Waking Nights Child Care Officer

Wiltshire; Devizes; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Wiltshire Council is seeking a Waking Night’s Care Support Officer to provide waking night support for children and young people (5–17) with complex health and learning needs. You’ll work ten-hour night shifts; hours to be determined and you must be flexible for planned leave coverage.

Experience caring for children is essential; NCFE Health and Social Care Level 3 is desirable but can be undertaken as part of the role.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for children and young people is essential.
• NCFE Health and Social Care Level 3 is desirable but not essential and can be undertaken as part of the role.
• A strong understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and child-centred care is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide waking night support for children and young people aged 5–17.
• Work ten-hour night shifts (hours to be determined) and be flexible for planned leave and short-notice cover.

Skills

Caring for children and young people

Confidentiality

Education

NCFE Health and Social Care Level 3 (desirable)

Job description

Salary: £26,847 - £27,709 pro rata
Hours per week: 20 hours
Interview date: Week commencing 01 November 2026

Canon’s House is a lifeline for families across Wiltshire, registered with Ofsted and rated “Good”!

“Children’s safety and wellbeing are at the heart of staff practice.”

We provide overnight short breaks for children and young adults (5‑17) with complex learning disabilities, health and care needs. Our ‘whole child’ approach ensures empathetic, holistic care, fostering stability, belonging, and positive well‑being. We champion diversity, promote equality, and partner with families and professionals to deliver tailored care for all.
As a Waking Night’s Care Support Officer, you will provide waking night support for the children and young people, where no two nights are the same. You'll work a ten‑hour night shift (specific hours to be determined). The ideal candidate should be flexible for planned annual leave and short‑notice sick leave coverage.
Experience of caring for children and young people is essential, ideally you will have a background in supporting children and young people with complex health, care and learning needs. An NCFE qualification in Health and Social Care in residential childcare at level 3 is desirable but not essential, as this can be undertaken as part of the role. A strong understanding of confidentiality, trust, child‑centred care and support and effective safeguarding is a must.
A comprehensive induction, supervision and support is provided, along with continuous training, supporting your professional development.
If you are passionate about supporting children and families and want to be part of our amazing team, we would love to hear from you!

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a ‘One Council’ ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here.

Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer‑facing roles work entirely from their service location.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.

Contact details

Charlotte Morgan, Registered Manager-Children's Overnight Short Breaks at [e-mail]

Please ensure to regularly check your spam or junk folder for any communication from us regarding the status of your application.

Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura). Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission. Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.