Senior Residential Support Worker

SHAW TRUST; Burtle; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Free meals on shift

Sleep-in allowances

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

SHAW TRUST is seeking a Senior Residential Support Worker for a 3-bed children's home in Burtle, Somerset. You will lead shifts, support staff, and ensure trauma-informed, high-quality care for children who have experienced adversity.

The role focuses on safeguarding, staff development, and positive outcomes, while you mentor colleagues and collaborate with families and professionals in a nurturing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year’s experience working with children and young people.
• Level 3 qualification recognised by Ofsted.
• Experience supporting children with complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
• Confidence leading shifts and supporting colleagues.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Emotional resilience and a calm approach under pressure.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, sleep-ins, and bank holidays.
• A full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Leading shifts and supporting Residential Support Workers.
• Promoting trauma-informed, relationship-based practice.
• Supporting children's emotional wellbeing, safety, and development.
• Managing and responding appropriately to behaviours that challenge.
• Ensuring safeguarding is at the centre of all decision-making.
• Supporting care planning, risk management, and positive outcomes.
• Completing records, reports, and safeguarding documentation to a high standard.
• Working collaboratively with families, social workers, schools, and clinicians.
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting less experienced colleagues.

Skills

Experience with children

Team leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Emotional resilience

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Calm under pressure

Flexibility (evenings, weekends)

UK driving licence

Education

Level 3 qualification recognised by Ofsted

Job description

Are you an experienced Residential Support Worker looking to progress your career? Do you have the resilience, leadership skills, and passion needed to support children who have experienced trauma, adversity, and disruption?

We're looking for a Senior Residential Support Worker to join our 3-bed children's home in Burtle, Somerset, helping to provide leadership, stability, and consistency for both children and colleagues.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys supporting children directly whilst helping to lead shifts, develop staff, and maintain high standards of care.

About the Role

As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you'll play a key role in the day‑to‑day running of the home, working closely with the management team to ensure children receive safe, high‑quality, trauma‑informed care.

You’ll act as a role model for the wider team, supporting colleagues, leading shifts, and creating a nurturing environment where children can feel safe, develop trusting relationships, and achieve positive outcomes.

Our homes support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, therefore this role requires emotional resilience, sound decision‑making, and the ability to remain calm during challenging situations.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading shifts and supporting Residential Support Workers.
• Promoting trauma‑informed, relationship‑based practice.
• Supporting children's emotional wellbeing, safety, and development.
• Managing and responding appropriately to behaviours that challenge.
• Ensuring safeguarding is at the centre of all decision‑making.
• Supporting care planning, risk management, and positive outcomes.
• Completing records, reports, and safeguarding documentation to a high standard.
• Working collaboratively with families, social workers, schools, and clinicians.
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting less experienced colleagues.

About Our Burtle Home

Our 3‑bed children’s home in Burtle provides a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for children who have experienced significant trauma and instability.

Set within the Somerset countryside, the home offers children the opportunity to experience stability, engage with their local community, and build positive relationships. Working within a smaller home allows our team to provide highly personalised support and meaningful interventions that help children move towards brighter futures.

Burtle is easily accessible from Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Street, Burnham‑on‑Sea, Highbridge, Taunton, and surrounding Somerset areas.

What You’ll Bring

• A minimum of one year’s experience working with children and young people.
• A Level 3 qualification recognised by Ofsted.
• Experience supporting children with complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
• Confidence leading shifts and supporting colleagues.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Emotional resilience and a calm approach under pressure.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, sleep‑ins, and bank holidays.
• A full UK driving licence.

What We Offer

• Salary of £32,742 - £34,737 per annum (£15.74 - £16.70 per hour).
• £50.00 per sleep‑in.
• Ofsted Bonus Scheme for homes achieving Good or Outstanding inspection outcomes.
• Annual Attendance Bonus.
• Enhanced Family Friendly Leave.
• Award and Recognition Vouchers celebrating outstanding performance and achievements.
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training.
• Leadership development opportunities.
• Funded qualifications and career progression pathways.
• Clinical support through our Homes & Horizons therapeutic model.
• 28 days annual leave, increasing with service.
• Free meals whilst on shift.
• Unum Healthcare, providing healthcare reimbursements, remote GP access, wellbeing resources, and mental health support.
• Aviva Digicare, including Digital GP consultations, annual health checks, and mental health assessments.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and wellbeing support.
• Life assurance.
• Blue Light Card membership.
• Shopping, cinema, travel, and leisure discounts.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Refer a Friend Scheme.
• Christmas recognition vouchers and long‑service awards