Residential Child Care Worker

Polaris Community; England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community support organization in the UK seeks a passionate Residential Support Worker to assist boys aged 6-18 with daily routines and personal development. You will support their hygiene, meals, and activities while helping them achieve their individual targets. Ideal candidates will have a relevant qualification or be willing to obtain one, possess strong communication skills, and be flexible with shift work. A driving license and understanding of care issues are desirable. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits

Sleep-in allowance

6 weeks holiday

Company pension

Comprehensive training programme

Qualifications

• Must possess strong communication and listening skills.
• Flexibility for shift work and sleep-ins is mandatory.
• Experience with Emotional Behavioural Disorder is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support daily routines including hygiene, meals, and activities.
• Complete handover documents and daily paperwork.
• Act as a Keyworker, building relationships with the boys.

Skills

Flexibility in availability

Communication skills

Ability to work in a team

Education

Residential Childcare Diploma

NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

Job description

In each home we have detailed shift planners/diaries/handover documents that will outline the specific daily duties and tasks that you will be required to complete. These will differ between term‑time (school days) and holiday periods. The following is a summary of some of your duties during term‑time.

Responsibilities

• Supporting all of the boys daily routines, including getting them up, promoting personal hygiene routines, meals, and either school runs or activities.
• Supporting room cleans/developing life skills and independence, promoting socialisation and supporting bedtime routines.
• Attending medical/other appointments.
• Supporting the plans on the activity planners.
• Completion of day sheets for the boys and working with them on their targets.
• Completing handover documents/tasks.
• Completion of all daily paperwork.
• Completing budgeting requirements.
• Completion of daily room checks and daily housecleaning tasks.
• Completing food/other shopping needs, including meal preparation and kitchen hygiene/laundry duties.
• Completion of any specific checks such as COSHH, Fire Checks/Car checks.
• Liaising and building appropriate relationships with families, working to find out about special dates for boys and ensuring these are noted/marked, sorting and planning family time contacts.
• Acting as a Keyworker: building strong bonds, showing warmth, empathy and genuine care to create special occasions and opportunities for the boys.

Key Requirements

• Flexibility in your availability is a must as the role will involve sleeps in nights and shift work of 14 hours – typically 2 full days on, 2 days off, with rotating start times of 08:00, 12:00, or 14:00.
• Have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care.
• Hold a Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma, Children and Young People’s Workforce/NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, or equivalent – or be willing to work towards the required qualification.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Be willing to learn.
• Be able to work well as part of a small team.
• Be willing to undertake a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position. Your DBS check shall be paid for by the employer.
• Experience with Emotional Behavioural Disorder, Social/Residential Work, or Youth Work would be advantageous.
• Have a full, clean UK driving licence and be able to cover other residential homes as and when needed.

Salary

Unqualified: Base salary of £27,781.80 per annum with the potential to earn up to £31,039.08 with sleep‑in shifts.

Qualified: Base salary of £28,719.60 per annum with the potential to earn up to £31,976.88 with sleep‑in shifts (Qualified Care Worker salary is based on the proven completion of a Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare).

About North Lakes Children’s Services

North Lakes Children’s Services is a well‑established local provider of residential care and education for boys aged 6‑18. We improve the resilience, self‑esteem and abilities of all the young people we work with. As a Residential Support Worker you will be expected to be “strong, committed and passionate” about your role. The young people are at the centre of everything we do – both for and with them. You are a role model, a listening ear, a warm and approachable person, and someone who could inspire and make a massive, significant impact on a young person’s life and choices.

Benefits

• A sleep‑in allowance of £62.64 per night, with potential extra earnings of up to £3,257.28.
• Up to 6 weeks holiday per year.
• A rota pattern of 2 days on, 2 days off, with staggered start times ranging from 8 am, 12 noon, or 2 pm (e.g., 8 am‑10 pm, 12 pm‑10 pm, or 2 pm‑10 pm).
• All meals on duty are provided.
• Company pension.
• Access to our Exchange Employee Discount Scheme.
• Access to wellbeing programmes via our Exchange Provision.
• Comprehensive training programme, followed by a comprehensive and ongoing CPD programme.
• Access to qualifications (including Diploma 3/Diploma 5).
• Promotion opportunities.
• Monthly clinical and professional supervisions, access to therapeutic support.