Waking Night Support Worker

Peters Dean Care Ltd; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Peters Dean Care Ltd in the United Kingdom is seeking a dedicated Waking Night Residential Support Worker to care for up to 5 looked-after children with learning disabilities and complex needs. You will provide overnight supervision, safeguarding, and a calm, nurturing environment to help each child feel safe and supported.

Role involves welfare checks, incident response, accurate record-keeping, and clear handovers to day staff, while maintaining professional boundaries and safeguarding

Qualifications

• Experience in residential childcare or support work preferred.
• Understanding of safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with learning disabilities and complex needs desirable.
• Good communication and observational skills.
• Able to work overnight shifts and stay awake.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality overnight care, supervision, and safeguarding for children with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs.
• Carry out welfare and safety checks in line with care plans and procedures.
• Respond to incidents, distress, or waking children with care and reassurance.
• Maintain a safe, structured, therapeutic environment during night shifts.
• Record observations and incidents accurately for regulatory and organisational purposes.
• Provide clear handovers to day staff for continuity of care.
• Remain vigilant and professional throughout the shift.
• Participate in training and supervision to ensure best practice.

Skills

Strong communication

Calm under pressure

Observation skills

Record keeping

Safeguarding

Education

Residential Childcare qualification

Social care qualification

Job description

We are excited to offer an opportunity for an experienced Residential Support Worker to be part of our children's home team, supporting up to 5 young people with learning disabilities.

This is a unique chance to help shape the culture, routines, and outcomes for the children.

Our homes are carefully designed to feel safe, nurturing, and genuinely homely, places where children can build stability, trust, and a sense of belonging.

We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and behaviours that may challenge. Our children's home is a place where every child is valued, respected, and supported to thrive - both during the day and throughout the night.

We are seeking passionate and dependable Waking Night Residential Support Workers to join our team and ensure the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of children during overnight hours.

Role Overview

As a Waking Night Residential Support Worker, you will play a vital role in the overnight care and supervision of Looked After Children with learning disabilities and additional complex needs. You will help maintain a calm, safe, and secure environment throughout the night, ensuring every child feels protected, supported, and reassured.

This role requires you to remain fully awake, alert, and observant throughout your shift, carrying out welfare checks, monitoring safety, responding to incidents, and supporting children who may wake during the night due to anxiety, distress, sensory needs, or emotional dysregulation.

You will work closely with the wider care team to ensure continuity of care and maintain high safeguarding standards at all times. Your ability to remain calm under pressure and respond sensitively to complex situations will be essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality overnight care, supervision, and safeguarding for children with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs.
• Carry out regular welfare and safety checks in line with individual care plans, risk assessments, and organisational procedures.
• Respond calmly and effectively to incidents, emotional distress, dysregulation, medical concerns, or waking children requiring support and reassurance.
• Maintain a safe, secure, structured, and therapeutic environment throughout waking night shifts.
• Follow individual care plans, behaviour support strategies, and risk management protocols to ensure consistent and person-centred care.
• Accurately record observations, incidents, behaviours, and relevant overnight information in line with regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Support continuity of care by providing clear and detailed handovers to day staff.
• Maintain professionalism, vigilance, and situational awareness throughout the entire shift.
• Participate in training, supervision, and professional development to ensure best practice in residential childcare.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience supporting children or young people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, or behaviours that challenge is highly desirable.
• Experience in residential childcare, support work, health and social care, SEN settings, or similar environments would be advantageous.
• Understanding of child development, trauma-informed care, autism, sensory needs, and attachment-based approaches is desirable.
• Relevant qualifications in Residential Childcare, Social Care, Psychology, or related fields are beneficial but not essential.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm, focused, and professional during high-pressure situations.
• Strong observational, recording, and reporting skills.