Post Title: Waking Night Support Worker
Reports to: Registered Manager
Location: Ascot
Salary: £31,200 - £32,240
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week on a varied shift pattern (including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins); participation in the on-call rota required
Main Purpose of the Role
To provide high-quality, person-centred care and support to children and young people living in residential care.
To promote the safety, welfare, development, and independence of children and young people in line with their individual care plans, the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, and Quality Standards.
To work collaboratively with a team of professionals to create a nurturing, stable, and inclusive environment in which each child can thrive emotionally, socially, and educationally.
Main Areas of Responsibility
Care and Support
- Deliver day-to-day care and emotional support to children and young people, including personal care and guidance with daily routines.
- Build and maintain positive, respectful, and trusting relationships with children, encouraging self-esteem, independence, and resilience.
- Support the implementation of individual care plans, behaviour plans, and risk assessments, and contribute to reviews as appropriate.
Safeguarding and Welfare
- Ensure the safety and well-being of all children at all times, both within the home and in the community.
- Understand and follow safeguarding procedures, reporting concerns immediately in line with companies policies and LADO protocols.
- Administer medication and first aid as needed, following all medical protocols and recording procedures accurately.
Teamwork and Communication
- Work effectively as part of a team, contributing to the smooth running of the home and the development of a positive team culture.
- Participate in handovers, team meetings, staff supervision, and training sessions to maintain consistent standards of care.
- Support new and less experienced staff through mentoring, shadowing, and positive role-modelling.
Activities and Engagement
- Plan and facilitate recreational, social, and educational activities both inside and outside the home that promote individual development.
- Support children to engage in school, therapy, and community-based opportunities.
- Encourage the development of independent living skills, such as budgeting, cooking, and self-care.
Household Duties
- Contribute to the maintenance of a clean, safe, and welcoming home by undertaking household tasks (e.g. cooking, cleaning, laundry).
- Encourage children to take pride in their living spaces and participate in domestic routines appropriate to their age and ability.
Record Keeping and Compliance
- Maintain accurate and timely records of daily activities, incidents, observations, and interactions.
- Complete all required documentation including risk assessments, care plans, incident forms, and safeguarding reports.
- Adhere to GDPR and data protection policies and procedures at all times.
Special Requirements
- Flexibility to work varied shifts, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-in duties, as part of a rota.
- Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role.
- Occasional travel for training, meetings, or external activities may be required.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent - Essential
- Willingness to undertake further training and continuous professional development - Essential
- Full UK driving licence - Desirable
Experience
- Previous experience supporting children and young people in a residential, care, or education setting - Essential
- Experience managing behaviours that challenge and supporting young people with complex needs - Desirable
Skills & Abilities
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to form positive, professional relationships with children and colleagues
- Confidence to act in safeguarding or emergency situations using sound judgement
- Ability to manage time, prioritise tasks, and follow plans under pressure
- Basic IT skills for record keeping and communication
Personal Qualities
- Empathetic, patient, and resilient
- Emotionally mature and able to manage the demands of a challenging role
- Flexible, reliable, and willing to work shifts, including holidays and weekends
- Committed to equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice
- Passionate about supporting children to achieve positive outcomes
For your information:
Interested? Please send your CV in as a Word format only
Please only apply if you are already eligible to work in the UK
Not for you but you know someone suitable? Take advantage of the YourRecruit paid referral fee
Due to the large numbers of responses we receive, despite our best efforts it is not possible to respond to every application. Therefore, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for this particular role and if you haven't heard from us within 7 days please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please feel free however to apply for further roles and we will certainly keep your details on file and contact you with suitable vacancies.
YourRecruit Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender or disability and complies with all relevant UK legislation. To stay safe in your job search we recommend that you visit JobsAware, a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation working to combat job scams. Visit the JobsAware website for information on common scams and to get free, expert advice for a safer job search.
