Residential Support Worker

Action for Children; Sevenoaks; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and

training and professional development

Flexible maternity, paternity and adop

Job summary

Action for Children in Sevenoaks is seeking a dedicated Residential Support Worker to join McCarthy House, a 24-hour residential home for children with additional needs. You’ll work 37 hours weekly across 7 days with shifts from early to late, supporting young people to develop independence in a nurturing team.

The role offers training, potential professional development, and a benefits package including leave options and life assurance. Equity and safeguarding are core to our approach.

Qualifications

• Be ready to complete a level 3 in Residential Childcare within 2 years of commencing employment with us.

Responsibilities

• Help us maintain the high standards of care and personal development our young people have come to expect.
• Getting involved in lots of fun activities both within the Home and out in the community.
• Assisting with personal care and daily routines of the young people.
• Supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes.
• You will always be working to safeguarding each young person at all times.
• Helping coach young people to develop essential life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and money matters.

Job description

Role: Residential Support Worker

Salary:£26,100.00 per annum

Location: Sevenoaks, Kent.

Contract/Hours: Permanent - Full Time 37 hours a week.

McCarthy House is a welcoming 24-hour residential home supporting children and young people with additional needs. We are seeking caring, motivated, and committed Residential Workers to help make a positive difference in the lives of the young people we support.

This role offers 37 hours per week, with shifts scheduled between 7:00am and 9:00pm across seven days a week. Shift lengths may vary from 7-8 hours up to 12-14 hours, and we aim to provide flexibility to support a healthy work-life balance. Full details of shift patterns will be discussed at interview.

The position is based on a four-week rolling rota, including working one weekend on and one weekend off.

Benefits:

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave.
• Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles.
• Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
• Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers

At Action for Children, we offer more than just a job. Join us and you’ll be part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods. See how your skills can make a real difference, helping solve the problems children and young people face every day.

About the service

At McCarthy House, we support children and young people with additional needs, some of whom may have experienced early life trauma. Our aim is to provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where each young person feels valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their full potential. As a Residential Worker, you will play a key role in helping young people develop their independence, build confidence, and gain the skills they need to prepare for adulthood. You will work alongside a dedicated and supportive team committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.

Some of the young people we support may experience challenges such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and communication difficulties. At times, these challenges may lead to behaviours that require patience, understanding, and a therapeutic approach. Full training and ongoing support will be provided to ensure you have the knowledge and skills needed to meet each young person's individual needs.

We are looking for individuals who are positive, resilient, passionate, and genuinely compassionate. If you are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people and want to be part of a rewarding and supportive team, we would love to hear from you.

How you'll help to create brighter futures:

• Help us maintain the high standards of care and personal development our young people have come to expect.
• Getting involved in lots of fun activities both within the Home and out in the community.
• Assisting with personal care and daily routines of the young people.
• Supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes.
• You will always be working to safeguarding each young person at all times.
• Helping coach young people to develop essential life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and money matters.

Let's talk about you.

Don’t worry if you have never worked in a similar role before, it is your personality and personal values that matter. If you are passionate about creating brighter futures, this could be the perfect role for you.

Ideally you will:

• Understand how to engage with young people.
• Have a positive approach and ‘can do’ attitude.
• Ability to work on your own or as part of a team and as a Leader.
• Be ready to complete a level 3 in Residential Childcare within 2 years of commencing employment with us, full support will be provided.

We are excited to offer prospective candidates the chance to attend an Open Day, providing a valuable insight into life at McCarthy House. Dates and times can be arranged directly with our Registered Manager to suit availability.

This is a fantastic opportunity to tour our home, meet our amazing young people and dedicated staff team, learn more about the rewarding roles available, and gain a real understanding of our values, culture, and approach to supporting children and young people with additional needs.

We look forward to welcoming you and showing you what makes McCarthy House such a special place to work.

Why Action for Children?

We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So, if children need us, we’ll be here.

Will you join us?

Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

If you require any support with the application process, please contact Sarah Manderfield at [e-mail] quoting reference 13588

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. We know that racism and discrimination create barriers, and we’re taking active steps to challenge these inequalities in our organisation and in the communities we serve.

We strongly welcome applications from people who are Black, Asian, or from other racialised and ethnically marginalised communities, as well as disabled people, who are currently under represented in our workforce. We are committed to removing barriers in our recruitment processes and ensuring fair access to opportunities.

We also encourage applications from men, who are under represented in our Children’s Services roles. We recognise that people hold multiple identities, and we value the richness this brings to our team.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

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