Children's Residential Support Worker

The starting salary for this role is £31,659 per annum for working 36 hours per week plus enhanced rates of pay for weekends, bank holidays and sleep in duties.

This role requires shift working on a rota basis. On average you would be required to work two sleep-ins per week and approximately one weekend in three as part of a 24-7 caring service. We provide enhanced rates of pay for any unsociable hours you work including sleep ins, weekend and bank holiday working.

Are you curious about what it means to be a Residential Support Worker? 

Being a Residential Support Worker  represents a unique opportunity to work as part of a team dedicated to supporting and safeguarding children and young people. We are looking for additional staff to join our already established team at our community home in Woking and would love to hear from you if you are motivated by helping children and young people to succeed. 

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Relocation bonus
• Refer a friend payment of £750 as a thank you for finding the right residential worker

About the Role

As a Residential Support Worker, you will be part of a committed team supporting children and young people to ensure their safety and well-being. Our young people often have complex needs and may have experienced trauma in their early lives, making the work we do both challenging and rewarding, with no two days being the same.

We are steadfast in our belief that working alongside children and young people, regardless of the challenges they face, is invaluable. You may not notice the impact you make day-to-day, but over time, this is a role where patience, understanding and the motivation to empathise with what's happening for a particular child or young person will realise long-term positive outcomes. You will play a key part in their journey

We are looking for role models who understand the importance of providing our children and young people with the best life chances possible and who can demonstrate positive values and behaviours. Our standards are high, and we pride ourselves on prioritising the well-being and safety of our children.

We support children and young people using therapeutic interventions and restorative practice to help them to navigate challenging situations, develop appropriate coping strategies and build healthy relationships.

We are looking for individuals to join us who can assist with day-to-day tasks around the home, can prioritise effectively, communicate articulately, and are ambitious for our young people, helping them to reach their full potential.

In this role every day brings new challenges, unexpected situations, and surprises so you will need to be calm, adaptable, and able to bring a sense of fun to how you work and interact with our children and young people. You may find yourself wearing many different hats throughout your day from mentor helping to navigate or overcome a difficult situation, to tutor helping with homework, to parent helping with bedtime routines. Whatever the role you play, it will be purposeful!

Supporting You

We are dedicated to providing consistent care and building effective relationships, not just with our children and young people, but with each other and with our partner organisations and colleagues who support us with our work.

We will support you to achieve the mandatory, nationally recognised, Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (within two years of starting) if you don't already have this. We have a proven track record of supporting staff to pass their qualification and are proud of the achievements of all staff we invest in. Gaining this qualification will open opportunities for you to progress to a Senior Residential Worker (starting at £34,660 per annum) along with helping you grow the skills needed to be an effective Residential Worker.

Working in children's residential services is a great opportunity and gateway to developing a career within care. We offer a clearly defined career pathway and progression opportunities with our expanding children's residential service as we continue our journey to open further homes this year and beyond. You will have access to a wealth of personal development and resources to ensure you feel confident to succeed and progress in your role, working as part of a wider network with support from professionals such as psychologists and our Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) service to enrich your practice. 

Your Application

To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions, with our behaviours in mind:

1. Looking at our advert please tell us what it is about the role that has motivated you to apply?
2. Please tell us about the relevant experience or transferable skills you have in relation to this role?
3. What three qualities do you have that would make you a good Support Worker and why will these be important?
4. Please tell us how you would you handle a situation where challenging behaviour was present? Please offer a relevant example if you can.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook  also provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Requirements

Due to our legal obligations, we can only accept applications from people 22 years old and above.

This role requires a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or an equivalent qualification. If you do not currently hold this qualification (or equivalent) but are successful in the interview and meet the enrolment criteria (including English and Maths skills), you will be enrolled in a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, subject to funding. 

In addition to the above, to meet the criteria of the Level 3 Diploma, you must have lived in the UK/EEA for the last 3 years and you must also have the right to remain and work in the United Kingdom for the duration of the study programme. Failure to achieve the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or losing your right to remain and work in the United Kingdom may result in the termination of your employment.

We are unfortunately not able to offer sponsorship at this time.

This role involves supporting children and young people who may present with behaviours of concern. In certain circumstances, and only as a last resort, this may require the use of restrictive physical intervention (restraint) to ensure the safety of our children, young people, yourself, or others in the home.

Restrictive physical interventions are not a routine part of the role, and every effort should be made to manage situations through de escalation and preventative strategies. However, it is an important safeguarding measure that staff must be willing and able to use when there is no safer alternative.

Full training will be provided to ensure any intervention taught is from an accredited provider and authorised and approved by the local authority. Encouraging staff to support children and young people proportionately and appropriately to minimise harm and maximise safety to all.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and our residential workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle, to support our young people to attend appointments, activities or trips as agreed. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. If you have any questions about these roles please contact Sarah Muzzall via email at View email address on surreycc.gov.uk

Applications will be reviewed and considered on an ongoing basis.

To find out more about careers in Children's residential care, please visit ' Jobs in Children's Homes '.

What Next?

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore your answers to the above questions (lasting approx. 10-15 min), and if successful following this, invited to meet us at one of our homes for an interview.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

We are committed to the safe recruitment of staff in our Residential homes across Surrey therefore if you are successful in being offered a role within our service, we will work with you to collect all required checks in line with government guidance. You can find out more about what information you will be asked to provide by visiting the Government Guidance on children's homes recruitment.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

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