Residential Support Worker

Peters Dean Care Ltd; Ninfield; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive working environment

Induction and ongoing professional dev

Career progression opportunities

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Peters Dean Care Ltd offers an opportunity for an experienced Residential Support Worker to join our children’s home team, supporting up to 5 young people with learning disabilities. Our homes are safe, nurturing, and homely, designed to help children build stability and belonging.

You will work with Looked After Children with learning disabilities and complex needs, providing high-quality care, emotional support, and person-centred planning.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people with learning disabilities, autism, challenging behaviour, or complex needs.
• Experience in residential care, education, mental health, or related settings is advantageous.
• Qualifications in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, Social Work, Psychology or related fields are desirable but not essential.
• Strong understanding of child development, neurodiversity, trauma, and attachment-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care, supervision, and support to children with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs within a residential setting.
• Build positive, professional relationships that promote trust, emotional security, and consistency.
• Support children with daily routines, personal care, education, social development, and recreational activities.
• Implement and follow individual care plans, behaviour support strategies, and risk management plans tailored to each child’s needs.
• Respond calmly and effectively to behaviours of concern using de-escalation, positive behaviour support, and therapeutic interventions.
• Promote independence, communication, emotional regulation, and life skills development.
• Maintain accurate records, incident reports, and daily documentation in line with safeguarding and regulatory standards.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, families, education providers, therapists, and external agencies to ensure holistic care.
• Participate in training and continuous professional development to strengthen knowledge and best practice.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Resilience

Problem-solving

Safeguarding awareness

Education

Residential Childcare qualification

Health & Social Care

Job description

We are excited to offer an opportunity for an experienced Residential Support Worker to be part of our children’s home team, supporting up to 5 young people with learning disabilities.

This is a unique chance to help shape the culture, routines, and outcomes for the children.

Our homes are carefully designed to feel safe, nurturing, and genuinely homely, places where children can build stability, trust, and a sense of belonging.

We are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive home for children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and behaviours that may challenge. Our children’s home is a place where every child is valued, respected, and empowered to develop independence, confidence, and life skills within a stable and therapeutic environment.

We are seeking passionate and resilient Residential Support Workers to join our team and help create positive, life-changing outcomes for the children in our care.

Role Overview

As a Residential Support Worker, you will play a vital role in the daily lives of Looked After Children with learning disabilities and additional complex needs, providing high-quality care, emotional support, structure, and guidance. You will work closely with colleagues and external professionals to deliver person-centred care that promotes each child’s physical, emotional, social, and developmental wellbeing.

You will support children who may have communication difficulties, sensory needs, emotional regulation challenges, and behaviours of concern. Your patience, empathy, consistency, and strong communication skills will be essential in helping children feel safe, understood, and supported.

This role requires the ability to build trusting relationships while promoting independence, positive behaviour, and emotional resilience through therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches.

Shifts: 3 Long day shifts, with approximately 1 sleep-in per week. We offer flexibility around sleep-ins, and inability to commit to regular sleep-ins will not necessarily be a barrier for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct care, supervision, and support to children with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs within a residential setting.
• Build positive, professional relationships that promote trust, emotional security, and consistency.
• Support children with daily routines, personal care (where required), education, social development, and recreational activities.
• Implement and follow individual care plans, behaviour support strategies, and risk management plans tailored to each child’s needs.
• Respond calmly and effectively to behaviours of concern using de-escalation, positive behaviour support, and therapeutic interventions.
• Promote independence, communication, emotional regulation, and life skills development.
• Maintain accurate records, incident reports, and daily documentation in line with safeguarding and regulatory standards.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, families, education providers, therapists, and external agencies to ensure holistic care.
• Participate in training and continuous professional development to strengthen knowledge and best practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience supporting children or young people with learning disabilities, autism, challenging behaviour, or complex needs is highly desirable.
• Experience within residential care, education, mental health, support work, or similar care settings would be advantageous.
• Relevant qualifications in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields are desirable but not essential.
• Strong understanding of child development, neurodiversity, trauma, and attachment-based practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm, resilient, and solution-focused under pressure.
• Strong problem-solving skills and confidence in responding to challenging situations.
• A genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

What We Offer

• A supportive, inclusive, and rewarding working environment
• Comprehensive induction, training, and ongoing professional development
• Opportunities for career progression and long-term growth
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• The opportunity to make a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children and young people