Children's Support Worker

Carestaff Solutions; Bury; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized health and social care staffing supplier is seeking dedicated care professionals to support children in residential settings. This role focuses on promoting emotional stability and independence through personalized care and trauma-informed practices. Candidates should have residential care experience and an understanding of safeguarding. Flexibility in work hours is required, and an NVQ Level 3 is essential. This temporary position involves collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people in residential, education, or care settings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection practices.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and attachment-based care approaches.
• Ability to form trusting and therapeutic relationships.
• Flexibility to work varied shifts, including weekends and nights.
• NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• Enhanced DBS (Children’s Workforce) – registered on the Update Service or willing to undergo a new check.
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, person-centred care and support.
• Establish nurturing relationships with children and young people.
• Act as the named Keyworker for assigned young people.
• Assist with personal care and hygiene where required.
• Support emotional regulation and behaviour management.
• Develop and review individual care plans and risk assessments.
• Promote safeguarding procedures to protect children.
• Support children in educational and social activities.

Job description

Job Purpose

To provide high-quality, person-centred care and keyworking support to children and young people living in residential care settings. The role focuses on promoting emotional stability, safeguarding, development, and independence through therapeutic and trauma-informed practice, in line with care plans and organisational policies.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Care & Support

• Establish consistent, nurturing, and supportive relationships with children and young people.
• Act as the named Keyworker for assigned young people, supporting their care journey and advocating on their behalf.
• Assist with personal care where required and support children in maintaining hygiene, health, and daily routines.
• Support children with emotional regulation, behaviour management, and de‑escalation using approved strategies (e.g., PRICE, Team Teach).

Keyworking Duties

• Develop, implement, and review individual care plans, placement plans, and risk assessments in collaboration with the team and multi‑agency professionals.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records, including keywork sessions, progress updates, incidents, and safeguarding concerns.
• Attend and contribute to Looked After Child (LAC) reviews, statutory meetings, and staff handovers.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Actively promote and adhere to safeguarding procedures to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm.
• Remain vigilant and report any safeguarding concerns promptly in line with local authority and organisational protocols.
• Ensure a safe and structured environment by adhering to health and safety procedures and completing daily checks.

Emotional and Behavioural Support

• Support children who present with emotional and behavioural difficulties, mental health needs, trauma, attachment disorders, and developmental challenges.
• Deliver consistent boundaries, routines, and responses to challenging behaviour using trauma‑informed approaches.
• Help young people understand and manage their feelings and behaviours, encouraging resilience and coping strategies.

Promoting Development & Independence

• Encourage and support children to engage in education, social activities, and life skills development.
• Promote independence in areas such as budgeting, cooking, laundry, transport, and managing appointments (as age‑appropriate).
• Celebrate achievements and milestones, helping to build confidence and self‑worth.

Teamwork & Communication

• Work effectively within a multidisciplinary team to deliver continuity of care.
• Communicate professionally with colleagues, external agencies, families (where appropriate), and other stakeholders.
• Support colleagues during incidents or crisis situations, following agreed procedures and using de‑escalation where necessary.

Requirements : Essential

• Experience working with children and young people in residential, education, or care settings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection practices.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed and attachment‑based care approaches.
• Ability to form trusting and therapeutic relationships.
• Flexibility to work varied shifts, including weekends and nights.
• NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• Enhanced DBS (Children’s Workforce) – registered on the Update Service or willing to undergo a new check.
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• Training in behaviour management techniques (e.g., PRICE, Team Teach, MAPA).

Personal Attributes

• Calm, patient, and empathetic.
• Resilient and emotionally intelligent.
• Professional and reliable.
• Child‑focused and committed to positive outcomes.
• Able to maintain professional boundaries.

Note

This role is delivered on a temporary basis through Carestaff Solutions’ provision of staff to residential children’s homes. As such, the successful candidate will be expected to represent Carestaff Solution’s professionalism while adhering to the policies and culture of each individual placement.

About Carestaff Solutions

We are a specialised health and social care staffing supplier, training and compliance provider to a variety of sectors including statutory, private and third sector organisations across the UK with concentrated support in the North West of England and Greater London areas. The success of Carestaff Solutions is based around the reputation built up over the past 16 years on the quality of our service delivery, progressive approach, person centred approaches, partnership working, reliability plus the standard and the high support and training levels for our staff supplied. Carestaff Solutions are flexible, responsive and there for you 24 hours a day, so right when you need us the most we are ready and willing to support you, we never close.