Residential Support Worker

We are looking for a Children's Support Worker to join our dedicated team and become part of a warm, settled family home supporting two children. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is outgoing, confident, hands-on and naturally engaging, who enjoys being active and wants to make a genuine difference to the lives of children. Our 3-bed residential home is a very settled environment, with the children having lived here for over two years. We provide a warm, nurturing and consistent home where the children are supported to feel safe, develop confidence and build the life skills they need for the future. About the Children The children are aged 12 and 14, although both can present younger than their chronological age. We are looking for people who will actively encourage both children to get out, have fun and experience new things, whether that is swimming, water sports, outdoor activities, walks, trips into the community or simply getting involved in games and activities at home. This isn't a role where you will simply sit on the sidelines. You will be actively involved in their day-to-day lives. The Role You will help provide a safe, nurturing and consistent environment where the children can feel secure, develop their confidence and enjoy being young. The role involves understanding that, because of their early experiences, the children may sometimes need additional reassurance, consistency and encouragement. They may find it difficult to trust adults or worry about rejection, so building a strong and dependable relationship is incredibly important. You will need to be patient, emotionally aware and able to recognise what may be behind a child's behaviour. There is no aggression within the home, but the children do require attentive and proactive support. They need adults who engage with them, know what they are doing and understand where they are at emotionally. Particularly outside of school, they can get up to mischief, so staff need to be observant, involved and able to provide appropriate boundaries and supervision. You will:

• Be a positive, consistent and trustworthy role model
• Build genuine relationships based on trust, patience and respect
• Provide nurturing care and emotional reassurance
• Help children manage difficult emotions and develop confidence
• Encourage positive decision-making and appropriate boundaries
• Support the children to develop independence and practical life skills
• Get involved in activities rather than simply observing
• Encourage outdoor play, exercise, swimming, water sports and community activities
• Plan and participate in activities based around their individual interests
• Help create fun, positive experiences and opportunities for achievement
• Recognise changes in mood and behaviour and respond appropriately
• Provide close and attentive supervision, particularly when the children are not at school
• Work consistently with colleagues to provide high-quality care
• Contribute to a warm, family-style environment where the children feel valued and secure.
  
  This role would suit someone who is confident, outgoing, energetic and naturally engaging.
You will need to be someone who can take the lead, come up with ideas and motivate children to get involved. You should be comfortable being hands-on and getting involved in activities, whether that's going swimming, playing games, going for a walk, heading to a theme park or simply spending quality time together. We're looking for someone who:
• Has a warm, nurturing and naturally caring personality
• Is confident, outgoing and comfortable taking the lead
• Enjoys working with children and young people
• Is active and enjoys outdoor activities
• Is creative and enthusiastic about planning activities
• Can motivate children to participate and try new things
• Is patient, emotionally resilient and understanding
• Understands the importance of consistency and reassurance
• Can build trusting relationships with children who may initially be wary of adults
• Is observant and able to recognise when children may need additional support
• Is confident setting appropriate boundaries while maintaining a nurturing approach
• Is proactive and doesn't wait to be told what needs doing
• Enjoys helping children develop practical life skills and independence
• Is a strong team player and will fit into our close-knit home
• Is flexible and comfortable working long shifts, weekends and sleep-ins, Previous experience working with children or young people is beneficial but not essential.
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds. What matters most is your personality, attitude, values and ability to build positive relationships. You may have experience in care, education, youth work, sports, coaching, childcare or another role where you have supported and motivated children. Equally, you may simply have the right personality and a genuine desire to make a difference. What is essential is that you are reliable, emotionally mature, proactive and genuinely interested in the children you support.

Driving is an essential part of the role as staff will support the children with activities and trips within the community. Shift Pattern This is a full-time role of 39 hours per week, working on a flexible rolling rota. Shifts are generally:
• 7:30am - 11:00pm
• With or without a sleep-in
• Single-day or back-to-back shifts
• Weekend working
• Some flexibility around the rota may be required
The rota is designed to provide consistency for the children while offering some flexibility for the wider team., You won't just be providing care, you'll be helping the children experience new things, build confidence, develop life skills and create positive memories. If you're an active, confident and nurturing person who wants to be hands-on, get involved and genuinely make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.