Support Worker

Job Title: Children's Home Support Worker

Location: [Kingston Upon Thames].

Salary: [£12.7/h].

Hours: Full-time / Part-time, shift pattern including sleep-ins/waking nights.

Reports to: Registered Manager / Deputy Manager.

Shrtlisted candidates will be asked to fill in an application form as ewquired by Ofsted.

Job Purpose

To provide high-quality, safe, and nurturing care to children and young people living in the home, promoting their emotional, physical, educational, and social development in line with the home's Statement of Purpose, care plans, and relevant legislation (Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Ofsted Quality Standards).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct day-to-day care to children and young people, promoting their welfare, safety, and wellbeing at all times.
• Support each child's individual care plan, including educational, health, emotional, and behavioural needs.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people, acting as a positive role model.
• Support young people in daily living skills (cooking, budgeting, personal hygiene, routines) to promote independence.
• Attend to the physical care and safeguarding needs of children, following all safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Record accurate and timely case notes, incident reports, and daily logs in line with company policy.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, reviews, and training sessions.
• Support young people to access education, health services, and community/leisure activities.
• Work collaboratively with external agencies including social workers, schools, health professionals, and family members where appropriate.
• Respond to challenging behaviour using approved de-escalation and positive behaviour support techniques.
• Ensure the home environment is safe, clean, and welcoming.
• Participate in an on-call/shift rota, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-in/waking night duties as required.
• Complete all mandatory training, including safeguarding, first aid, and physical intervention training (e.g. Team Teach), and maintain up-to-date CPD.
• Uphold the home's policies on confidentiality, equality, diversity, and safeguarding at all times.

Person Specification

Essential

• Genuine interest in and commitment to working with children and young people, particularly those who have experienced trauma or adversity.
• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or working towards, or willingness to work towards within the required timeframe).
• Understanding of safeguarding principles and child protection procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm, patient, and resilient under pressure.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.
• Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to undergo one).
• Full, clean UK driving licence (if required for the role).

Desirable

• Previous experience working in a residential childcare, foster care, or similar setting.
• Experience or training in therapeutic approaches (e.g. trauma-informed care, PACE model).
• First Aid certification.
• Team Teach or equivalent physical intervention training.

Working Conditions

• Based at [Kingston Upon Thames].
• Shift-based role including days, evenings, weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-ins/waking nights.
• Physical demands may include supporting young people during activities and, occasionally, physical intervention where necessary and appropriately trained.

Other Requirements

• Enhanced DBS check required prior to starting employment.
• Employment subject to satisfactory references and pre-employment checks in line with Safer Recruitment practices.
• Commitment to ongoing training and professional development.

This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended in line with the needs of the service.

Pay: £26,000.00-£28,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Free parking

Work Location: In person