Children's Support Worker - Nights

Kent County Council; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

1/3 enhancement for night working

Pension and generous annual leave

Full training and development pathway

Job summary

Kent County Council is opening a brand-new, small, high-quality children’s home in Ashford as part of Project Athena, seeking caring Waking Night Children’s Support Workers.

Remain awake and alert through the night, provide support to children, maintain a calm environment, and contribute to the smooth running of the home. We offer training, professional development and a values-led team.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children, young people or vulnerable individuals.
• Ability to remain calm, observant and responsive during night shifts.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and Positive Behaviour Support (training provided).

Responsibilities

• Remain awake and alert throughout the night to ensure children are safe.
• Provide support to children during night-time hours.
• Help maintain a calm, safe and settled environment overnight.
• Contribute to the overall running and readiness of the home.
• Be a champion for safeguarding and positive experiences for children.

Skills

Child care experience

Calm under pressure

Teamwork

Safeguarding knowledge

Night shifts

Job description

In addition to the advertised basic salary, this role attracts enhanced pay for working unsociable hours. As most shifts are worked during unsociable hours, a significant proportion of working time is typically paid at time and one-third, meaning actual earnings are often considerably higher than the basic salary advertised.

Be part of something that truly matters.

Kent County Council is opening a brand-new, small, high-quality children’s home in Ashford as part of Project Athena – a flagship programme designed to transform how we support children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and/or neurodiverse needs.

We are looking for caring, committed Waking Night Children’s Support Workers to help provide consistency, safety and reassurance through the night.

This is your opportunity to be part of something new, meaningful, and genuinely impactful — supporting children at the times they may need it most.

Why Athena – and why now?

• Our Athena homes are small (2 children), allowing for consistent, relationship-based care built around understanding each child as an individual.
• Night-time support is a vital part of this — offering calm, stability and reassurance, and ensuring children feel safe and supported at all times.
• We work in a trauma-informed way, supported by Positive Behaviour Support, and we invest in our staff to develop these skills.

As a Waking Night Children’s Support Worker, you will:

• Remain awake and alert throughout the night to ensure children are safe
• Provide support to children as needed during night-time hours
• Help maintain a calm, safe and settled environment overnight
• Contribute to the overall running and readiness of the home
• Be a champion for safeguarding, and positive experiences for children and their outcomes

About the role

This role is focused on ensuring safety, continuity of care, and a supportive environment through the night.

You will:

• Carry out regular checks to ensure the safety and well‑being of children
• Respond to children’s needs during the night in a calm, supportive way
• Support night‑time routines and transitions where required
• Maintain accurate records of observations and any incidents
• Complete tasks that support the effective running of the home (as agreed by the Registered Manager)
• Work as part of the wider team to ensure continuity between day and night care

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for people with the right values, resilience and commitment to supporting children.

You may have:

• Experience working with children, young people or vulnerable individuals
• Experience in care, residential, health, education or similar settings
• The ability to remain calm, observant and responsive during night shifts
• Knowledge of Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and safeguarding practice
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• An interest in Positive Behaviour Support (training and ongoing support and development provided)

However, direct experience is not everything — we are equally interested in people who bring transferable skills, compassion, commitment and a willingness to learn. We will provide training and ongoing support to help you succeed.

Why Kent County Council?

• Competitive salary plus 1/3 enhancement for night working
• Pension and generous annual leave
• Full training and development pathway
• Support from experienced leaders and Behaviour specialists
• A genuinely supportive, values‑led working environment

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer‑facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient suitable applications be received, therefore early application is encouraged.

KCC, under Project Athena, is developing a number of children's homes across Kent. Candidates who are assessed as appointable at selection may be considered for similar opportunities at other Athena locations, subject to their agreement and location preferences.

Selection process: Will take place between 18 th Novemeber 2026 to 25 th Novemeber 2026 - if shortlisted candidates will need to attend 2 x half days for interview and selection in Ashford.

Important Information About Start Dates

Please note that we are currently planning for successful candidates (following shortlisting, selection, interview and background checks) for the new KCC Ashford service to join us from January 2027 TBC.

These anticipated start dates reflect the planned opening and registration timeline for this exciting brand‑new service. We please ask that all candidates consider this expected onboarding period when applying. Further information and questions around the anticipated start dates can be discussed during the recruitment process with relevant applicants.

We are really excited to bring our new Ashford service to life - and to support amazing outcomes for children and young people and would welcome your application.

For further information, please contact -

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.