throughout the day. We use a trauma-informed approach, recognising each young person’s individual needs, strengths and potential.

Relationships are central to our work, but they take time, patience and consistency. Some days are emotionally demanding; others are incredibly rewarding. Progress is rarely linear. Our aim is not just to provide care, but to help young people feel safe, understood, and capable of achieving positive outcomes in their lives.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £26,427 - £26,847 (Band 3)
• Out-of-Hours Enhancements: £2,710- £2,753 per annum
• Sleep-in Payment: £44.54 per shift, Fully funded Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Level 4 Apprenticeship
• Enhanced pay for evenings, weekends, and sleep-in duties
• Access to Northumberland County Council staff benefits, including:
• + Local Government Pension Scheme
• + Discounts at leisure and cultural venues
• + Free onsite gym access