Senior Residential Support Worker

Service Care; Catlow; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Service Care seeks a Senior Residential Child Care Worker to lead shifts across Lancashire, supporting the Assistant and Registered Managers. You will oversee care delivery, coaching staff, and ensuring safeguarding and care planning are at the heart of daily operations.

You’ll work with families, schools and professionals to provide stable, quality environments for children and young people, promoting positive outcomes and safeguarding best practices across the home.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' experience in Residential Children's Services or equivalent setting.
• Level 3 or 4 qualification (QCF/NVQ) or substantial vocational experience.
• Experience working with children and young people with complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation of the children's home in line with regulations and standards.
• Provide positive shift leadership to the residential team.
• Support colleagues to deliver high-quality care and record-keeping.
• Offer guidance, mentoring and team development.
• Contribute to care planning, safeguarding and ongoing service improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Residential care

Safeguarding

Care planning

Coaching/mentoring

Communication

Organisation

IT skills

Education

Level 3/4 qualification (QCF/NVQ)

Social Work qualification desirable

Tools

IT systems

Documentation skills

Job description

Senior Residential Child Care Worker

Location: Various locations across Lancashire

Grade: 7

Sector: Children’s Residential Care

Hours: Full-time

Reports to: Assistant Manager

Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior Residential Child Care Worker to join a Children’s Residential service across Lancashire. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who has experience working in residential children's services and is ready to take the next step in their career — providing strong shift leadership, supporting colleagues and, most importantly, helping children and young people feel safe, supported and able to reach their full potential.

As a Senior, you will play a key role in the day-to-day running of the home , working alongside the Assistant Manager and Registered Manager to ensure children receive high-quality care that meets their individual needs. You will lead by example, provide guidance and mentoring to colleagues and take an active role in care planning, safeguarding, education and the overall development of the young people in your care.

What you'll be doing

• Taking a leading role in the day-to-day operation of the children's home in line with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015 .
• Providing positive and effective shift leadership to the residential team.
• Supporting colleagues to deliver high-quality care and support.
• Leading by example and modelling excellent residential childcare practice.
• Supporting the Assistant Manager and Registered Manager with the management of the home.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing team members.
• Supporting the implementation and review of care plans and safeguarding plans .
• Ensuring the voices and views of children and young people are heard and reflected in their care.
• Supporting young people with complex needs and risks.
• Taking a leading role in keyworking and promoting positive outcomes.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation across relevant systems.
• Supporting inspections and demonstrating good practice within the home.
• Working closely with families, schools, colleges and other professionals.
• Building strong relationships with statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Facilitating meetings that enable young people to have a genuine say in the running of their home.
• Supporting staff training, development and learning.
• Contributing to staff meetings and service improvement.
• Ensuring safeguarding remains at the heart of everything you do.

About you

We're looking for an experienced residential childcare professional who can confidently step into a senior position and provide leadership, guidance and support to colleagues . You will ideally have:

• At least 3 years' experience within Residential Children's Services or an equivalent setting .
• A relevant Level 3 or Level 4 qualification , such as QCF/NVQ, or substantial relevant vocational experience .
• Experience of working with children and young people with complex needs .
• Experience of care planning and implementing care plans .
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and risk management .
• Experience coaching, mentoring and supporting other members of staff .
• The ability to motivate, challenge and develop colleagues .
• Experience working collaboratively with external agencies and professionals .
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills .
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving abilities .
• A sound understanding of relevant children's legislation, regulations and practice .
• The confidence to prioritise workloads and delegate effectively .
• Good IT and recording skills .
• A genuine commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people .
• A Social Work qualification such as a Social Work Degree, CQSW, CSS or DipSW would be desirable, but is not essential .

The difference you'll make

This isn't simply a role about running shifts or completing paperwork. You'll be helping to create a safe, warm and stimulating environment where children and young people can feel secure, have their voices heard and develop the skills they need for the future. You'll be expected to champion safeguarding, promote resilience and encourage young people to achieve their potential in education, relationships and future employment. You'll also help create a positive culture within the home — supporting colleagues, challenging poor practice and continually looking for ways to improve the quality of care.

What you'll need

This is an essential car user post , so you will need access to a car for work purposes and appropriate business-use insurance. Consideration may be given to applicants who are unable to drive because of a disability. You will also need to demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, diversity, health and safety and safeguarding .