Children Waking Nights Support Worker

Embrace Care; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medicash healthcare plan

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

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 dedicated Waking Night Residential Childcare Practitioner to join our night team, delivering overnight care for children with complex needs while ensuring safety and emotional support.

We provide paid induction, ongoing specialist training, Level 3 Diploma support options, and clear progression into senior roles within a supportive organisation. £14.50/hour, full-time, permanent, with benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people with complex needs (Autism, LD, SEMH, EBD).
• Residential childcare experience in similar settings.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and person-centred care.
• Ability to remain awake, alert and responsive during night shifts.

Responsibilities

• Provide overnight care and support to children and young people with complex needs.
• Support children who wake during the night using therapeutic approaches.
• Promote safety, wellbeing, dignity and independence.
• Conduct regular welfare checks and monitor individual needs.
• Follow care plans, behaviour support plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures.
• Handle challenging situations calmly and professionally.
• Maintain accurate records and digital documentation.
• Prepare the home for handover to the daytime team.
• Collaborate with colleagues to deliver child-centred care.

Skills

Experience with complex needs

Residential childcare

Safeguarding

Stay awake during shift

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (Desirable)

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 lives, and develop a long-term career within a supportive organisation that genuinely invests in its people.

Embrace Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check, satisfactory references, and safer recruitment checks in line with Ofsted requirements