Casual Residential Childcare Assistant - Pinecroft
Reading Borough Council
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Reading Borough Council is seeking a Casual Residential Child Care Assistant for Pinecroft, supporting children aged 8-18 with disabilities in a highly regarded shared care service. The role requires commitment to safeguarding, strong teamwork and flexibility to cover shifts, including evenings and weekends.
The post offers a competitive hourly rate (£13.70) and a range of benefits. You will be part of Team Reading, contributing to excellent outcomes for vulnerable children.
Qualifications
- Experience working with children and young people.
- Motivation to work in residential childcare settings.
- Team player with good interpersonal skills and a flexible approach.
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Uses initiative to problem solve.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Willingness to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- Sound ICT understanding with good keyboard skills
- Ability to demonstrate resilience and manage stress
- Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
- Driving license and willingness to drive home vehicle
Responsibilities
- Be a positive and professional role model, building effective relationships with children.
- Assist in promoting trauma informed and nurturing home environments for children.
- Keywork children, recognising their positive abilities and supporting and empowering them to develop
- Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children, assess and report areas of concern
- Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.
- You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Skills
Education
Job description
We are looking for a Casual Residential Child Care Assistant for our outstanding Ofsted rated Shared Care Service. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
Pinecroft shared care service has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted and is dedicated to supporting children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and/or sensory impairment. We pride ourselves in offering high quality personalised care to the most vulnerable and complex children aged 8-18. Our goal is to transform lives by being passionate, committed and creative in everything we do. We believe improved outcomes for children are possible through a proactive and consistent approach, where learning through play and accessing the community is essential.
- Be a positive and professional role model, building effective relationships with children.
- Assist in promoting trauma informed and nurturing home environments for children.
- Keywork children, recognising their positive abilities and supporting and empowering them to develop
- Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children, assess and report areas of concern
- Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.
- You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Helena.Baptista@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Sunday 15th November 2026
Interview Date:To be confirmed
Interview Process: If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore the above questions (Lasting approximately 20 minutes), and if successful following this we will invite you to meet us at the home for a formal interview. If successful following formal interview you will be invited in for a 2-hour shift to meet the children. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis so feel free to submit your application as soon as you wish, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, so applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
About youWhat we’re looking for:
- Experience working with children and young people
- Motivation to work in residential childcare settings.
- Team player with good interpersonal skills and a flexible approach
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Uses initiative to problem solve
- Commitment to continuous professional development.
- A willingness and ability to demonstrate a commitment to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- Sound understanding of ICT with good keyboard skills
- Ability to demonstrate resilience and manage stress
- Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
- Driving license and willingness to drive homes vehicle
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
Company: Reading Borough Council Salary: £13.70 to £13.70 an hour Hours: Part-time Location: Reading, RG1 2LU Working pattern: On-site Job type: Temporary Posting date: 2 Nov 2026 Closing date: 15 Nov 2026
We are looking for a Casual Residential Child Care Assistant for our outstanding Ofsted rated Shared Care Service. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
Pinecroft shared care service has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted and is dedicated to supporting children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and/or sensory impairment. We pride ourselves in offering high quality personalised care to the most vulnerable and complex children aged 8-18. Our goal is to transform lives by being passionate, committed and creative in everything we do. We believe improved outcomes for children are possible through a proactive and consistent approach, where learning through play and accessing the community is essential.
As a Residential Child Care Assistant, you will:
Be a positive and professional role model, building effective relationships with children.
Assist in promoting trauma informed and nurturing home environments for children.
Keywork children, recognising their positive abilities and supporting and empowering them to develop
Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
Safeguard and promote the welfare of children, assess and report areas of concern
Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Helena.Baptista@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Sunday 15th November 2026
About youWhat we’re looking for:
Experience working with children and young people
Motivation to work in residential childcare settings.
Team player with good interpersonal skills and a flexible approach
Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Uses initiative to problem solve
Commitment to continuous professional development.
A willingness and ability to demonstrate a commitment to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
Sound understanding of ICT with good keyboard skills
Ability to demonstrate resilience and manage stress
Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
Driving license and willingness to drive homes vehicle
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
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