Children's Residential Support Worker

Prospects; Burtle; 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

Employee discounts

Job summary

Homes2Inspire’s residential team in Somerset seeks supportive, resilient staff to help children heal and grow in a therapeutic home environment. You’ll build trusting relationships, provide daily care and guidance, and actively contribute to care planning and education access, all while safeguarding each child’s wellbeing and development.

The role requires flexibility for shifts, weekends, and sleep-ins, with pathways to professional development and a funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people with complex needs.
• Strong emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Confident in 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.
• Ability to work shifts, weekends, and sleep-ins.
• 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 children to access education, hobbies, activities, and community opportunities.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
• Respond calmly and therapeutically to challenging situations.
• Work closely with colleagues, social workers, education professionals, and clinicians.
• Contribute to care planning, record keeping, and celebrating children's achievements.

Skills

Emotional resilience

Therapeutic approaches

Excellent communication

Relationship-building

Calm under pressure

Empathy

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Job description

Location: Burtle, Somerset

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: £29,767 - £31,579 per annum (£14.31 - £15.18 per hour)

Sleep-In Payment: £50.00 per sleep-in

Looking for a Career That Changes Lives?

At Homes2Inspire, we believe every child deserves a place where they feel safe, loved, supported, and able to thrive.

Our children's home in Burtle, Somerset, provides a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for children and young people who have experienced significant trauma, loss, and disruption in their lives. Working as part of a dedicated team, you'll help children build trust, develop resilience, and create positive experiences that can change the course of their future.

As part of Somerset's ambitious Homes & Horizons partnership with Somerset Council, this home has been developed to provide high-quality local residential care for Somerset children, helping them remain connected to their communities, education, relationships, and support networks whenever possible.

Located within the heart of the Somerset Levels, Burtle offers a peaceful rural setting whilst remaining within easy reach of Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea, Wells, and surrounding Somerset communities. The local area provides access to education, leisure opportunities, outdoor activities, and community resources that help children build confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.

This is more than a care role. It's about being the consistent, caring adult who helps a child feel safe enough to grow, heal, and achieve their potential.

What You'll Do

As a Children's Residential Support Worker, you'll play an important role in helping children recover from past experiences and build positive futures.

• 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 children to access education, hobbies, activities, and community opportunities.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
• Respond calmly and therapeutically to challenging situations.
• Work closely with colleagues, social workers, education professionals, and clinicians.
• Contribute to care planning, record keeping, and celebrating children's achievements.

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

About Our Burtle Home

Our children's home in Burtle provides a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment where children and young people can feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their potential.

As part of the Homes & Horizons project, the home has been created to provide high-quality care and stability for Somerset children, ensuring they can remain close to their communities and support networks wherever possible.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing service and help shape a warm, supportive, and therapeutic home environment from the very beginning. Working alongside experienced colleagues and clinical professionals, you'll play a key role in creating positive experiences and helping children develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive.

The home is easily accessible from Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea, Wells, Taunton, and surrounding Somerset areas.

What We're Looking For

Our homes support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs. We're looking for resilient, compassionate individuals who can provide stability, nurture, and understanding, even during challenging moments.

You'll Need

• Experience working with children, young people, or adults with complex needs, emotional and behavioural difficulties, autism, ADHD, or behaviours that challenge.
• Strong emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Confidence in 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.
• The ability to work shifts, weekends, and sleep-ins.
• A willingness to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare if not already qualified.

Most importantly, we're looking for people who can see beyond behaviour and recognise the experiences, emotions, and unmet needs behind it.

What We Offer

• 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 learning, development, and support from experienced leaders.

Why Join Homes2Inspire?

At Homes2Inspire, we're passionate about creating homes where children feel safe, supported, loved, and able to achieve their potential.

Through our partnership with Somerset Council, we're helping transform children's residential care across Somerset by creating high-quality, local homes that keep children connected to the people, places, and communities that matter to them.

When you join our Burtle team, you're not just starting a job. You're becoming part of a dedicated team committed to helping children heal, grow, and build brighter futures.

Important Information

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.

Due to partnership working with Somerset Council, personal information provided during the recruitment process may be shared with partner organisations.

Interviews for this role will take place in person during planned assessment days.

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 and respected.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and welcome applications from all sections of society, including those 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.

For an informal discussion or to request a full job description:

[e-mail]

01788 487057

Homes2Inspire. Creating homes where children can heal, grow, and belong.