Children's Residential Care Worker - Relief

Are you looking for a varied, challenging and rewarding position where you can help and mentor young people?

Phoenix House is a residential home that accommodates up to 4 young people between the age of 11 and 17 years old, whose emotional and behavioural difficulties are such that they are unable to live within their own or a substitute family setting; and who require an environment in which they can come to terms with their past, in order that they may have a bright future.

We provide a flexible response in addressing the individual needs of young people by providing an environment which effectively meets the physical, social, and emotional needs of each young person. Whilst there is no substitute for a family, we aim to provide an environment that is stable and supportive to help young people regulate their lives through the experience of good parenting and reach their full potential.

Care for the young people at Phoenix House will focus on helping them achieve their full potential in life; assisting them to gain a clearer understanding about their life experiences; and seeking to improve family relationships and levels of independence.

All members of the team work on a rota basis, which includes evenings and weekends. Enhancements for evening and weekend work, sleeping-in payments, stand-by payments, and overtime substantially increase the earnings potential for this post, in addition to the basic salary.

These posts are zero hours contracts providing cover/relief for existing staff, they can provide a great first step into a new career. Shifts include weekend and evening working and successful candidates should be available to work at short notice.,

• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.


• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave


• We will pay for you to complete qualifications including NVQ Level 3 or equivalent


• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.


• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.


• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits


• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions


• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities


• Free parking on site plus heavily subsidised town centre car parking scheme


• Free meals whilst on shift


What will you be doing?

The role includes supporting with day-to-day life, schoolwork, life skills where applicable, accompanying our Young People to health, education and other appointments.

There are also days out to the cinema, shopping or even theme parks and holidays as we try and create positive experiences for our young people.

We are a small home so we encourage a "family feel" where possible, this involves eating our meals together, creating positive relationships and supporting our residents through key work.

If you have particular skills or hobbies, such as fishing, cooking, fitness, that might enrich our young people's experience then there's an opportunity to use these.

You need to be self-motivated, enthusiastic, patient and flexible amongst other things. You will find it easy to establish and build positive relationships with Young People.

Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence as you will be driving our Young People to appointments or activities.

Experience of working with young people in either a professional or voluntary capacity is desirable, as is evidence of an ongoing interest and commitment to young people.

When we asked the young people that live at Phoenix what makes a good Residential Care Worker they said "Someone with a personality that you can have a joke with and who smiles. Someone that you can talk to and trust with things, someone that's understanding."

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance.

Northamptonshire Children's Trust is responsible for delivering Children's Services to families in the local area. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. The Trust has an open inclusive culture for all our employees. We are keen to explore new ways of working, to be more agile and adaptable in our approach to service delivery.