Waking Night Residential Childcare Support Worker

Area Camden; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction & training

Career progression

Hours guarantee 168/mo

Annual leave 236h (+12h/yr)

Pension scheme

Fully funded qualifications

Job summary

Area Camden, located in Haverhill, Suffolk, is seeking a Waking Night Support Worker to provide a safe, nurturing residential environment for children during the night. The role requires staying awake for 12‑hour shifts (20:00–08:00), safeguarding each child, and following the Philomena protocol.

You’ll receive a comprehensive induction, mandatory training, and support toward a Level 3 qualification. Area Camden offers progression opportunities, generous annual leave, a pension scheme, and fully

Qualifications

• Stay awake and alert for the full night shift.
• Understand safeguarding and the wellbeing of each child.
• Good written and verbal communication; record handovers clearly.
• Willing to work toward a Level 3 qualification if not already held.

Responsibilities

• Stay awake and alert during the night shift.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of each child overnight.
• Offer empathy and support to young people.
• Support personalised bedtime routines and occasional activities.
• Follow the Philomena protocol when reporting a missing child.
• Communicate with out‑of‑hours services professionally.
• Follow Area Camden policies and be a positive role model.
• Contribute to the home's ethos and adapt to the needs of the young people.
• Demonstrate strong teamwork, energy and enthusiasm.
• Understand safeguarding children.

Skills

Safeguarding

Teamwork

Communication

Empathy

Record handovers

Night shift resilience

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)

Job description

Company: Area Camden

Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Haverhill, Suffolk
Salary: Up to £31,867.18 per annum (dependent on qualifications)
Qualified Rate: Applies to those with a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
Hours: 20:00-08:00 (12‑hour waking night shifts)

About Area Camden:

Area Camden, part of the Polaris Community, provides high‑quality, consistent care to help young people achieve their goals. Our staff are carefully trained to ensure a safe and stable night‑time environment, with safeguarding at the heart of everything we do.

We work closely with families and professionals to ensure each young person's needs are met.

We're now hiring a Waking Night Support Worker to help provide a safe, nurturing residential setting that supports children's physical, emotional, and social development.

• Comprehensive induction and mandatory training
• Clear progression and development opportunities
• Week 1: Mon, Tue, Sat, Sun - 48 hours
• Week 2: Wed, Thu, Fri - 36 hours
• Minimum 168 hours per month
• 236 hours annual leave
• Annual leave increases by 12 hours per year for 3 years (up to 272 hours)
• Pension scheme (after qualifying period)
• Fully funded required qualifications if not already held

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Stay awake and alert for the full night shift
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of each child throughout the night
• Offer empathy and support when young people need reassurance
• Support personalised bedtime routines and occasional activities
• Follow the Philomena protocol when reporting a missing child
• Communicate effectively with out‑of‑hours services and handle calls professionally
• Follow Area Camden policies and be a positive role model for children and colleagues
• Contribute to the home's ethos and adapt to the needs of the young people
• Strong teamwork, energy, and enthusiasm
• Understanding of safeguarding children
• Ability to follow tasks and record detailed handovers
• Able to maintain policies and procedures
• Good written and verbal communication
• Ability to listen, engage, and act appropriately with children
• Organised, with good planning skills
• Willing to work toward a relevant Level 3 qualification (if not already held)

Area Camden is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.

Location/Region: Bury St Edmunds, ENG (IP29 4EY)