Senior Support Worker

Overview
As a Senior Residential Support Worker at our Freeston Avenue site, you will provide leadership and support across our four specialist bungalows: Tzigane, Rhapsody, Maurice, and Ravel. You will deliver direct care to children and young people aged 5\-17 with a diverse range of needs, including learning and physical disabilities, complex health needs, and those requiring repatriation.

You will lead shifts, mentor residential support workers, and ensure high\-quality, trauma\-informed care is delivered in line with our STARS values (Support, Therapeutic, Adaptive, Resilience, Success). Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will maintain regulatory standards and create a nurturing environment that helps every child reach their unique potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead shifts across the four specialist bungalows, providing day\-to\-day supervision and ensuring safe staffing ratios (minimum 1:1\).


• Deliver direct, trauma\-informed care to children with diverse needs, including those with disabilities, autism, ADHD, and complex emotional/mental health needs.


• Model the STARS values in every interaction, ensuring care is adaptive and celebrates every small step of progress.


• Mentor and coach staff in therapeutic care, attachment theory, and the specific communication needs of children (e.g. Makaton, PECS, or communication passports).


• Ensure the consistent implementation of Placement Plans, Health Care Plans, and Risk Assessments, particularly for children in crisis or stepping down from hospital settings.


• Conduct comprehensive shift handovers to maintain continuity of care across the site’s different service models (Short Breaks, Repatriation, and Long\-term care).


• Monitor safeguarding standards, acting as a point of escalation for concerns regarding child protection, exploitation (CSE/CCE), or online safety.


• Support the Manager with staff supervision, reflective practice sessions, and the induction of new team members.


• Respond to incidents and crises using positive behaviour support and de\-escalation techniques, prioritising emotional regulation.


• Build therapeutic relationships using PACE principles and trauma\-informed approaches to support recovery and healing.


• Collaborate with multi\-disciplinary professionals, including Local Authority social workers, Virtual Schools, and health specialists (CAMHS, OT, Physio).


• Promote children’s rights and advocacy, ensuring their voices, wishes, and feelings influence daily life and formal reviews.


• Support educational attendance and achievement, providing structured learning activities for children between formal placements.


• Maintain accurate, detailed records in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.


• Participate in the management on\-call rota to provide 24/7 support to the team.

Essential:

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) or Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.


• Minimum 2 years’ experience in residential childcare or a similar specialist setting.


• Experience working with children with disabilities (learning/physical) or complex emotional needs.


• Proven experience in supervising, mentoring, or leading a team.


• Strong understanding of Safeguarding, Regulation 40 notifications, and Risk Management.


• Knowledge of trauma\-informed practice, attachment theory, and child development.

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.


• Experience in short\-break/respite services or hospital step\-down placements.


• Training in specialist communication methods (Makaton, PECS, etc.).


• Experience with clinical tasks (e.g. gastrostomy care, epilepsy rescue medication) or manual handling.


• Full UK driving licence.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire a culture of “Every Child, Every Chance.”


• Genuine empathy and a non\-judgemental approach to understanding behaviour as communication.


• Resilience and emotional intelligence to manage high\-pressure crisis situations calmly.


• Excellent communication skills, adaptable to children with varying verbal and non\-verbal abilities.


• Commitment to anti\-discriminatory practice and celebrating diversity, culture, and identity.

• In\-depth understanding of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.


• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support and de\-escalation (e.g. Team Teach or similar).


• Understanding of the specific needs of children with Autism, ADHD, and sensory impairments.


• Ability to facilitate meaningful contact between children and their families/friends.


• Strong organisational skills to manage care across multiple specialist bungalows on one site.

• Ability to work a flexible shift patterns (days, nights, weekends).


• 4\-on\-4\-off rota pattern.


• Availability for the 24/7 on\-call management support rota.


• Enhanced DBS clearance (child workforce).


• Physical ability to respond to challenging situations and support children’s activities.

Benefits:

• Casual dress


• Company pension


• Employee discount


• Flexitime


• Free parking

• Working with children: 2 years (required)

• Level 3 Children's Residential Diploma (required)

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