Family - Senior Waking Night Support Worker

Fair Ways; Southampton; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday accrual

Wellbeing day

Additional holidays

Health Shield

Employee Assistance Scheme

Early Pay

Education Grant

Pension scheme

Blue Light Card

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Fair Ways is recruiting a Senior Waking Night Support Worker to join our Family Services team in the Solent region. You will lead the waking night shift, oversee safeguarding, and guide junior staff to maintain the highest standards of care for children and families.

This full-time role (37.5 hours weekly, 4 on/4 off) requires a driving license, enhanced DBS, and commitment to ongoing training. You will model best practice, manage records and support risk decisions to foster positive parenting

Qualifications

• Experience in safeguarding and risk assessment is essential.
• Strong leadership and ability to guide a night staff team.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Act as designated shift lead during waking night shifts, coordinating staff and duties.
• Maintain safeguarding oversight, assess risk, escalate concerns promptly.
• Contribute to parenting assessments via observation and reflective analysis.
• Lead shift handovers and ensure accurate, timely documentation.
• Oversee medicines storage, administration and recording per policy.
• Undertake lone working when required with safety protocols.
• Support staff development and participate in supervision and appraisals.
• Ensure quality recording of logs, safeguarding records and reports.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Assessment support

Team leadership

Record keeping

Medicines management

Independent working

Professional development

Education

NVQ Level 3 Children and Young People

Job description

Family - Senior Waking Night Support Worker

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year. Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of the young people and service users in our care. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you?

As our Family Services provision continues to grow, we are recruiting for a range of new opportunities across our Residential Family Centres, with positions available to start from January 2027. Families will be referred to the Family Centre if there have been concerns identified around the safety of the children in their current family home. Once with us, the families will be continuously encouraged, assessed and guided through a 12 week stay where they are monitored 24/7 to encourage sustainable positive parenting changes.

As a Senior Waking Night Support Worker with Fair Ways you will deliver the highest standards of care and support to those you care for:

• Leadership and Guidance - To act as the designated shift lead during waking night shifts, coordinating staff, prioritising tasks, overseeing the effective running of the service and ensuring all safeguarding and responsibilities are fulfilled throughout the night. To provide overnight leadership, guidance and support to Waking Night Support Workers, promoting consistent standards of practice, professional accountability and a positive team culture in line with Fair Ways values.
• Keeping families safe - To maintain oversight of safeguarding concerns during the shift, making informed decisions regarding risk, responding appropriately to incidents, escalating concerns in line with policies and procedures, and ensuring accurate recording and timely reporting to managers and relevant professionals.
• Assessment Support - To contribute to the parenting assessment process through observation, recording and reflective analysis of parenting capacity based on the needs of resident families and their children, supporting the monitoring of practice within the Family Centre in line with safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Leading a fantastic team - To lead effective shift handovers, ensuring key information relating to family welfare, assessments, risk management, and safeguarding concerns is communicated accurately to oncoming staff and management teams.
• Effective Role-Modelling - To observe, assess and monitor the health, development and emotional wellbeing of parents and children by promoting high standards of physical care, hygiene and safety, providing guidance and support to families to maximise positive outcomes throughout their parenting assessment.
• Line Management and supervision - To undertake line management responsibilities as delegated by the Registered Manager, including supervision, probationary support, monitoring performance, supporting staff development and contributing to appraisal processes.
• Accurate recording and reporting - To oversee and contribute to the quality and accuracy of recordings, family daily logs, handovers, safeguarding records and other documentation completed during the shift, ensuring records are clear, evidence-based and completed within required timescales and standard.
• Medicines Management - To ensure the safe storage, administration and recording of medication and controlled drugs in accordance with legislation, organisational policy and best practice guidance, whilst supporting families to meet their own healthcare needs.
• Independent working – To undertake lone working responsibilities when required, ensuring appropriate safety measures are followed and maintaining effective communication with colleagues and managers throughout the shift.
• Professional and personal development - To demonstrate commitment to ongoing learning and development through completion of statutory training, attendance at supervision and engagement with additional learning opportunities, maintaining the skills and knowledge required to meet the complex needs of families.

This position is offered on a full-time permanent basis working 37.5 hours per week. This will be worked as part of a 4 on/4 off shift pattern, Monday – Sunday. All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways. Fair Ways are unable to provide VISA sponsorship for this role and all applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of right to work in the UK.

Desirable…. but not Essential

Whilst we value the knowledge and understanding that experience and qualifications can bring, we also know that some of our best people have come to us from unrelated backgrounds. These people already held our core values at heart, and with the dedication of our amazing in-house training and development team, we have supported the rest!

• To hold or be working towards a minimum of a Level 3 NVQ Childrens and Young Peoples Workforce
• To have a basic understanding and working experience of legislation and practice relating to child protection, children who are looked after and family court care proceedings.
• To have basic knowledge of legislation relating to safeguarding adults.

At Fair Ways, we care about your well-being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities:Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers. Experience a workplace that celebrates your contributions.
• Work-Life Balance:Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme, an extra day of annual leave as a ‘wellbeing day’ and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days). We value your time and offer flexibility to accommodate your existing commitments.
• Health and Support:Benefit from Health Shield, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services. Access your salary when you need it with Early Pay – The ability to withdraw an amount of your salary early each month to assist with any unforeseen circumstances.
• Growth and Development:Progress and develop in your career with excellent support from an employer committed to ensuring you reach your goals. Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level. Engage in leadership courses to enhance your skills and progress in your career.
• Wellbeing Matters:Experience team-building days, summer festivals, and well-being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment. Take advantage of discounted gym memberships and a cycle-to-work scheme to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Recognition and Rewards:Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards. Build a secure future with our pension scheme and gain eligibility for a Blue Light Card.
• Supportive Community:Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to contribute to our inclusive and vibrant culture.

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!