Job Title: Senior Residential Support Worker – Children’s Residential Care
Location: Bridgwater
Salary: £26,000 per year (increasing to £27,000 upon qualification), plus sleep-in allowance (£50 per sleep-in, up to 10 per month = £6,000)
Contract: Full-time, Fixed-term
Start Date: ASAP
Essential Requirements:
* Minimum 1 year’s experience in residential childcare, with a proven track record of working with young people in a care setting.
* NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (Children and Young People) or equivalent (essential).
* Full UK driving licence (required).
* Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and support a team.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a compassionate and empathetic approach to working with vulnerable young people.
* Ability to handle challenging behaviours and complex situations with professionalism and resilience.
* Willingness to work a flexible rota, including weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-in duties.
About the Role:
We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Senior Residential Support Worker to join our team at a leading children’s residential care home in Bridgwater. This is an exciting opportunity to provide high-quality care to young people aged 8-17, offering a supportive, structured environment that promotes their development, wellbeing, and independence.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will take on a leadership role within the team, providing guidance and support to junior staff, managing day-to-day care responsibilities, and ensuring that the highest standards of care and safeguarding are met. You will work closely with young people to empower them to make positive life choices, while also liaising with external agencies and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead by example, supporting the team to deliver consistent, high-quality care to young people.
* Provide day-to-day care, including attending appointments, managing education, and facilitating activities both within the home and externally.
* Build and maintain positive, nurturing relationships with young people, promoting their emotional and social development.
* Supervise junior support staff, providing guidance, mentoring, and support to ensure the team’s effectiveness.
* Take the lead in developing and implementing care plans, ensuring they meet the individual needs of each young person.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including daily logs, care plans, and reports, in line with company policies and Ofsted requirements.
* Collaborate with external professionals (e.g. social workers, mental health services, education providers) to ensure a holistic approach to the care and development of young people.
* Manage crisis situations with professionalism, showing resilience and maintaining a calm, supportive approach.
* Ensure the home environment is safe, structured, and conducive to positive development, promoting equality and respect at all times.
* Participate in audits, inspections, and meetings as required, ensuring compliance with safeguarding and care standards.
* Take responsibility for decision-making in the absence of the Registered Manager, ensuring the smooth running of the home.
* Participate in the on-call rota and undertake sleep-in shifts as necessary.
Benefits:
* Full, paid training provided
* Paid annual leave (28 days pro-rata, including bank holidays)
* Company pension scheme
* Free meals during shifts
* Ofsted Inspection Bonus
* Paid activities and training (including PACE and Trauma-Informed Parenting)
* Support to achieve QCF Level 4 Diploma
* Clinical supervision and external management coaching
* Career progression and professional development opportunities
Additional Information:
* All candidates will be subject to DBS checks and references.
* We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
How to Apply:
If you are a dedicated and experienced professional who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people, we’d love to hear from you. Please click the ‘Apply’ button to submit your application.
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