Youth Residential Support Worker (Crook / North)

Youth Residential Support Worker | Crook, County Durham | Full Time, Permanent | £33,488 per annum

We’re recruiting a Youth Residential Support Worker to join our dedicated children’s residential team in Crook, County Durham. You’ll provide high-quality care in a specialist children’s home, helping create a safe, secure and nurturing place where young people can thrive.

If you’re ready for a role where you can make a genuine difference and build your career in residential childcare, we’d like to hear from you.

Role details

• Location: Crook, County Durham
• Contract: Full time, permanent
• Salary: £33,488 per annum (£16.00 per hour)
• Hours: 40.25 per week on average
• Pattern: Two to three 15-hour shifts a week, on rotation
• Shift times: 07:15 to 22:00
• Breaks: No deduction from pay for breaks
• Sleep-in: One per week, 22:15 to 07:00, paid at £70 per sleep. This is paid separately through the overtime sheet and is not included in your salary.

The role

You’ll play a key part in the safety, wellbeing and emotional needs of the children and young people in the home throughout your shift. You’ll provide consistent care, promote positive behaviour, build trusted relationships and respond appropriately when incidents happen. You’ll work closely with the wider care team, following individual care plans, safeguarding procedures and regulatory standards.

Key responsibilities

• Support children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD)
• Promote a safe, caring and nurturing residential environment
• Carry out regular welfare checks in line with care plans and risk assessments
• Respond appropriately to incidents, safeguarding concerns and emergencies
• Provide emotional support, reassurance and positive role modelling
• Encourage positive behaviour through consistent boundaries and relationship-based care
• Keep accurate daily records, reports and handovers
• Carry out security and fire safety checks to keep the home safe and secure
• Complete light household duties to keep the home clean and welcoming
• Support morning routines, activities and everyday life in the home
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, managers and external professionals
• Work in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, safeguarding guidance and organisational policies

Requirements

What you’ll need

Essential

• Experience working with children or young people
• A calm, patient and resilient approach
• A good understanding of safeguarding, child protection and professional boundaries
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Clear, accurate written record-keeping
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team
• A proactive, flexible and child-centred approach
• The stamina and flexibility for long shifts, including a weekly sleep-in
• The right to work in the UK
• Willingness to undergo an Enhanced DBS check, including the children’s barred list, and the other pre-employment checks below

Desirable

• Children’s residential care experience
• Experience with EBD, SEN or SEMH settings
• A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards it
• A full UK driving licence

We welcome applications from people with experience in children’s residential care, children’s support work, youth work, social care, care assistant roles involving children or young people, behaviour support, SEN or SEMH settings, foster care and supported accommodation.

Benefits

What we offer

• £33,488 per annum for an average 40.25-hour week
• An extra £70 for each weekly sleep-in, paid through the overtime sheet
• No deduction from pay for breaks
• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation
• The opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment is subject to safer recruitment checks in line with Schedule 2 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, including:

• An Enhanced DBS check, including the children’s barred list
• Verification of identity and right to work in the UK
• A full employment history, with any gaps explained
• Two satisfactory references, including your most recent employer
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Satisfactory health and fitness information

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to disclose all convictions and cautions that are not protected under current filtering legislation.

Job type: Full time, permanent | Work location: In person