Children's Residential Worker - The Guardian : Job Details

The starting salary for this role is £29,697 per annum for working 36 hours per week.

We are delighted to be offering an opportunity for a Residential Worker to join our new Children's Residential Home in Dorking. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our ambitious service, where you will be well supported to develop your career in care and further enhance your knowledge as part of a well-established and caring service.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 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

Our Home

Our home in Dorking will be the 4th new home we have brought online to provide safe spaces for children and young people to remain or return to live in Surrey. Dorking compromises of a four bed home, providing care and support for children and young people presenting with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties with a further two bed home co-located on site capable of providing care and support for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We want our homes to be nurturing, fun and inspirational places where our young people feel safe to be themselves and can rely on us to guide, care, and support them to grow and thrive.

The Role

In this role, you will be part of a dedicated team supporting young people to ensure their safety and well-being. Our young people often have complex needs, making the work both challenging and rewarding, with no two days being the same. As a committed provider, we are steadfast in our belief that working alongside children and young people, regardless of the challenges they face, is invaluable. We are dedicated to providing consistent care and support, even during tough times, knowing the positive impact it can have.

Building effective relationships, providing structure and routine, co-ordinating activities and holidays, creating meaningful care plans, working together with partner organisations, writing reports and ensuring records are kept clear and up to date are just some of the ways our Residential Workers support our children and young people.

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 £32,512 per annum) along with helping you grow the skills needed to be an effective Residential Worker.

Shortlisting Criteria

To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions:

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

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.

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.

This advert closes at 23:59 on 6th March 2025.

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.

If you are successful at interview, you will be expected to undertake training and shadowing in other homes across the service until our Dorking home is open and operational. This period of training and induction will ensure that you are fully equipped and ready to support the first young person who arrives through the door.