Support Worker - Children & Young People

Central & Southern Homes; Exeter; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded training & qualifications

Full induction programme

Career progression opportunities

Free meals

Company pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Free Parking

Enhanced DBS Disclosure paid by us

Great work - life balance

224 annual leave hours per year

Management development programmes

Job summary

Central & Southern Homes is seeking a dedicated Support Worker in Exeter to help care for children in a home setting. You will participate in daily routines, activities, and outings, while ensuring a child-centred approach and emotional support.

The role requires resilience, strong communication, and safeguarding awareness. Benefits include funded training, induction, and progression opportunities within the organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children in a home environment with a child-centred approach.
• Ability to recognise safeguarding concerns and act on them appropriately.
• Record events, contribute to care plans and participate in reviews and meetings.
• Provide consistent boundaries and support to children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Support daily routines: school drop-offs, meals, activities, and evening routines.
• Engage children in diverse activities and encourage positive behaviours.
• Document care plans and risk assessments; attend reviews as required.

Skills

Good listener

Safeguarding awareness

Record keeping

Care planning & risk assessments

Effective communication

Leadership & team guidance

Boundary setting

Resilience under pressure

Problem solving & creativity

Child welfare focus

Education

QCF/NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent

Willingness to pursue further funded qualifications (e.g., NVQ Level 4)

Job description

Location: Exeter/ Crediton

Hourly Rate: £13.50

Sleep in £70 per sleep

Contracted Hours: Full Time

About the role of Support Worker

The day to day -

Working within the children s home you will need to be able to adapt to a fun and fast paced environment, getting involved in a variety of activities and tasks ensuring a child centred approach. You might be playing football in the garden one minute, and going on a nature walk the next.

Care for others, a regular day involves doing what any other household would do: getting up for school, uniforms on, breakfast, house tidying, preparing meals, taking part in activities and finishing the day on a positive & we also get to do fun stuff too, spontaneous activities, regular clubs and house holidays

Support with future planning, independence, living and learning together and enable our children to grow and make their own decisions as appropriate.

Why choose Central & Southern Homes?

Central and Southern Homes provide care and support for a variety of young people. We have an array of services such from solo provision, groups home and supported living accommodation. At C&S we are passionate about providing children and young people a stable home where they can be happy and feel loved. We are focused on the children we support having high quality care with experiences which will form memories which they can cherish throughout their lives. We use a therapeutic approach supported by our clinical partner to ensure we manage behaviour in a way which allows the children to feel safe and secure by building positive, trusting relationships with the adults that care for them.

We offer competitive pay, ongoing internal & external professional support and mentoring, excellent training opportunities including externally accredited qualifications, such as QCF Level 4, First aid.

• Fully funded training & qualifications
• Full induction programme
• Career progression opportunities within the organisation
• Free meals
• Company pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free Parking
• Enhanced DBS Disclosure & Barring Service) paid by us
• Great work - life balance
• 224 annual leave hours per year
• Management development programmes

What we are looking for

• You can be creative in finding solutions to help manage behaviours, be a good listener and be curious about what you can learn from children and young people.
• Understanding how to recognise and raise safeguarding concerns
• Record events and contribute to and implement care plans, risk assessments; participate in reviews and meetings as required, ensuring all documents are kept up to date
• Assist in ensuring staff work within the homes policies, procedures and Ofsted Quality Standards
• The ability to provide and manage firm consistent boundaries to the children and young people
• Understanding the importance of ensuring the care and welfare of each child and young person in placement, putting them at the centre of everything you do
• Have fun in the workplace but also be prepared to support the overwhelming emotions of the children and young people
• Work to safeguard the young people within our homes
• Be a positive role model and mentor for the children, young people and staff team
• Can communicate effectively with children and young people, team colleagues, managers, professionals and external stakeholders.
• A resilient, reliable individual who is able to lead the team and remain calm in situations that may be difficult or challenging
• Preferred but not essential - QCF/NVQ Level 3 or Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent or willing to work towards this fully funded by us
• Cultural Fit - An openness to being part of a dog-friendly workplace and an appreciation of the role dogs play in the culture and wellbeing at Central and Southern.

If you think this sounds like you, and you re looking for your next rewarding challenge with a caring company that s on the move we d love to hear from you.

Please note: Availability to work alternate weekends is an essential requirement of this role.