Residential Autism Practitioner (Mansfield)

AUTISM EAST MIDLANDS; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sleep-in payments

Pension scheme

Blue Light Card eligibility

Comprehensive induction programme

Ongoing training and development

Refer a Friend Scheme

Job summary

Autism East Midlands seeks staff to join a new autism-specialist Children’s Residential Home in Mansfield. Roles include Senior Residential Support Workers, Residential Support Workers and Waking Night Support Workers to help autistic children aged 4–18.

We offer a supportive, child-centred environment with 4-week rotas, 24/7 operations, and a commitment to safeguarding, education and independence for every child.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent is required or expected.
• Willingness to achieve Level 3 within two years is expected.

Responsibilities

• Support autistic children with daily living activities and personal care where required.
• Develop trusting, positive relationships with children and families.
• Promote education, independence and community engagement.
• Support emotional regulation and wellbeing.
• Implement individual care plans and behaviour support strategies.
• Record and report information accurately.
• Promote rights, dignity and individuality of each child.
• Work collaboratively with families and professionals.
• Maintain a safe and nurturing home environment.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Resilience

Safeguarding

Person-centred care

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare / Health & Social Care / Children and Young People’s Workforce or equivalent

Willingness to undertake Level 3 qualification within first two years

Job description

Residential Autism Practitioner (Mansfield)

Children’s Services | Mansfield

Salary: £25,801.95 + sleep-in rate

Hours: Full-time, part-time and casual roles available

Closing date: Monday, 19th October 2026

Join our new autism-specialist children’s residential home in Mansfield!

Make a Difference to the Lives of Autistic Children and Young People

We are excited to be opening a new 3-bed autism-specialist Children's Residential Home in Mansfield, providing high-quality care and support for autistic children and young people aged 4-18 years.

We are seeking caring, enthusiastic, and dedicated individuals to join our team as Senior Residential Support Workers, Residential Support Workers, and Waking Night Support Workers.

This is a unique opportunity to help create a nurturing home environment where autistic children can feel safe, understood, respected, and supported to thrive.

Our Ethos

We believe that every autistic child and young person deserves:

• A safe, caring, and stable home.
• To be understood as an individual.
• Consistent, nurturing relationships with trusted adults.
• Opportunities to develop independence, confidence, and life skills.
• Respect for their communication style, sensory needs, and preferences.
• The chance to achieve their full potential in their own way and at their own pace.

Our practice is built upon compassion, respect, inclusion, and a commitment to understanding autism through a strengths-based and person-centred approach.

About our Home

Our home provides care and accommodation for up to three autistic children and young people aged between 4 and 18 years.

We adopt an autism-informed and child-centred approach, recognising that every child has unique strengths, needs, interests, and communication preferences.

Through consistency, structure, positive relationships, and therapeutic support, we aim to provide an environment where children can feel secure, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes.

What the Role Involves

Successful candidates will:

• Support autistic children with daily living activities and personal care where required.
• Develop trusting and positive relationships.
• Promote education, independence, and community engagement.
• Support emotional regulation and wellbeing.
• Implement individual care plans and behaviour support strategies.
• Record and report information accurately.
• Promote the rights, dignity, and individuality of each child.
• Work collaboratively with families and professionals.
• Maintain a safe and nurturing home environment.

Shift Patterns and Flexibility

Our home operates a 4-week rolling rota designed to provide consistency for the children we support and predictability for our staff teams. As a children's residential home, our service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including weekends, bank holidays, Christmas, New Year, Easter, and all other seasonal periods.

• Full-time roles are available for 35-37 hours per week
• Part-time roles are available for 15-22.5 hours per week

We recognise the importance of work-life balance and ensure that weekends, sleep-ins, bank holidays, and seasonal shifts are allocated as fairly as possible across the team through our 4-week rolling rota.

What do I need?

Applicants must possess one of the following:

• NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, Children and Young People's Workforce or an equivalent qualification
• Willingness to undertake and complete the Level 3 qualification within the first two years of employment.

You will also demonstrate:

• A genuine passion for supporting autistic children and young people.
• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to person-centred care.
• Ability to remain resilient and calm in challenging situations.

Why join us?

Together, we will create a home where autistic children feel safe, understood, empowered, and able to achieve their full potential.

• Autism-specific training
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive induction programme
• Ongoing training and development
• Pension scheme
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Sleep-in payments
• Support to achieve the Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification