BANK STAFF- RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT WORKER – JOB DESCRIPTION
Youth Inspire – Residential Children’s Home (EBD/SEMH – Harrow)
Care with purpose. Support with consistency. Make every day count.
Location: Harrow, London
Salary: £16 (experience‑based)
Contract: Bank staff, zero-hours contract. Shifts are offered flexibly according to the needs of the home and your availability, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins. We are keen to hear from people who can start immediately while we recruit permanent staff for our new EBD/SEMH home.
Reports to: Team Leader/Deputy Manager/Registered Manager
Home Type: New Ofsted-regulated EBD/SEMH home
Start Date: IMMEDIATE START
About the Home
We are opening a new, trauma-informed residential children’s home in Harrow for children and young people aged 7–17 years with complex emotional, behavioural, social, emotional and mental health needs (EBD/SEMH). Our practice is grounded in the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, and a commitment to creating a safe, nurturing, and structured environment.
This is a bank staff role on a zero-hours basis, with shifts agreed around the needs of the home and the availability of bank staff. Hours may vary from week to week, and the details of availability, preferred shifts, and start arrangements can be discussed at interview. This role may suit applicants who are able to start immediately and would like flexible work in a new EBD/SEMH residential children’s home.
We are looking for experienced bank staff who can start immediately, and support, guidance, and induction will be available as part of the role.
As a Bank Staff Residential Support Worker, you will provide support when shifts are available and agreed. You will play a vital role in supporting children and young people’s daily lives, building positive relationships, and helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
Role Overview
The Bank Staff Residential Support Worker provides high-quality, trauma-informed care to children and young people when working agreed shifts. You will support children and young people with daily routines, emotional regulation, behaviour, education, and independence, while contributing to a safe, stable, and therapeutic home environment.
This role requires compassion, resilience, consistency, and a commitment to child‑centred practice.
Key Responsibilities
(Aligned with Ofsted, Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 & Quality Standards
Child‑Centred Care
- Build positive, trusting, therapeutic relationships with children and young people
- Support children and young people with daily routines, personal care, and independent living skills.
- Promote children and young people’s education, health, emotional wellbeing, and social development.
- Encourage participation, voice, and choice in all aspects of their care.
- Support key‑working responsibilities under the guidance of senior staff.
Behaviour Support
- Implement trauma‑informed behaviour support strategies.
- Use de‑escalation techniques to support children and young people during moments of distress.
- Follow behaviour support plans and contribute to their review.
- Support restorative approaches and positive behaviour modelling.
Safeguarding
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture within the home.
- Report and record safeguarding concerns promptly and accurately.
- Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
- Ensure children and young people’s safety, welfare, and rights are upheld.
Daily Living & Routines
- Support children and young people with meals, activities, appointments, and household tasks.
- Help maintain a structured, predictable, and nurturing environment.
- Participate in recreational, educational, and therapeutic activities.
Recording & Compliance
- Maintain accurate, timely records including logs, reports, and plans.
- Follow organisational policies and procedures.
- Contribute to inspection readiness and quality assurance processes.
Teamwork & Professionalism
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure consistent care.
- Participate in handovers, team meetings, and training sessions.
- Reflect on practice and contribute to a positive team culture.
- Uphold the values and ethos of the home at all times.
Household & Environment
- Help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming home environment.
- Support health and safety checks and risk management.
- Model respect, responsibility, and positive behaviour.
Essential Requirements
· Experience working in residential children’s homes is required for bank staff.
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
- Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
- Emotional resilience and ability to manage challenging situations.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
· Ability to work flexibly on agreed bank shifts, which may include sleep-ins, evenings, weekends, and school holidays. Availability and preferred shift patterns can be discussed at interview.
· Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, is required for bank staff.
Desirable Requirements
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
· Experience supporting children and young people with EBD/SEMH, trauma, or complex needs.
- Experience using de‑escalation or behaviour support strategies.
- Knowledge of trauma‑informed and therapeutic approaches.
- First Aid training.
- Full UK driving licence.
Personal Attributes
- Compassionate, patient, and child‑centred.
- Calm under pressure and consistent in approach.
- Reflective, open to learning, and committed to CPD.
- Professional, reliable, and emotionally mature.
- Strong role model with high personal standards.
- Committed to equality, diversity, and anti‑discriminatory practice.
What We Offer
· Competitive hourly rate for agreed bank shifts, with training and development opportunities.
- Team Teach and trauma‑informed practice training.
- Supportive leadership and a positive team culture.
- Free gym membership.
- Innovative software to support care planning and recording.
- Opportunity to help shape a brand‑new home.
· We also welcome bank staff who may be interested in moving into a permanent role as the home grows and where permanent posts are available.
Bank Staff Pay Guidance
Area
Guidance
Pay
£16 per hour, experience-based, for agreed bank shifts and any other alternative flat rates will be discussed at interview
Hours
Zero-hours bank arrangement. Hours may vary according to the needs of the home and staff availability.
Shifts
May include evenings, weekends, school holidays, and sleep-ins. Availability and preferred shift patterns can be discussed at interview.
Permanent opportunities
Bank staff who are interested in permanent roles are welcome to discuss this at interview in relation to permanent posts available.
If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with complex needs and committed to delivering high‑quality, trauma‑informed care, we would welcome your application.
Join us and help create a home where children feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.
BANK STAFF- RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT WORKER – PERSON SPECIFICATION
Youth Inspire Residential Children’s Home (EBD/SEMH) – Harrow
1. Qualifications
Essential
· Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, is required before commencing bank shifts.
- Commitment to ongoing CPD and training.
- Willingness to complete Team Teach training.
Desirable
· Additional relevant qualifications or training in residential childcare, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, attachment, or behaviour support.
- Team Teach trained.
- First Aid qualification.
2. Experience
Essential
· Previous experience working in a residential children’s home is required for bank staff.
· Experience supporting children and young people with emotional, behavioural, social, emotional and mental health needs.
- Experience working as part of a team in a care or support environment.
- Experience managing challenging situations calmly and professionally.
Desirable
· Experience supporting children with EBD/SEMH, trauma, or attachment difficulties.
- Experience using de‑escalation or behaviour support strategies.
- Experience contributing to care planning or risk assessments.
- Experience working within a trauma‑informed or therapeutic model.
3. Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
· Awareness of trauma-informed practice and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).
- Understanding of professional boundaries.
- Awareness of behaviour support and de‑escalation principles.
- Understanding of equality, diversity, and anti‑discriminatory practice.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
- Understanding of attachment theory and child development.
- Knowledge of Ofsted’s SCCIF (Social Care Common Inspection Framework)
· Awareness of PACE as our model of practice — Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy — is desirable. Support, guidance, and ongoing learning will be available for staff joining the home.
4. Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to remain calm and consistent during challenging situations.
- Ability to work as part of a team and follow guidance.
- Ability to support children with daily routines and emotional regulation.
- Ability to maintain accurate records.
- Emotional resilience and reflective practice.
Desirable
- Ability to contribute to incident reviews and learning.
- Ability to support new staff or act as a positive role model.
- Strong organisational skills.
5. Personal Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate, patient, and child‑centred.
- Emotionally resilient and able to manage stress effectively.
- Professional, reliable, and consistent.
- Reflective and committed to personal development.
- Positive role model with high personal standards.
· Flexible and open to agreed bank shifts, which may include evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins. Availability can be discussed at interview.
- Committed to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.
- Committed to equality, diversity, and anti‑discriminatory practice.
Desirable
- Creative and solution‑focused.
· Open to future permanent opportunities within the organisation as the home grows.
· Willingness to work in line with the home’s PACE-informed approach, with support and guidance provided.
- Passionate about supporting children and young people with complex needs.
Pay: £16.00-£16.50 per hour
Expected hours: 39.0 per week
Work Location: In person
