Secure Children's Home Support Worker

Hampshire County Council; Lower Swanwick; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Lower Swanwick is seeking caring individuals for a rewarding role supporting vulnerable children in a secure residential setting. The position involves acting as a therapeutic parent and role model, fostering positive relationships, and collaborating with an education and health team to provide structured activities. Candidates should be emotionally intelligent and physically capable, with experience in a similar environment being advantageous. A competitive salary and development opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Investment in training and development

Qualifications

• Passion for helping children.
• Emotionally intelligent and resilient.
• Physically able to undertake the role and the training.
• Experience in a residential or similar setting is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Act as a therapeutic parent and role model to children.
• Work with education and health teams, engaging in activities.
• Show patience, empathy, and understanding in challenging situations.
• Work a shift pattern with flexibility for home-life balance.
• Complete a thorough induction program including mandatory training.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Resilience

Patience

Empathy

Ability to handle challenging behavior

Job description

Swanwick Lodge is a specialist, secure residential home looking after up to ten children with complex attachment, mental health and behavioural needs; it provides a safe, secure and therapeutic environment for some of our most vulnerable young people.

This is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling role where you can help children recover from difficult life experiences. You will be joining an exceptional team of dedicated and supportive professional carers, working together to provide a highly structured, stimulating and caring environment within our well‑appointed home.

What you’ll do:

• Act as a “therapeutic parent” and a role‑model to our children, forming positive, trusting relationships that enable them to feel safe and cared for.
• Work with our diverse on‑site education and health and wellbeing team, engaging in fun activities that interest both the children and the staff.
• Show patience, empathy and understanding, with the ability to be consistent, kind and respectful, even in the face of extremely challenging behaviour.
• Work a shift pattern of alternate weekends with a mixture of early and late shifts and sleep‑in duties, to suit your home‑life balance (flexible working requests can be considered).
• Complete a thorough induction programme for the first four weeks, including mandatory training.

Ideal candidate

• Passion for helping children.
• Emotionally intelligent and resilient.
• Physically able to undertake the role and the training.
• Experience of working with children, young people or adults within a residential, secure or similar setting is an advantage but not essential.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, and invest in you through our internal development programmes and training.