Residential Child Care Worker

Dove Adolescent Services Limited; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Employee discounts at over 740 Retail­

Sleep‑in shift pay £45

Refer-a-Friend bonus £500

Childcare voucher scheme

Holiday pay and meals on shift

Be part of Polaris Community

Job summary

Dove Adolescent Services invites applications for Residential Childcare Support Worker in Wakefield and surrounding areas. This full-time role supports young people aged 8-18 in safe, nurturing homes, providing structure, activities, and personal development.

The base salary ranges from £26,785.82 to £32,185.82 (unqualified) or £27,355.29 to £32,755.29 (qualified), with opportunities to earn more through sleep‑in shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience in caring for young people is welcomed but not essential.
• Ability to safeguard and support wellbeing of young people.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard and support the wellbeing of young people.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• Encourage interests, development and independence.
• Take part in activities and help create a warm, inclusive home environment.
• Complete sleep‑in duties as part of a flexible rota.

Education

Level 3 Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Residential Support Worker

Company: Dove Adolescent Services

Location: Wakefield

Base Location: With services in Pontefract, Wakefield, Eggborough and Barnsley we currently have vacancies throughout

Contract Type: Full time, permanent

Specific Hours: 39 hours per week

Salary:

• Unqualified: Base salary of £26,785.82, with the potential to earn up to £32,185.82 with sleep‑in shifts.
• Qualified (Level 3 Diploma or equivalent): Base salary of £27,355.29, with the potential to earn up to £32,755.29 with sleep‑in shifts.

What We Offer:

• Full training and support to gain your Level 3 Diploma in Childcare or Level 4 Apprenticeship
• £45 per sleep‑in shift (average 8-10 per month)
• Pension scheme
• Employee discounts at over 740 retailers
• Refer-a-Friend bonus - £500 for every successful referral
• Childcare voucher scheme
• Holiday pay and meals included on shift
• Be part of the Polaris Community, one of the UK's leading children's services groups

About the Role

At Dove Adolescent Services, we provide safe, nurturing homes for young people aged 8-18, helping them build emotional resilience, positive relationships, and the skills they need for adulthood.

We're recruiting Residential Childcare Support Workers across Yorkshire to support young people with personalised care, structure, and meaningful experiences.

In this role, you will:

• Safeguard and support the wellbeing of young people
• Build positive, trusting relationships
• Encourage their interests, development, and independence
• Take part in activities and help create a warm, inclusive home environment
• Complete sleep‑in duties as part of a flexible rota

Whether you're experienced, qualified, or simply passionate about supporting young people, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join Dove?

Dove is a place to build a career, not just start a job-many of our Operations Directors and Home Managers began as Support Workers, progressing through ongoing training and development.
All of our inspected homes are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and we're proud of our passionate, ambitious teams and our commitment to positive outcomes.

As part of the team, you could be:

• Biking or hiking the Pennines
• Taking trips to cinemas or theme parks
• Or simply providing a safe, stable home where young people can thrive

What We're Looking For:

• A genuine desire to support and engage with young people
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently
• Flexibility to work weekends, bank holidays, and sleep‑in shifts
• Prior experience in care is welcome but not essential - we'll train you!

Dove Adolescent Services is an equal opportunities employer. We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and eligible individuals, regardless of background. We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All offers of employment will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.