Senior Residential Support Worker Job Specification
Location: Castle Donington, Northwest Leicestershire
Salary: Up to £15.00 per hour | Sleep-In Payment: £55.00 per sleep | Overtime: £16.00 per hour
Reports To: Registered Manager / Deputy Manager
About Next Steps Children's Care
At Next Steps Children's Care, we believe every child deserves more than just a placement — they deserve a home where they feel safe, understood and valued.
This is an EBD & LD solo home, specifically designed to support one child at a time who requires intensive therapeutic intervention following placement instability, trauma or significant emotional and behavioural challenges.
Unlike traditional children's homes, our stabilisation model allows us to provide individualised, relationship-based care, giving children the time, consistency and support they need to build trust, regulate emotions and develop the foundations for long-term success.
Our clinical psychologist team provides direct support to our young people outside of the home, including walks and activities, while also providing training and supervision to our staff team every two weeks.
The home operates with a 2:1 staffing model, alongside a waking night worker and sleep-in support, ensuring children receive consistent, high-quality care throughout the day and night.
Everything we do is underpinned by our H.O.M.E Values:
- H – Healing: Fostering emotional recovery through trauma-informed care, therapeutic interventions and empathetic relationships.
- O – Opportunity: Providing education, skills, leisure and growth experiences.
- M – Meaningful Support: Delivering tailored, consistent, child-centred care with high staff ratios.
- E – Empowerment: Building confidence, resilience, independence and self-advocacy.
We provide stable, nurturing, child-centred care, using high staff ratios and therapeutic approaches, including PACE, to achieve meaningful outcomes for children.
A Home Built Through Lived Experience
Next Steps Children's Care was founded by someone with lived experience of the care system. Having spent many years growing up in residential care, our founder understands first-hand the lasting impact that stable relationships, compassionate adults and feeling genuinely cared for can have on a young person's life.
This experience has shaped every aspect of our service, from the environment we create, to the values we uphold and the expectations we have of our team.
We're looking for professionals who understand that great residential childcare isn't simply about managing behaviours or completing paperwork — it's about building relationships, restoring trust and helping children believe in themselves again.
Job Purpose
The Senior Residential Support Worker will play an important role in the day-to-day running of the home, providing consistent leadership and support to the wider staff team while remaining directly involved in the care of the child.
This is a hands-on senior role, combining direct care with shift leadership and additional responsibilities. The Senior will act as a positive role model, supporting Residential Support Workers to deliver safe, therapeutic and consistent care.
Working alongside the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager, the Senior will help maintain high standards of safeguarding, care, recording and regulatory compliance.
The role will include a combination of day shifts, sleep-ins and additional responsibilities, allowing the Senior to take an active role in supporting both the child and the staff team.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Team Support
- Take a senior role in the day-to-day running of the home.
- Lead shifts and provide direction to Residential Support Workers.
- Act as a positive role model and lead by example.
- Support colleagues to maintain professional standards and good practice.
- Provide guidance and support to staff during challenging situations.
- Support new staff during their induction and development.
- Promote a positive, supportive and solution-focused team culture.
- Communicate effectively with the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager.
- Raise concerns or areas of practice requiring management attention.
Delivering Outstanding Care
- Build meaningful and therapeutic relationships with the child through consistency, trust and compassion.
- Deliver high-quality, trauma-informed care tailored to the child's individual needs.
- Support the child to achieve positive outcomes across education, health, emotional wellbeing, independence and social development.
- Use positive behaviour support strategies that focus on understanding the reasons behind behaviour rather than simply managing it.
- Ensure the child's voice, wishes and feelings remain central to their care.
- Promote the child's dignity, independence, safety and emotional wellbeing.
- Support activities, education and community engagement.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing positive relationships.
Safeguarding & Compliance
- Ensure safeguarding remains at the heart of all practice.
- Follow safeguarding procedures and immediately report concerns appropriately.
- Maintain accurate and timely records.
- Complete daily logs, incident reports and other required documentation.
- Follow care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support plans.
- Support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager in maintaining compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
- Ensure the home remains safe, clean, welcoming and appropriately maintained.
- Contribute to audits, monitoring and continuous improvement.
Partnership Working
- Build positive relationships with social workers, placing authorities, education providers, healthcare professionals and families.
- Contribute to professionals' meetings, reviews and planning discussions where required.
- Advocate for the child and ensure their needs are communicated effectively.
- Maintain appropriate communication with external professionals.
Operational Responsibilities
- Support the smooth running of shifts.
- Complete effective handovers between staff teams.
- Ensure appropriate staffing and supervision arrangements are maintained.
- Support the maintenance of the home and report any repairs or concerns.
- Assist with activities, appointments and transport where required.
- Contribute to the development of the home and its practices.
- Support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager with delegated tasks and responsibilities.
Person SpecificationQualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or Children and Young People's Workforce, or willingness to work towards this.
- Full UK driving licence is desirable.
Experience
- Previous experience working within a residential children's home.
- Experience working with children or young people with complex emotional, behavioural or learning needs.
- Previous experience as a Senior Residential Support Worker, Team Leader or experienced Residential Support Worker is desirable.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Experience supporting children using trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lead and support colleagues on shift.
- Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to remain calm and professional during challenging situations.
- Ability to build positive and trusting relationships with children.
- Understanding of safeguarding and residential childcare regulations.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a small, close-knit team.
- Good problem-solving skills.
- Ability to recognise and respond appropriately to changes in a child's presentation or behaviour.
Personal Attributes
- Committed to child-centred, trauma-informed practice.
- Professional, reliable and emotionally resilient.
- Calm and reflective under pressure.
- Warm, compassionate and patient.
- Positive and solution-focused.
- Able to demonstrate strong professional boundaries.
- Willing to learn, develop and accept constructive feedback.
- Someone who genuinely believes that behaviour is communication.
- Passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.
What We Offer
- Up to £15.00 per hour
- £55 per sleep-in
- £16.00 per hour overtime
- Full training and ongoing professional development
- Regular supervision and support
- Clinical input and staff development from our psychology team
- Opportunities for career progression
- Supportive Registered Manager and Deputy Manager
- A therapeutic and values-led working environment
- Opportunity to make a genuine difference to the life of a child
- Working within a service founded through lived experience of the care system
How to Apply
Please email your CV and completed application form to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
