Children Waking Nights Support Worker

Embrace Care Ltd; Chester; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medicash healthcare plan

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

£1,000 Refer-a-Friend Bonus

Loyalty reward scheme

Free parking

20% discount at Chester hotels

Job summary

The Retreat Short Breaks & Day Service in Chester is seeking a Waking Night Residential Childcare Practitioner for full-time, permanent night shifts. You’ll provide therapeutic, night-time support to children with complex needs, ensuring safety and comfort throughout the night.

Join a dedicated night team focused on traumainformed, person-centred care, with paid induction and progression opportunities within a supportive setting.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
• Experience in residential childcare or similar overnight services.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and person-centred care.

Responsibilities

• Providing overnight care and support to children and young people with complex needs.
• Supporting children who wake during the night using therapeutic approaches.
• Promoting safety, wellbeing, dignity, and independence.
• Completing regular welfare checks and monitoring individual needs.
• Following care plans, risk assessments, and safeguarding procedures.
• Managing challenging situations calmly and professionally.
• Maintaining records and completing digital documentation.
• Preparing the home for handover to daytime team.
• Collaborating with colleagues to deliver child-centred care.

Skills

Residential childcare

Waking nights

Safeguarding

Trauma-informed care

Job description

Waking Night Residential Childcare Practitioner
The Retreat Short Breaks & Day Service, Chester

£14.50 per hour | Full-Time | Permanent | Waking Nights

Are you an experienced Support Worker, Residential Childcare Practitioner, or Waking Night Support Worker looking for a rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people with complex needs?

At The Retreat, our specialist Short Breaks and Day Service supports children and young people with additional needs including Autism, Learning Disabilities (LD), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD), and complex behaviours.

We're looking for a compassionate, resilient, and experienced Waking Night Residential Childcare Practitioners to provide high-quality overnight support, ensuring children feel safe, reassured, and supported throughout the night.

What You'll Receive

Pay & Benefits

• £14.50 per hour
• Medicash healthcare plan
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• £1,000 Refer-a-Friend Bonus
• Loyalty reward scheme
• Free parking

Training & Development

• Paid induction and ongoing specialist training
• Supported Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (if not already achieved)
• Supported Level 4 & 5 Leadership qualifications
• Clear progression opportunities into Senior Support Worker and management positions

Additional Perks

• 20% discount at our Chester and Preston hotels

About the Role

Working as part of our dedicated night team, you'll provide a calm, therapeutic and nurturing environment for children and young people during overnight hours.

This role goes beyond supervision. You'll provide reassurance, emotional support, and person-centred care while ensuring the home remains safe and compliant with all safeguarding and regulatory requirements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing overnight care and support to children and young people with complex needs.
• Supporting children who wake during the night using therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches.
• Promoting safety, wellbeing, dignity, and independence.
• Completing regular welfare checks and monitoring individual needs.
• Following care plans, behaviour support plans, risk assessments, and safeguarding procedures.
• Managing challenging situations calmly and professionally.
• Maintaining accurate records and completing digital documentation.
• Ensuring the home is prepared for a smooth handover to the daytime team.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to deliver outstanding child-centred care.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Experience working with children and young people with complex needs, including Autism, Learning Disabilities, SEMH, and/or EBD.
• Previous experience within residential childcare, short breaks services similar childcare settings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and person-centred care.
• Ability to remain awake, alert, and responsive throughout the shift.

Desirable

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
• Previous waking night experience.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and positive behaviour support.

Why Join The Retreat?

At The Retreat, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, positively impact young li