Residential Worker Night Support

Essex County Council; Essex; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council seeks a Residential Worker Night Support in Colchester to provide nurturing, trauma-informed care to looked-after children. You will join a multi-disciplinary team, delivering consistent support to help children develop skills and resilience.

This is a permanent full-time role with training and supervision provided. You will work night shifts (21:15–07:15), about 37 hours weekly, with every other weekend off, and a pathway to Level 3 Diploma within two years of probation.

Qualifications

• Previous experience of working in a children's residential home is essential.
• Be open minded and have a flexible, adaptable attitude.
• Ability to understand and manage challenging behaviour using de-escalation techniques.
• If you don't already have a Level 3 Diploma you will need to complete this within 2 years of probation.

Responsibilities

• Provide nurturing therapeutic care to children who have experienced trauma.
• Support and care for 11-17-year-olds as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Work night shifts from 21:15 to 07:15 and engage with families where appropriate.

Skills

Residential child care

De-escalation techniques

Shift work

Education

Level 3 Diploma

Job description

Residential Worker Night Support

Permanent, Full Time

£34,169.20 to £43,232.80 Per Annum

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 11.59pm

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Interview Dates: TBC

Are you interested in working with children and young people to make a difference in their lives? If so, then this could be the right opportunity for you.

It is an exciting time to join Essex County Council as we invest in and expand our residential provision. New Farm Road is a newly refurbished short-term home for up to five 11-17-year-olds, and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team around the child you will support them to develop the skills and resilience to return to their families, or onto longer-term care.

Being a Night Support Residential Worker requires a special kind of person. Your main focus will be on providing nurturing therapeutic care to children who have experienced trauma, supporting and caring for them as a parent would, and each shift brings unique experiences, filled with both highs and lows.

Previous experience of working in a children's residential home is essential.

It is important to be open minded and have a flexible and adaptable attitude and be able to manage challenges with a calm and patient demeanour. You will have an ability/willingness to understand and manage challenging behaviour including aggression and violence using a range of de-escalation techniques. You will also need to have effective written and verbal communication.

If you don't already have a Level 3 Diploma you will need to complete this within 2 years of successful completion of probation period and you will be supported with this. We will provide you with all the training you need for the role along with good quality, regular supervision. This, together with the right attitude and access to a full in-house induction, will enable you to start your career with Essex County Council with confidence.

You will work an average 37 hours a week with shift times being 9.15pm to 7.15am and you will have every other weekend off.

The salary quoted is made up of a basic salary of £26,284 to £33,256 Per Annum and a guaranteed additional allowance of 30% (£7,885.20 to £9,976.80 Per Annum), paid monthly, alongside your basis salary.

If shortlisted, you will have an interview to explore the detail you provide in your application and give you an opportunity to discuss the role and ask any questions.

Due to nature of this role any applicants need to be at least 21 years old in order to undertake this post.