Children's Residential Support Worker

Shaw Trust; Bicester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ofsted Bonus Scheme

Annual Attendance Bonus

28 days annual leave

Free meals on shift

Cycle to Work Scheme

Healthcare & wellbeing support

Job summary

Homes2Inspire is seeking a Children’s Residential Support Worker to build positive relationships, provide daily care, and support children in developing essential life skills. You will collaborate with social workers, educators, and clinicians to promote wellbeing and learning in a safe, nurturing home.

The role includes contributing to care plans, maintaining records, and celebrating achievements, with a trauma-informed approach and opportunities for specialist training.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children, young people, or adults with complex needs.
• Strong emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Confidence managing difficult situations using therapeutic and child-centred approaches.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A genuine passion for helping children achieve positive outcomes.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Flexibility to work shifts, weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-ins.
• A willingness to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare if not already qualified.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Provide day-to-day care, guidance, and emotional support.
• Help children develop independence, confidence, and essential life skills.
• Support young people to access education, hobbies, activities, and community opportunities.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
• Respond calmly, confidently, and therapeutically to challenging situations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, social workers, education professionals, and clinicians.
• Contribute to care planning, record keeping, and celebrating children's achievements.

Skills

Experience with children

Emotional resilience

Therapeutic approaches

Communication skills

Child-centred approach

Driving licence

Flexibility

Willingness to study diploma

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Job description

As a Children's Residential Support Worker, you'll play a vital role in helping children and young people overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes.

You will:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Provide day-to-day care, guidance, and emotional support.
• Help children develop independence, confidence, and essential life skills.
• Support young people to access education, hobbies, activities, and community opportunities.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
• Respond calmly, confidently, and therapeutically to challenging situations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, social workers, education professionals, and clinicians.
• Contribute to care planning, record keeping, and celebrating children's achievements.

No two days are the same, but every day offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference.

About Our Bicester Home

Our home in Bicester provides a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs.

Situated in the heart of Oxfordshire, the home benefits from excellent access to local amenities, education providers, leisure facilities, and community resources, helping children engage in positive experiences and build meaningful connections within their local community.

Our dedicated team is committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed care that helps children feel safe, develop resilience, and achieve positive outcomes tailored to their individual needs and aspirations.

All successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment safer recruitment checks in line with Ofsted regulatory requirements and the Homes2Inspire Safer Recruitment Policy.

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Applications will be reviewed regularly, and we reserve the right to interview and appoint before the advertised closing date.

Interviews for this role will take place in person during planned assessment days. Please contact our Careers Team if you require any reasonable adjustments.

It is an important part of Homes2Inspire's recruitment process to ensure candidates are matched to the most appropriate service based on their skills, experience, and the needs of the children in our care. On occasion, this may result in an offer being made for an alternative service to the one originally applied for.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

At Homes2Inspire, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and welcome applications from all sections of society, including people with lived experience of disability, social exclusion, or care experience.

Homes2Inspire is proud to support care leavers through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you have lived experience of care and meet the minimum criteria for the role, please tell us as part of your application.

Male colleagues are currently underrepresented within our residential children's services and, while appointments are made solely on merit, we welcome applications from men who share our passion for helping children achieve positive outcomes.

We're looking for resilient, compassionate individuals who understand that behaviour is often a communication of unmet need.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children, young people, or adults with complex needs, emotional and behavioural difficulties, or behaviours that challenge.
• Strong emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Confidence managing difficult situations using therapeutic and child-centred approaches.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A genuine passion for helping children achieve positive outcomes.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Flexibility to work shifts, weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-ins.
• A willingness to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare if not already qualified.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary of £29,767 - £31,579 per annum (£14.31 - £15.18 per hour).
• £50.00 per sleep-in.
• Ofsted Bonus Scheme for homes achieving Good or Outstanding inspection outcomes.
• Annual Attendance Bonus.
• Enhanced Family Friendly Leave.
• Award and Recognition Vouchers celebrating outstanding achievements and contributions.
• Comprehensive induction and specialist training.
• Fully funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
• Clinical support through our Homes & Horizons therapeutic model.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing national organisation.
• 28 days annual leave, increasing with service.
• Free meals whilst on shift.
• Unum Healthcare, providing healthcare reimbursements, remote GP access, wellbeing resources, and mental health support.
• Aviva Digicare, including Digital GP consultations, annual health checks, and mental health assessments.
• Employee discounts on shopping, cinema, travel, and holidays.
• Blue Light Card eligibility.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Access to confidential counselling and wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Christmas recognition vouchers and long-service awards.
• Ongoing support, learning, and development opportunities.