Residential Childrens Worker (Spire Lodge) (2 Posts)

Derbyshire County Council; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave and flexi-time

Travel expenses

Discount on leisure centre memberships

Free car parking

In-house counselling services

Occupational health service

Access to physiotherapist sessions

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is recruiting a Residential Childrens Worker for Spire Lodge in North East Derbyshire, near Chesterfield. The 6-bed short break home supports young people aged 8–17 with a range of needs in a nurturing, child-centred setting.

You will work shifts (early, late and sleep-ins) and collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure ongoing safety and wellbeing. A DBS check is required and sponsorship is not offered.

Qualifications

• Relationship-focused approach to care.
• Ability to work using own initiative.
• Understanding of Quality Care Standards and Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
• Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in relevant care qualifications to be completed within 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Delivering holistic care and safety needs of children in the home.
• Providing services to Children within Specialist Services per policy.
• Assuming a parental role for the children.
• Working with internal and external partners to support young people.
• Providing responsive care and support based on individual needs of children and families.
• Assessing and monitoring care needs and escalating emergencies when required.
• Being a warm, friendly and approachable member of the care team.

Skills

Relationship focused

Mindful approach

Initiative

Education

Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce Diploma

Social Care Pathway (England) 2015

NVQ 3 caring for children & young people

Job description

About the role

Derbyshire County Council have an exciting Residential Childrens Worker opportunity to join an experienced and supportive team at Spire Lodge. Spire Lodge is a 6 bedded short break service based in North East Derbyshire and situated close to Chesterfield town centre. We provide an Ofsted Outstanding graded service for young people aged between 8 and 17 years who may have a physical disability, moderate to severe learning disability, an autistic spectrum condition or sensory impairment. The Spire Lodge team prides themselves in their commitment and child centred approach to the young people they care for.

What will you be doing?

• Delivering the holistic care and safety needs of children within the home.
• Provide a service to Children within Specialist Services in accordance with legislative and policy requirements.
• Assuming a parental role for the children.
• Working with internal and external partners
• Providing responsive care and support based on the individual needs of children and their families.
• Assessing and monitoring the care needs of the children.
• Escalating any emergency situations accordingly.
• Being a warm, friendly and approachable member of the care team.

What skills and qualifications will you need?

• A relationship focused and mindful approach to the care of children.
• The ability to work using your own initiative.
• Working within and understanding the Quality Care Standards and Children's Homes (England) regulations 2015.
• You must hold, be working towards, or be willing to undertake and complete within 2 years of starting work at the home, the Level 3 Children and Young people's Workforce Diploma and Social Care Pathway (England) 2015. OR you should hold an equivalent qualification such as The NVQ 3 caring for children & young people and be prepared to complete any additional work to meet the required level. More information on the role can be found within the Job and Person profile.

Residential Childrens Worker roles attract the following additional payments. This Residential Childrens Worker role is shift based (earlies, lates and sleep in's) to provide 24hr care.

Grade 9 £17.32 - £17.67 Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm. After 7pm until 7am £23.09 - £23.56. Bank Holidays £34.64 - £35.34 per hour.

Sleep-in duty, you will be paid a basic duty payment rate of £36.19. Any additional time worked because of being called to work when sleeping in will be paid at the appropriate rate for the day/time of day. Bank holidays: sleep-in duties that span into or out of a bank holiday will be enhanced to double the basic duty payment rate.

What we offer you

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave and flexi-time scheme
• Travel expenses
• Discount on leisure centre memberships
• Free car parking at most sites
• In-house counselling services
• Occupational health service
• Access to sessions with a trained physiotherapist
• Cycle to work scheme

Our Commitment

• Derbyshire provides consistent, good quality care through twelve children's homes across the County. Our homes provide an environment where young people feel happy to live.
• Under-pinned by Sensory Processing, trauma informed practice, social pedagogy and person-centred approach to inform practice, we work continuously to improve the quality of our Children's homes, ensuring our young people have every opportunity to thrive and develop.

Provisional Interview Date: 16 and 17 November 2026

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided.

The job may require unsocial hours working including weekends and Bank Holidays. Payment arrangements will be detailed in any contract offer made.

Saturday and Sunday hours will be paid at plain time where it is part of your normal working pattern unless it is between 7pm and 7am, where enhanced rates of pay apply. Enhanced pay rates are paid for Bank Holiday working.

Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values - being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.