Residential Child Care Worker

Harmeny Education Trust Limited; Balerno; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Seven weeks of annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance (three times salary)

Wellbeing spaces with massage therapy

Free gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Wellbeing app and counselling

Job summary

Harmeny Education Trust is seeking a Residential Child Care Worker to join our Care team in Balerno, near Edinburgh. You will provide nurturing support, safety, and social development for children aged 5-18, working a 39-hour week on a rotable schedule including evenings and weekends.

You will register with the SSSC within three months and contribute to a caring, values-led environment at Harmeny’s 35-acre campus.

Qualifications

• SSSC registration requirements for residential child care workers.
• Experience in residential work/childcare with complex needs is desirable.
• Commitment to Children’s Rights and safeguarding practices.

Responsibilities

• Promote Harmeny’s positive ethos and core values.
• Support the Residential Team Manager in implementing policies and procedures.
• Care for children’s everyday needs and create a safe, homely environment.
• Develop care plans and assess risks, with regular reviews and reports.
• Be a designated keyworker and participate in meetings and training.

Skills

Residential care

SSSC registration

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Education

HNC

SVQ(s) in childcare

Job description

Application Deadline: 23 October 2026

Department: Care

Location: Balerno, Edinburgh

Compensation: £31,701 - £39,717 / year

Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis.

We are seeking a Residential Child Care Worker to join our Care staff team, which operates all year round.

The postholder will contribute to a culture and ethos in which the needs of the children and young people are paramount. Acting as a nurturing figure, you will provide them with security, safety, care and social development to enable them to prepare for independence and reach their potential.

Applicants should be registered, or will need to register within the first three months of employment, with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a practitioner on the register for children and young people workforce in residential child care services.

The successful candidate will work 39 hours per week according to a rota system which includes evening and weekend work.

The salary for these posts is determined by the qualifications held by applicants, in line with SSSC requirements.

• £31,701 per annum (unqualified)
• £33,279 per annum (part-qualified)
• £36,729 to £39,717 per annum (qualified)

Generous sleepover allowance of £100 per session is paid in addition to salary.

Successful applicants will be required to join Disclosure Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

A driving licence allowing the use of our vehicles is essential.

Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience.

Harmeny is situated in a beautiful 35-acre woodland estate, which includes residential and education accommodation, community garden, orchard, wildlife habitats and children’s play areas. Harmeny is located in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the foot of the Pentland Hills; we are easily accessible by bus and there is on-site parking available.

We offer a range of benefits and opportunities that promote wellbeing, work-life balance and staff development. These include:

• Seven weeks of annual leave
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance (three times salary)
• On-site wellbeing spaces and free massage therapy
• Free gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to a wellbeing app and counselling services
• Access to discounts on shopping and events
• Access to a comprehensive induction programme, along with a wide range of learning and development opportunities throughout your career with us

More information on the benefits of working at Harmeny, plus a fuller job description and person specification can be found at www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs.

If you would like to find out more about this rewarding opportunity, please contact member of the Care Management Team on 0131 449 3938 or email [e-mail].

Closing date: 23 October 2026

Interview date: 29 October 2026

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a positive ethos in the school consistent with Harmeny’s vision, purpose and core values.
• Support the Residential Team Manager with the implementation of management decisions, consistent with the Harmeny and cottage plans, policies and procedures.
• Be an integral part of the Care staff team.
• Care for the children’s everyday requirements and to help create a homely, caring and safe environment for all the children at Harmeny.
• Communicate and interact positively with children using solution-focussed and strengths-based principles in line with Harmeny policy, procedures and core values.
• Develop and implement care plans which address the needs of the child.
• Be involved in the development and implementation of risk assessment planning for children.
• Understand children’s behaviour and support them to manage their behaviour themselves.
• Be involved in the development and implementation of cottage improvement plans that reflect recommendations from the Independent Care Review outcomes – “The Promise”.
• Where required, as a last resort, implement physical intervention techniques.
• Support children’s learning during and out with the formal school day.
• Be a designated keyworker as directed by the Residential Team Manager or Care Management Team.
• As designated keyworker, participate in regular reviews and submit written reports on individual children.
• Attend regular staff and children’s meetings as required.
• Ensure that all children’s personal records including case notes, reviews and medical information are kept up to date.
• Attend supervision, Annual Performance Review, training and other meetings as required.
• Undertake sleeping-in duties as required by the staffing rota.
• Participate in residential trips and holidays when required.
• Have a flexible approach to the timetable and working patterns at the discretion of the Residential Team Manager or Care Management Team.
• Undertake domestic and food preparation duties as directed, and ensure that others in the team also do so. Undertake induction and other relevant training as required to fulfil the duties of the post and maintain SSSC registration.
• Undertake any other duties as delegated by the management team that are consistent with the role of Residential Child Care Worker.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Qualifications in line with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registration requirements for residential child care workers (e.g. HNC and SVQs). For more details, please visit www.sssc.uk.com.
• Experience in residential work and / or childcare, including working with children with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs.
• Knowledge and understanding of children who are looked after and accommodated, and children with complex additional support needs.
• Knowledge of child development, childcare legislation, good practice guidance, policy and procedures and a commitment to Children’s Rights.
• Knowledge of outcomes of the Independent Care Review “The Promise”.
• Understanding of the duty of care to children and colleagues.
• Understanding of the practice issues of physical intervention (PI), and ability to undertake PI when required.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Good organisational and administrative skills and computer literacy.
• Committed to high standards of care.
• Able to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload within a highly pressurised working environment.
• Emotionally intelligent, with an understanding of the needs of others and a commitment to reflective practice.
• Accountable for own performance.
• Proactive and takes the initiative to gain the information needed for the role, with a flexible and ‘can do’ attitude.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 7 weeks’ holiday per year, inclusive of public holidays
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme (three times salary)
• Enhanced pay for maternity, adoption and paternity leave
• Policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing, including massage therapy and access to a wellbeing space
• We are highly committed to the professional development of all our staff and the post-holders will have access to comprehensive training and development opportunities