Residential Child Care Worker

Pebbles Care Ltd; Carnforth; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's care organization in Carnforth seeks a full-time Residential Child Care Worker to support young people's needs. This role involves driving children to school and appointments, food preparation, and engaging in fun activities. Candidates should have a valid UK manual driving licence, be resilient, creative, and have effective communication skills. A supportive training environment will help in professional development, with competitive salary and benefits including qualification funding and a pension plan.

Benefits

100% funding for Level 3 qualification

Cash-back health care plan

Meals provided while on shift

Blue Light Card for discounts

Qualifications

• Valid full UK manual driver’s licence required.
• Up to 12 months experience working with children is desirable.
• Familiarity with regulatory Codes of Practice is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one or two-to-one support to young people.
• Drive children to appointments and school.
• Prepare meals and maintain a supportive environment.

Skills

Dedication to safeguarding children

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Proficient IT skills

Creative ability to have fun

Patience and non-judgmental relationships

Education

SCQF Level 7 or Level 3 Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Pebbles Care has an incredible opportunity for you to work in partnership with our established team and become an essential part of our children's lives. This will include every aspect of home life, from driving our children to and from school, appointments, and visits (a full UK manual driving licence is required) to food preparation, household chores, and making lasting memories through fun-filled activities, outings, and holidays.

As a Residential Child Care Worker you will be employed full‑time as a dedicated team member, averaging 56.4 hours per week, including sleep hours. Working collaboratively with your team on shift, you will provide support tailored to the young person’s needs, either one‑to‑one or two‑to‑one. During your induction you will learn about our therapeutic care model with our Learning and Development team, and our Psychology, Education, and Senior Management Team will offer expert support and guidance. You will be based within one home on a full‑time basis, though you may occasionally be required to support other homes within the same geographical area.

If you enjoy working with children and have the resilience to deal with challenging behaviours while still being able to offer a caring and supportive therapeutic approach, then we would love to hear from you.

Required Qualities

• Dedication to safeguarding our children and young individuals.
• A strong desire to obtain qualifications and continue your personal development.
• Confident and resilient nature.
• A valid, full UK manual driver’s licence is required (all homes possess their own manual vehicles).
• A kind and supportive nature.
• Patience and the ability to cultivate non‑judgmental relationships.
• An engaged and attentive listener.
• A creative ability to have fun and learn new skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient IT skills and experience in using Microsoft packages.

Desirable Qualities

• Up to 12 months experience working with children or young adults. (If you have more than 12 months experience, then our grade two and three level salaries may apply.)
• Working towards, or a desire to obtain, SCQF Level 7 or Level 3 Diploma relevant to Children and Young People’s residential workforce (funding may be available).
• Familiar with the Codes of Practice set out by regulatory bodies.
• An existing PVG / DBS certificate.

Salary and Benefits

• Starting salary of £34,719.00 to £36,248.00 per annum, pro‑rata, depending on experience.
• Full‑time roles operate on a rota pattern of one day on (24 hours, including sleep‑over) and two days off (48 hours).
• Average weekly working hours, including sleepovers, are 56.4. Part‑time and zero‑hour contracts can be discussed.
• 5.6 weeks annual leave per annum (pro‑rata for part‑time contracts).
• 100% funding for your Level 3 SVQ/NVQ qualification in Residential Child Care through our Learning and Development team.
• Career review upon completing induction, training, and minimum qualifications.
• Auto‑enrolment into a salary‑sacrifice pension scheme (Scottish Widows).
• A cash‑back health care plan via Medicash, allowing claims for dental and optical treatments, discounted gym memberships, 24/7 GP access, free counselling and more.
• Blue Light Card for store discounts.
• Meals provided while on shift, depending on the home’s daily menu choice.

What sets Pebbles apart

• We strive to be the best and lead the way in providing personalised therapeutic care and education.
• We provide a clearly defined developmental pathway and have recently integrated a leadership development plan for those who wish to progress.
• Pebbles has 56 beautiful homes and three established schools for children and young people in North England and Scotland.
• We specialise in providing residential child care and education for young people between ages 8 and 18.
• Ambitious growth initiatives are planned for 2025, starting in January and continuing throughout the year.
• With nearly 22 years of experience, we have the skills and knowledge to guide young people toward brighter futures.