support worker

deputy manager

youth worker

teaching assistant

teacher

The Keys Group

I worked for keys as a residential careworker for 4 years, and I would like to say that I left on good terms with keys so this isn't a rant from someone who was fired 

Working with the kids was the best part of the job and weekend shifts were the best time to work because you didn't have to deal with the management but you had to give up the social life on the weekends. 

The whole company is run with the sole focus of saving money at every cost, the amount of awkward phone calls I've had with social workers trying to request money  for the young person just for them to say that keys should be covering this was embarrassing.

The management of the homes is atrocious and the regional managers come in and try to implement changes for the young people when most of the time they haven't met them and leave the staff to deal with the fall out.

The young person the staff work with are challenging as is the nature of the job and this is to be expected if you don't have a thick skin and are easily offended then this kine of work isn't for you, and what makes this worse is when the managers accept new placements that don't fit the dynamic of the home, for example the regional manager and manager of my home accepted two you people from the same area of the country and both had a history of self harm and within a few days they had ran off from the home together and started self harming together, just for the managers to say the staff aren't doing enough to keep the children safe.

The company will also expect you to be willing to travel hundreds of miles to be redeployed hundreds of miles away into a home with staff and young people that you don't know to do atleast a 16 hour day there and then drive home, when this has be raised on many different managerial levels by myself they say that it for the benefit of the company and we have to do it. IF YOU WORK FOR KEYS JOIN A UNION ASAP.

In summary I would urge everyone to avoid Keys they have a shortage of staff for a reason the pay is atrocious for the work you do and there is no support from the company, if the people on shift after you don't come in you have to stay, if you are ill and can't get cover you have to stay. It is honestly the worst company I have worked for and I left on good terms with them.

Previously working within the Education side of the company, I can only say this company is abyssmal! 

The vast majority of Teachers and Teaching Assistants begin with being highly dedicated individuals, striving for the best for children, and are eager to develop skills and qualifications to better do this. However, the majority leave as soon as qualified due to poor pay and conditions of employment (salary advancement is by yearly appraisals not competency) and exceptionally poor management. The majority of management are either a combination of incompetent, bullies or both. Considering the stressful nature of working with children with severe SEN, there is no supervision of staff and mental health support is limited to a non-descript online app with the bog standard wellness exemplified; nothing about reducing workloads or supporting staff. 

A positive is the freedom of choice on how to structure a curriculum across all age-groups but the consequent negative is there is little to no understanding by management of what this means; more importantly a significant unwillingness to actually understand a curriculum! Conflicting policies do not help and in regard to curriculum management are ignored.

Recent job adverts advertise free lunches - never seen. A constant referral to paying the living wage not the minimum wage - they're the same thing. 

It is clear that the children come 2nd and staff welfare is far down the list in terms of priorities. Support staff are constantly changed on nearly a daily basis in some classes leading to a lack of consistent understanding of educational work and consistent support to children. It is only by the constant hardwork of front-line staff that the children do not see these negatives.

All in all, I would strongly not recommend this place to work, at best you will be looking for somewhere else very quickly and an example of how not to run a SEN school.

a typical day would be getting the young people up and ready for school making sure there feed and dressed appropriately then taken to school. my duties would then involve completing paper work cleaning through the home then preparing lunch and tea. once the young people are home I then encourage them to shower change and tidy there own rooms before tea and then they wold complete chores then be taken on activity mostly supervised with staff unless on free time they would then return home get ready for bed have supper then settle to there rooms. I would then complete remaining paperwork then clean through the home.
I have learnt a lot by doing this role some experience which are confidential to share but I have learnt how to keep the young people safe and meet the child's needs . I now know how to manage a young person in crisis and the signs to look out for. iv learnt to build up trust and how to be a good role model learning the young people how to be in society. 
The management in the home is good and really supportive but I feel higher management could be better as there's not much support for staff and young people in my opinion.
The hardest part of the job is not letting the young peoples issues and problems affect you sometimes a childs life may have been a horrible experience and to learn what they have been through can sometimes be hard and difficult to understand how and why.
the most enjoyable part is the job itself if you can see past that it is the most rewarding job to be in. Having a good bond with the young people and been able to make a difference to there life is the best feeling. a young person opening up to you and feeling safe to talk been able to take them out on activities and holidays sometimes things they have never experienced .

It's a friendly atmosphere at every level, the new starters are supported through their probation then they have the opportunity to be enrolled on level 4 qualification, there are many valuable courses and training, such as Intensive Interactions, PECS, Sensory Integration, autism, PBS. The new starters benefit from a good induction program and shadowing shifts before starting their job and also they have mentors from senior members of staff, so no one can go wrong. If you want to earn extra money, the overtime is paid with an additional £1.5/h on top of your hourly rate, and there are plenty of sleep-ins as well. The company also rewards you for your loyalty, with yearly increases in wages and additional days of annual leave. Valuable and hard-working members of staff are not ignored or left behind but promoted. The management, at all levels, is flexible and supportive, they really work like a team. The home managers support each other and do an extra effort to guide and coach the new ones through every aspect of the job and the senior managers give you plenty of time to accommodate and always offer additional support and resources if you need. Unfortunately, not everyone succeeds. There is excellent communication and support at all levels of management, the senior managers are deeply involved, approachable, and supportive. Material and financial resources are always available for home managers to help them implement any good idea and improve the service. The children are very well looked after, the staff involves and support them in a wide range of activities. The children receive generous allowances for Christmas/birthdays/holidays and they also have pocket money allocated weekly, also money for clothing and activity.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Great company to work for. They are so on top with training and help you to progress you're career. Wages are really good as well.  I started in the home that I was working in through an agency and then after a short period of time I got transferred over to keys group which did take long at all. I worked in the home I was at for 2 years but then unfortunately I had to leave due to no fault of my own and it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make as I was leaving behind such a great company and team I have ever worked with but I know it was the right decision for me but I do miss it terribly. I don't think I will ever find a better team or company to work for which actually cares about you and you're well-being, you're progression in becoming the best you.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No two days are the same. They are long hours and can be tiring. It can be a very stressful job but you get great rewards aswell. Knowing that you are trying you're best to better the life for these young people that haven't always had the best start in life and not always through no fault of there own. It can be very heart breaking I know it was for me when I first started because you learn and realise how many young people are in care and its wrong it shouldn't be like this that's why they need us to support and nurture them in becoming the best they cam become.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Great culture from all walks of life. Everyone is welcome and no-one is judged from what ever there beliefs are. We celebrate, promote and support from the lgbt community.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
No two days are the same but you know support is always there.

A typical day at work:
A typical day in a residential setting involves supporting the People We Support with their daily routines, promoting independence, completing documentation, administering medication, and ensuring the home runs smoothly. As Deputy Manager, I also support staff supervision, oversee shifts, and ensure standards of care and compliance are maintained.

What you believe you learned:
I have learned how to lead and motivate a team, manage challenging situations calmly, and balance care responsibilities with administrative and managerial duties. I’ve also developed stronger communication, organisation, and leadership skills.

Management:
Management is supportive and approachable, encouraging teamwork, open communication, and professional development. In my Deputy role, I’ve learned to lead by example while upholding the organisation’s values and expectations.

Workplace culture:
The workplace culture is person-centred, supportive, and team-driven. Staff work together to create a friendly, safe and positive environment for residents and each other, with a strong focus on quality care and mutual respect.

The hardest part of the job:
The most challenging part can be managing complex situations or balancing the needs of residents, staff, and operational demands while maintaining high standards of care.

The most enjoyable part of the job:
The most rewarding part is seeing the People We Support progress and thrive, supporting staff to develop in their roles, and knowing that the work we do makes a meaningful difference every day.

 A typical day at work in a residential night waking role involves being responsible for the safety and well-being of Young Person during the night. This includes monitoring the premises, responding to any emergencies or disturbances, and providing support as needed.

In this role, I believe I have learned valuable skills in crisis management, being responsible, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. It also offers an opportunity to develop empathy and compassion for the YP I work with.

Management in this role is crucial for providing clear guidelines and support to ensure the safety and security of the YP. Effective communication and support from management are key factors in success in this role. Personally with my disability, management is doing everything to assist me work effectively without any challenges to my health.

Workplace culture is likely to be focused on collaboration, support, and a sense of responsibility towards the well-being of the YP. It's important to have a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values teamwork and cooperation.

The hardest part of the job is when the mood of the YP changes and and affects the care plan

The most enjoyable part of the job is likely the sense of fulfillment from knowing that  I am making a meaningful difference in the lives of the YP. Building relationships with the YP and being able to support them during vulnerable times can be incredibly rewarding.

NB: Generally, I am very grateful to Keys group for giving me the opportunity to work with them inspite of my disability. They really demonstrated that inclusivity is part of their values.

I have worked at Keys for 8 years, There has not been one day which has been the same as the last. Resilience is essential and not taking things to heart, The young people we care for can be have challenging behaviour which can be tiring and you will have days where you think if this is something which you can continue to do, but it is worth all the confrontations, incidents of harm, damage what ever behaviour the young person may be presenting, it is especially important that people remember the reasoning behind the behaviour being shown, this will in time decline in occurrence the safer the young people feel.

There is an extensive training programme which is beneficial to your learning and  development, which enables us to give the young people the space to be able to achieve and succeed.

The home i currently work in has had its tough times, but all have worked together to ensure that the needs of the young people are being met, and ensuring that the staff team are ok and supported.

I would say the worst thing about the job for me personally is finding the right people who want to make a difference o the young people with a natural caring and therapeutic approach. 

The most enjoyable part of my role is seeing the young peoples progression over the time they have been with us, they are achieving things which they felt was not possible.

During my time in this company I worked i was over worked, underpaid and put in dangerous situations way above my pay grade with minimal support, management and senior management were very clicky with each other and only gave support on their terms. 
I once worked 72 hours in a row and when I asked if I could have relief after 48 hours having had barley any sleep, I was told that I had agreed to work so had to fulfil my hours regardless of the circumstances, I felt no support at all which ended up I my mental health deteriorating massively. 
Keys Group do not care for child welfare, they match young people together very poorly which result in placement breakdowns and high risk incidents which should have been foreseen by management, however they place kids in homes with no/little regard for the well-being of staff and children to fill the beds and get more money coming into the company. 
I couldn’t work for people so unethical and people who have such poor people skills, senior management think they are above everyone else and treatment of residential staff was very poor. 
The shift patterns are too long and do not account for staffs welfare, you leave shift feeling very drained and work life balance is a struggle. 
Wouldn’t recommend working for them, pay is rubbish and sleep allowance is not included when you take annual leave. 


First and foremost, I must say that the benefits offered by the company are fantastic. They provide a great sense of security and support, which is really appreciated. The employee assistance programme, pension plans, and various other perks make a significant difference in our overall well-being and job satisfaction.

In terms of training, I have been thoroughly impressed with the resources and opportunities available. The company has done an excellent job in providing access to various training programs, workshops, and courses that help us enhance our skills and stay updated with industry trends. This commitment to continuous learning is truly commendable and has a positive impact on our professional growth.

The clear career paths and regular performance reviews ensure that we are always aware of our progress and the steps needed to advance in our careers.
I believe the company is doing an outstanding job in providing benefits, training, and professional progression opportunities. I am grateful for the support and resources available to us, and I look forward to continuing my journey with the company.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Support worker 2 salaries reported	£13.89 per hour
Deputy manager 137 salaries reported	£31,233 per year
Youth worker 52 salaries reported	£23,571 per year
Teaching assistant 208 salaries reported	£21,088 per year
Teacher 145 salaries reported	£31,887 per year

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