Waking Night Support Worker

YourRecruit; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

YourRecruit is seeking a Waking Night Support Worker in Derby, Derbyshire. You will provide safe, child-centred care during night shifts (10pm–8:30am) on a 4-days-on/4-days-off pattern, including weekends and bank holidays.

The role requires safeguarding knowledge, DBS clearance, and the ability to work independently at night while coordinating with the team, families and professionals. You will follow care plans, perform safety checks and keep accurate records.

Qualifications

• Essential: Genuine commitment to supporting children and young people.
• Essential: Previous experience working with children, young people or vulnerable individuals.
• Essential: Understanding safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Essential: Calm, patient and professional approach, particularly in challenging situations.
• Essential: Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Essential: Ability to work independently at night while contributing effectively to the wider team.
• Essential: Reliable, responsible and able to remain alert throughout waking-night shifts.
• Essential: Commitment to mandatory training and ongoing professional development.
• Essential: Enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references, where required.
• Desirable: Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, or willingness to work towards one.
• Desirable: Experience supporting children with additional needs, autism, learning disabilities or emotional/behavioural difficulties, and an understanding of trauma-informed and child-centred approaches.
• Desirable: Relevant training, such as First Aid, Safeguarding, Medication or Fire Safety.

Responsibilities

• Provide attentive supervision throughout the night, ensuring children and young people remain safe through support bedtime and early-morning routines and respond appropriately to emotional or other needs.
• Carry out welfare, security, health and safety, and fire-safety checks.
• Follow individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour-support plans.
• Promote safeguarding and promptly report concerns, incidents or suspected abuse. Maintain accurate records, including observations, incidents and medication.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries and a safe, clean and homely environment.
• Complete appropriate practical duties, including breakfast preparation, laundry and tidying, without compromising supervision.
• Work positively with colleagues, managers, families and other professionals.
• Attend relevant training, supervision and team meetings.

Job description

Waking Night Support Worker

Location: Derby, Derbyshire

Job Type: Full-time / Permanent

Pay Rate: £15.50 to £16.50 depending on experience

Working Pattern: 10pm to 8.30am – 4 days on / 4 days off including weekends and bank holidays

Reports to: Registered Manager / Senior Support Worker

Job Purpose

To provide safe, consistent and child-centred care and supervision to children and young people throughout the night. The Waking Night Support Worker will maintain a calm, secure and nurturing environment, respond appropriately to the individual needs of each young person, and ensure that all relevant records and handovers are completed accurately.

The post holder will play an important role in safeguarding young people and supporting their wellbeing while maintaining the home to a safe, clean and welcoming standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide attentive supervision throughout the night, ensuring children and young people remain safe through support bedtime and early-morning routines and respond appropriately to emotional or other needs.
• Carry out welfare, security, health and safety, and fire-safety checks.
• Follow individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour-support plans.
• Promote safeguarding and promptly report concerns, incidents or suspected abuse. Maintain accurate records, including observations, incidents and medication.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries and a safe, clean and homely environment.
• Complete appropriate practical duties, including breakfast preparation, laundry and tidying, without compromising supervision.
• Work positively with colleagues, managers, families and other professionals.
• Attend relevant training, supervision and team meetings.

Person Specification – Essential

• Genuine commitment to supporting children and young people.
• Previous experience working with children, young people or vulnerable individuals.
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Calm, patient and professional approach, particularly in challenging situations.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently at night while contributing effectively to the wider team.
• Reliable, responsible and able to remain alert throughout waking-night shifts.
• Commitment to mandatory training and ongoing professional development.
• Enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references, where required.

Person Specification – Desirable

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, or willingness to work towards one.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs, autism, learning disabilities or emotional/behavioural difficulties, and an understanding of trauma-informed and child-centred approaches.
• Relevant training, such as First Aid, Safeguarding, Medication or Fire Safety.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Caring, compassionate and emotionally resilient
• Reliable, trustworthy and calm under pressure
• Observant and attentive
• Respectful and non-judgemental
• A good communicator and positive team player
• Committed to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and young people

The successful applicant will be expected to uphold safeguarding responsibilities at all times. The role will be subject to appropriate safer-recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check where applicable.

Sleeping during a waking-night shift is not permitted. The post holder must remain awake, alert and available to respond to the needs and safety of the children throughout the shift.

Due to the large numbers of responses we receive, despite our best efforts, it is not possible to respond to every application. Therefore, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for this particular role and if you haven't heard from us within 7 days please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please feel free however to apply for further roles and we will certainly keep your details on file and contact you with suitable vacancies.

YourRecruit Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender or disability and complies with all relevant UK legislation.

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