Support Worker

Anchor Children Services; Bath, West of England; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Structured support

Safeguarding training

Pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Anchor Children Services is seeking a Support Worker for children and young adults, based at Bath or Bristol. You will provide safe, nurturing care and help each child feel secure while supporting growth in confidence and independence.

Join a team that uses attachment-based, trauma-informed approaches, including PACE, to guide care. You’ll be involved in daily routines, safeguarding, and collaborative planning with families and professionals.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) in view or in progress.
• Experience caring for children or young people, paid, voluntary or personal.
• Understanding of safeguarding and keeping children safe from harm.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with children who have experienced trauma.
• Good verbal and written communication, with clear record-keeping.
• Calm, consistent and resilient under challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Promote safety and welfare of every child in line with safeguarding procedures.
• Provide warm, consistent, child-centred care and nurture a homely environment.
• Support daily routines, including school work, meals, and personal care.
• Plan activities and outings to build confidence and interests.
• Act as key worker for named children and contribute to planning/reviews.
• Follow attachment-based and trauma-informed approaches throughout care.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Patience

Record keeping

Calm under pressure

Willingness to learn

Education

Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent)

Job description

Support Worker - (Children and young adults)

Location: Based at either Bath or Bristol

Salary: £13.50 to £14.00 per hour

As a Children's Support Worker, you will be at the heart of daily life in our new Ofsted registered children's home, providing safe, consistent and nurturing care to children and young people. Working as part of a close, supportive team, you will build trusting relationships, help each child feel safe and settled, and support them to grow in confidence, resilience and independence. We believe healing begins with connection, and our attachment based, trauma informed approach (including the PACE approach) shapes everything we do.

What you’ll be doing

• Promote the safety and welfare of every child and young person, following the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
• Recognise and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation, and report concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Provide warm, consistent, child centred care, helping to create a homely, welcoming environment where children and young people feel they belong.
• Support children with daily routines, including mornings, mealtimes, homework, bedtimes and personal care, in a way that respects their age, needs, privacy and dignity.
• Plan and take part in activities, outings and hobbies that build confidence, develop interests and create positive shared experiences.
• Act as a key worker for named children, getting to know them well, championing their needs and contributing to their planning and reviews.
• Build trusting, stable relationships with children and young people, using an attachment based and trauma informed approach that reflects an understanding of adverse childhood experiences.
• Use the PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) and nurture based practice to help children understand and manage their feelings.
• Support positive behaviour through clear, consistent and compassionate boundaries, using de-escalation techniques and approved behaviour management methods, with physical intervention used only as a last resort and in line with regulation and training.
• Encourage and support regular school or college attendance, help with homework, and celebrate achievements, working alongside schools and virtual schools.
• Promote good physical, emotional and mental health, including healthy eating, exercise and sleep, and support children to attend health, dental and CAMHS appointments.
• Administer and record medication safely in line with the home’s medication policy and training.
• Keep clear, accurate, timely and respectful records, including daily logs, incident reports, key work sessions and handovers, written with the child in mind.
• Report incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns and significant events promptly to the shift lead or manager.
• Work positively with social workers, families, schools, health professionals and other agencies involved in each child’s care, always maintaining confidentiality.
• Follow health and safety, fire safety, food hygiene and infection control procedures, and take part in regular checks and fire drills.
• Take part in regular supervision, appraisal, team meetings and reflective practice, using feedback to learn and develop.
• Complete induction and all mandatory training, including safeguarding, first aid, medication and behaviour management training.
• Contribute to the home achieving and maintaining a "Good" or "Outstanding" Ofsted rating.

What we’re looking for

• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), or a commitment to achieving it within two years of starting in post.
• Experience of working with or caring for children and young people, whether in a paid, voluntary or personal capacity.
• A basic understanding of safeguarding and the importance of keeping children safe from harm.
• Warmth, empathy and patience, with the ability to build trusting relationships with children and young people who may have experienced trauma, loss or instability.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to keep clear and accurate records.
• The ability to remain calm, consistent and resilient in challenging situations.
• A willingness to learn and to apply attachment based and trauma informed approaches to care.
• Ability to work flexibly on a rota basis, including days, evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in shifts.
• A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check against the Children’s Barred List, and satisfactory references covering your full employment history, in line with Safer Recruitment requirements. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Why join us

• Competitive salary
• Structured support
• Ongoing specialist and safeguarding training
• A supportive, values-led senior leadership team
• Company pension scheme and generous annual leave