Waking Nights Child Care Officer

Wiltshire Council; Devizes; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Wiltshire Council is seeking a Waking Nights Care Support Officer to provide compassionate overnight care for children and young people with complex needs. You will work ten-hour night shifts, with hours to be set, and you should be flexible for planned annual leave and short-notice sick leave coverage.

Experience caring for children is essential; an NCFE Level 3 in Health and Social Care is desirable but can be completed on the role.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for children and young people is essential.
• Understanding of complex health, care and learning needs is beneficial.
• Commitment to safeguarding and child-centred support.

Responsibilities

• Provide waking night support for children and young people (5-17) with complex learning disabilities, health and care needs.
• Work a ten-hour night shift; specific hours to be determined.
• Be flexible for planned annual leave and short-notice sick leave coverage.

Skills

Experience caring for children and年轻人

Education

NCFE Health and Social Care - Residential childcare Level 3

Job description

Salary: £26,847 - £27,709 pro rataHours per week: 20 hoursInterview date: 5th of October 2026

Canons House is a lifeline for families across Wiltshire, registered with Ofsted and rated Good!

Childrens safety and wellbeing are at the heart of staff practice.

Main duties of the job

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 Nights 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!

About us

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 customerfacing 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.

Under the Childrens Homes (England) Regulations 2015, individuals involved in regulated activity must provide a full employment history and detail any gaps. Before clicking apply please complete this full employment history form and once completed please attach it to your application form.

We understand that AI tools can support you in preparing job applications. However, we value authenticity and would encourage you to ensure your submission genuinely reflects your own experiences, skills, and motivations.

While we welcome applications from job seekers who require skilled worker sponsorship, we are not able to issue a defined certificate of sponsorship due to limitations in our sponsorship capacity.

Job responsibilities

For more information about the duties of the role, please refer to the role description and person specification attached.

Qualifications

• 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.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.