Residential Care Officer Level 2

Lincolnshire County Council; Lincoln; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Lincoln is seeking a compassionate Children’s Residential Carer to support children with disabilities in a safe environment. This role includes leading a team, managing care routines while ensuring a nurturing atmosphere for the children. Comprehensive training is provided, and the position offers a starting salary of £32,597 plus additional payments for sleep-ins and mileage reimbursement. Flexible working policies and career progression opportunities are also available.

Benefits

Contributory pension

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible working policies

Career progression opportunities

Generous annual leave entitlement

Qualifications

• No prior professional care experience required but essential to have transferable skills.
• Ability to inspire and supervise a team of care professionals.
• Willingness to continually develop professional skills.

Responsibilities

• Support children in safe, overnight short breaks.
• Lead a team of carers to manage diverse needs effectively.
• Take responsibility for medication and home management.

Skills

Creative

Compassionate

Leadership

Decision-making

Child-centred

Reflective

Dynamic

Caring demeanor

Education

QCF qualification in working with children

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of children with disabilities? At Strut House, we’re looking for caring, energetic, and child-focused individuals to join our dedicated team as a Children’s Residential Carer.

About the Role

As a Children’s Residential Carer level 2 at Strut House, you will support children in experiencing safe, overnight short breaks away from home whilst leading a team of carers to dynamically risk manage the diverse needs of each shift. You will also have responsibility for medication, supervisions and the home in the absence of the management team.

Salary: Starting £32,597 plus a sleeping‑in payment of £43.12 and mileage reimbursed at 45p per mile. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half.

Shift Pattern: Strut House is open throughout the year, weekdays, weekends and school holiday and is covered on a shift basis, 24 hours a day. All care staff are allocated a combination of early shifts, late shifts and wake‑in night duties, including every other weekend. There is also a need for sleep‑ins at the home which are rostered and paid in addition to your annual salary. The rota is carefully planned to try and ensure a good work/personal life balance, whilst ensuring the needs and risks of the children are safely managed.

Our Home

Strut House is located north of Lincoln, with easy access to local amenities and free parking. We provide overnight short breaks for children aged 5-18 years, with complex and profound disabilities, no two days are the same. Our children’s needs are as individual as they are; the care we provide reflects this.

We are a purpose‑built home for up to five children on single‑storey accommodation with multiple communal areas including a sound and sensory room and soft play facilities on site.

Our Team

We are an experienced, close‑knit team who bring a wide variety of skills and expertise, all with the same aim of creating a child‑focused, supportive, therapeutic and homely atmosphere where we support the children with all aspects of personal care, health care and behaviour support in line with very specific and detailed care plans and risk assessments.

Our staff are encouraged and supported to develop their skills and interests to further enhance our home and the experiences we can offer our children and families. We are passionate about celebrating our children and ensuring that we offer bespoke experiences that encourage and support them learn and grow in a safe and secure environment.

Empowering children to have their voice heard and valued is central to how we deliver care and advocate for our children working as part of a multi‑agency service provision.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Creative, compassionate, and resilient; essential for creating a secure, nurturing environment.
• A natural leader who can inspire and supervise a team of care professionals.
• Confident in making informed decisions and allocating resources effectively.
• Committed to continuous professional development.
• No prior professional care experience is required for this position, as we offer comprehensive training, however essential to have transferable skills.
• Child‑centred: Recognising and celebrating individuality.
• Reflective: Able to see opportunities for new ways of thinking and working.
• Dynamic: Short breaks are a fast‑paced service delivery, with each day bringing new and exciting challenges.
• Caring and playful demeanour: Children are full of energy and love to explore and play.
• Qualifications and skills: Basic IT skills and knowledge/experience of the caring profession, along with a willingness to obtain a QCF qualification in working with children.

Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering:

• A contributory pension.
• Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work.
• Flexible working policies.
• Career progression opportunities.
• A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more.

Further details about the benefits of working for Lincolnshire County Council.

If you would like an open and informal discussion regarding this role, please contact Heidi Harris, Homes Manager via email [e-mail].

Applications close on 10th December 2025.

Interviews will take place w/c 15th December 2025.

We wish you the best of luck with your application!

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your covering letter/personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack.

Please be advised that this position is subject to a criminal record check.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Fluency Duty: In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.