Residential Support Worker

Welcome to The Brook

At The Brook, we want children to feel safe, cared for and comfortable being themselves. We believe that trusting relationships, familiar routines and the everyday moments of home life can make a lasting difference to a child’s wellbeing.

Our SHIELD model guides the way we care for children: Safety, Healing relationships, Individuality, Empathy, Love in action and Development. For us, this means noticing what a child needs, taking time to build trust and showing care through consistent, thoughtful actions. We are looking for a Deputy Manager who shares these values and brings them to life with children and colleagues.

Your role

As a Residential Support Worker, you will be an important part of children’s everyday lives. From helping with the school morning to cooking together, enjoying an activity or sitting alongside a child after a difficult day, you will help make The Brook feel like home. Working with the team, you will provide safe, individual care and build relationships that help children feel understood, develop confidence and enjoy being children.

What you will do

Build trusting relationships with children, listen to their wishes and feelings, and respect their identity, culture and individual needs. Help them make choices, access advocacy and raise concerns safely.

Support daily routines, education, appointments, personal care where needed and healthy habits, encouraging independence at each child’s pace.

Plan and join in activities, outings and everyday home life. Support friendships and family time in line with children’s care plans, and celebrate their interests and achievements.

Respond to distress with patience and curiosity, looking beyond behaviour to understand what a child may be communicating. Use agreed approaches to help them feel safe and manage difficult feelings.

Follow care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support plans, sharing changes or concerns with the senior staff member or manager. Use physical intervention only when trained and authorised, as a lawful and proportionate last resort.

Recognise and report safeguarding concerns promptly, including concerns about colleagues’ practice. Follow procedures for incidents, missing episodes and emergencies, and seek guidance when needed.

Keep clear, accurate and timely records, contribute to handovers and reviews, and share information appropriately while protecting confidentiality.

Work positively with colleagues, families, schools, social workers and health professionals. Carry out key worker responsibilities when allocated, helping children’s views shape their plans.

Help keep the home clean, comfortable and safe. Follow health and fire safety procedures, manage children’s money responsibly and support medication only within your training and assessed competence.

Take part in supervision, team meetings and training. Reflect on your practice, welcome feedback and contribute ideas that improve children’s care.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone warm, dependable and genuinely interested in understanding children. A therapeutic approach should show in how you listen, respond to distress, maintain kind and clear boundaries, and keep offering care when a child finds it difficult to trust. You will be willing to reflect on your own responses and ask for support.

A commitment to SHIELD, safeguarding and treating every child with dignity and respect.

An understanding of children’s needs and the impact of difficult experiences, with a willingness to learn about trauma-informed, attachment-aware care.

The ability to work calmly as part of a team, communicate clearly and maintain accurate records, including using electronic care systems.

A Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare in England, or willingness to work towards it within the required timescales, and commitment to ongoing training.

Flexibility to work the agreed rota, including evenings, weekends and night or sleep-in duties where required.

Experience supporting children, particularly in residential care, and knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support would be welcome. We also value relevant transferable experience and a thoughtful, caring approach.

Safeguarding and professional responsibilities

The Brook is committed to safeguarding children and creating an inclusive home. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, satisfactory references, qualification and identity checks, right to work in the UK and all other required safer recruitment checks.

You will follow the home’s policies and agreed care plans, maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality, and undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

Pay: £14.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Must have experience of working in residential child care
• Must be willing to work towards a level 3 - Children's residential

Work Location: In person