Residential Childcare Practitioner

Greenleaf House; Hawick; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

29 days holiday entitlement increasing

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 24

SVQ 3 and 4 and HNC training

Health Cash Plan including dental and

Greenleaf For You discounts

Progression opportunities

Nest Pension

Complimentary meals on shift

Casual dress code

Job summary

Greenleaf House in Hawick, United Kingdom, is seeking staff to join our therapeutic residential care team. The role offers a salary from £34,976 to £37,447 with overtime at time and a half.

You will work a 14-hour shift followed by a 10-hour sleepover, in a 2-on/3-off pattern, caring for young people with trauma-informed support and a holistic approach.

Qualifications

• Experience in residential children’s home or similar setting.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection.
• Willingness to work shifts, sleepovers, and weekends.
• Full UK manual driving licence.
• Commitment to professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and support to children and young people.
• Contribute to assessment and delivery of support programmes.
• Attend planning and review meetings and participate in keyperson system.
• Ensure accurate recording of information.
• Work shifts including sleepovers.
• Undertake health and safety checks.
• Participate in ongoing training and personal development.
• Implement de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies.
• Promote participation, structure, boundaries and routine.
• Comply with the SSSC code of conduct.
• Report safeguarding issues as required.
• Maintain a safe, hygienic environment.

Skills

Residential care

Communication

Teamwork

Shift work

Driving licence

Job description

Hawick, United Kingdom | Posted on 26/10/2026

Our mission is to support young people to recover from trauma, live fulfilled lifestyles and engage in lifelong learning to transition on to positive destinations.

Our vision is to be the most trusted therapeutic care and education provider throughout the UK. We trust our staff to help support and nurture our young people to have the best outcomes.

Our difference is that we believe in a holistic approach: that the smallest details can mean a world of difference to a vulnerable young person.

We sweat the small stuff.

Job Description

From £34,976 to £37,447 OTEplus overtime at time and a half

The Greenleaf Team

We’re looking for people to join our team who share our beliefs. We want team members who'll never give up on our young people, who are compassionate and who believe that our young people deserve the best we can give them.

We specialise in solo placements for young people in care up to the age of 21 and adopt a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to care. In our work, we uphold Greenleaf’s values of Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration, and Respect.

If it’s your ambition to create a future filled with hope and optimism for our youngpeople, we would love to hear from you.

Visit our website for more info: greenleafhouse.co.uk

Role Overview

You will be part of a unique team who will work together to facilitate excellent practice and shape the development of our Service.

Note: This role involves completing 14-hour shifts followed by a 10-hour sleepover. This is a 2 day on, 3 day off shift pattern.

We look after children and young people from a variety of backgrounds, who have experienced trauma or adverse life experiences and need specialist therapeutic support in a small residential setting. To succeed in this role, you will be compassionate, patient, nurturing, and therapeutic in your approach to care.

The young people in our homes are with us 24/7 and deserve a safe and caring environment where they can grow and achieve positive outcomes.

With greater expectations come greater rewards. If you’re selected to become part of the Greenleaf family, you’ll not only enjoy a salary that’s higher that the sector average, but you’ll also enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 29 days holiday entitlement, increasing with every two years of service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with a 24/7 wellbeing line and free counselling
• Company-funded qualifications and support from an internal assessor – we can deliver SVQ 3 and 4 and HNC in social services
• Health Cash Plan, which includes dental and optical cover, physio therapies, and a 24/7 GP helpline.
• Greenleaf For You platform which offers a range of savings including discounts, offers, and money back on vouchers
• Progression pathways and opportunities to develop and progress in your career
• Pension scheme with Nest Pensions
• Complementary meals while on shift
• Casual dress code

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess previous experience of working in a residential children’s home.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Understand safeguarding and child protection.
• Have the ability to work shifts, including weekends, sleepovers, and long hours.
• Possess a full UK manual driving license and be a confident driver.
• Understand the behaviours displayed by children and young people and be skilled in a range of intervention strategies.
• Be aware of relevant legislation.
• Be trained in or willing to complete training in crisis and physical intervention.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide care and support to our children and youngpeople in accordance with policies and procedures and possess a mindful teamwork approach to therapeutic childcare practice.
• Contribute to the assessment process for youngpeople and the delivery of support programmes.
• Attend planning and review meetings and participate in a keyperson system.
• Ensure quality recording of information in accordance with policies and regulations.
• Work within a shift system including sleepovers.
• Undertake health and safety checks and other safety/security checks as necessary.
• Participate in on-going training and be responsible for own personal development.
• Implement de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies as necessary and appropriate, in line with mandatory training.
• Promote young people’s participation, structure, boundaries and routine.
• Comply with the code of conduct as required by the SSSC.
• Be fully aware of safeguarding and child protection issues and confident in the reporting process.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a safe, hygienic and clean environment.

The nature of residential work is varied and, in many instances, unpredictable. All staff are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and tasks that have not been covered in the job description have to be undertaken.

Practitioners are expected to conduct themselves professionally and adhere to Greenleaf Policies and Procedures. They must successfully complete induction and ongoing training.

The Company reserves the right to vary duties and responsibilities at any time.

Requirements

To be considered for this position, you must:

• Have experience of working in a residential children’s home or other relevant experience.
• Be eligible for SSSC registration and PVG membership for work with children and adults.
• Possess a full manual UK driving licence and be eligible for car insurance for company vehicles*.
• Be able to work shifts including evenings, sleepovers, and weekends.
• Be willing to work towards SVQ 3 and HNC in social care or other relevant subject.
• Possess excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Understand safeguarding and child protection.

*Company car insurance covers drivers aged 21+ years old in possession of a full UK manual driving license.

Greenleaf offers a comprehensive wellbeing package, including EAP with a 24/7 wellbeing line and free counselling sessions, a health cash plan, with dental and optical cover, physio therapies, and a 24/7 GP helpline, and a Greenleaf For You platform, which gives you access to a wide range of discounts and savings.

You will also have access to a wide range of development opportunities and company-funded qualifications. At Greenleaf we believe in progression, we look after our staff so that they can focus on caring for our young people.