Residential Support Worker

Newpath Care provides care and support in a two-bed children’s home for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). This role helps children feel safe, develop trusting relationships and make progress through consistent, individualised care.

Purpose of the role

Provide warm, reliable and trauma-informed care that recognises each child’s experiences, strengths and communication needs. Work as part of the staff team to implement care plans, promote children’s rights and support their emotional wellbeing, education, health and independence in a safe, welcoming home.

Relationships and everyday care

• Build respectful, trusting relationships and maintain clear professional boundaries, recognising that behaviour can communicate distress or unmet needs. Follow individual placement plans, risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans; seek clarification when instructions are unclear or risks change. Support routines, meals, personal hygiene, appointments and practical daily living skills in a way that protects dignity, privacy and choice. Plan and participate in enjoyable activities, community opportunities and education routines that reflect children’s interests and goals. Help keep the home comfortable, clean and welcoming, sharing cooking, laundry, cleaning and household tasks with children where appropriate.

Key work and children’s voices

• Undertake an allocated key-worker role, providing planned and responsive sessions on relationships, feelings, safety, identity and independence. Help children understand their rights, access advocacy, raise complaints and contribute to decisions about their care. Record children’s views accurately and support agreed family and sibling contact in accordance with individual plans.

Safeguarding and risk management

• Remain alert to abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, self-harm and missing from care risks. Act promptly to protect children and follow safeguarding and emergency procedures. Report concerns, disclosures, allegations and unsafe practice immediately through the home’s safeguarding routes. Escalate unresolved concerns and use whistleblowing procedures when required. Follow agreed supervision arrangements and missing from care procedures, balancing safety with children’s privacy, dignity and developing independence. Respond calmly to distress and conflict, using agreed de-escalation strategies and positive behaviour support. Use physical intervention only when lawful, necessary and proportionate, in line with training, individual plans and policy. Never use restraint as punishment. Obtain appropriate medical support, report and record the intervention promptly, and contribute to debriefs and reviews.

Health and wellbeing

• Support access to physical and mental health services, healthy eating, exercise and positive sleep routines. Administer medication; follow prescriptions, procedures and recording requirements. Report medication errors, injuries, illness and changes in presentation promptly and seek appropriate advice or emergency assistance.

Recording and communication

• Complete timely, accurate and factual daily records, key-work notes, contact records, medication records and incident reports using the home’s recording system. For incidents, record the sequence of events, staff involved and their actions, de-escalation attempted, any intervention and its duration, injuries, the child’s views and follow-up actions. Provide clear handovers, communicate changes in risk promptly and check that important information has been understood. Contribute observations to care-plan reviews and work professionally with families, social workers, education staff and health professionals, sharing information securely.

Professional practice

Attend induction, training, supervision, team meetings and reflective discussions. Follow the home’s policies, Statement of Purpose and relevant Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards. Maintain confidentiality, professional conduct and safe working practices; report hazards and contribute to improvements. Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role, competence and children’s needs.

Person specification

Applicants should demonstrate how their experience, values and skills will help children feel safe, listened to and supported. Relevant transferable experience will be considered alongside residential childcare experience.

Essential requirements

• A commitment to safeguarding, children’s rights, equality and care that responds to each child as an individual. An understanding of the impact of trauma, loss and disrupted relationships, and a willingness to learn about emotional and behavioural needs. The ability to stay calm, seek support and respond safely to distress, aggression or conflict without taking behaviour personally. Clear verbal and written communication, sound judgement and the ability to produce accurate records using digital systems. The ability to follow care plans and risk assessments, work reliably within a team and maintain professional boundaries. Availability for the agreed shift pattern, including weekends and bank holidays as required by the contract. A Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare in England, an accepted equivalent, or willingness to work towards the required qualification within the applicable regulatory timescale. Willingness to complete mandatory training, participate in supervision and reflect on practice.

Desirable requirements

• Experience supporting children or young people in residential care, education, youth work or another relevant setting. Experience of key work, safeguarding, positive behaviour support or supporting children with additional communication or neurodevelopmental needs. Knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards. A driving licence valid in the UK and willingness to drive home vehicles where authorised; any driving requirement will be confirmed for the post.

Safer recruitment

Newpath Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment is subject to satisfactory safer-recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred-list information, references, identity and right-to-work checks, verification of relevant qualifications, and a full employment history with explanations for gaps. Overseas checks will be sought where appropriate.

Pay: From £28,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Discounted or free food
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Paid training

Experience:

• Residential Children's Home: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person