Residential Support Worker – Children’s Home
Location
East London / North East London
(Waltham Forest / Redbridge area)
Salary
£32,000 – £38,000 per year depending on experience, qualifications, and shift pattern (sleep-ins and/or waking nights included).
Job Type
Full-time, permanent
About Us – Care2Share
Care2Share is a values-led residential care provider supporting children and young people across London.
We work with young people aged 11–18 who may have experienced trauma, instability, exploitation, missing episodes, family breakdown, or emotional and behavioural difficulties. Our homes are built on strong relationships, high-quality safeguarding practice, consistency, and care that genuinely makes a difference.
At Care2Share, we do not believe in simply “watching over” young people. We believe in building trust, creating stability, setting boundaries with care, and helping young people feel safe enough to grow, regulate, and move forward in life.
We are looking for Support Workers who are calm, reliable, resilient, and genuinely committed to improving outcomes for children.
Job Overview
As a Residential Support Worker, you will play a key role in the day-to-day care, safety, and development of children living in the home.
You will support young people with routines, education, independence skills, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, appointments, activities, and safeguarding. You will be expected to build positive relationships, work as part of a team, respond calmly to incidents, and maintain clear and professional boundaries at all times.
This is not a passive role. It requires energy, emotional resilience, good judgement, and the ability to care consistently even when a young person is struggling.
Key Responsibilities
Direct Care and Support
- Build positive, consistent, and professional relationships with children and young people
- Support young people with daily routines, appointments, education, health needs, and activities
- Promote independence skills such as cooking, budgeting, hygiene, travel, and routine-building
- Encourage positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and constructive engagement
- Provide a safe, nurturing, and structured home environment
Safeguarding
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times
- Respond appropriately to incidents, missing episodes, behavioural concerns, and disclosures
- Follow risk assessments, care plans, and safeguarding procedures consistently
- Maintain professional curiosity and report concerns promptly
- Work in a way that reduces risk and promotes stability
Recording and Communication
- Complete daily logs, incident reports, key information, and handovers to a high standard
- Contribute to care planning and review processes
- Communicate clearly with colleagues and managers
- Work effectively with professionals including social workers, police, education staff, and health services
Teamwork and Professional Practice
- Work as part of a rota including evenings, weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-ins where required
- Contribute to a positive team culture
- Attend training, team meetings, and supervision
- Model good practice, reliability, and professional boundaries
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for people who are:
- Calm under pressure
- Emotionally resilient
- Child-centred and caring
- Able to build trust without losing boundaries
- Reliable and consistent
- Observant and professionally curious
- Able to work shifts and respond flexibly
- Committed to safeguarding and good practice
Experience in residential childcare is valuable, but just as important is the right attitude, maturity, and ability to work with young people who may test relationships and boundaries.
Essential Requirements
- Experience working with children, young people, or vulnerable people in a care, support, education, youth work, or similar setting
- Good understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries
- Ability to communicate clearly and write records to a good standard
- Ability to work shifts, including weekends and sleep-ins
- Full UK driving licence
- Willingness to complete relevant training and qualifications
Desirable
- Experience in a children’s residential home
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent
- Experience working with young people affected by trauma, exploitation, missing episodes, or behavioural risk
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice
- Experience supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Sleep-in payments where applicable
- Ongoing training and development
- Clear progression opportunities to Senior Support Worker and Deputy Manager
- Supportive leadership and management
- Opportunity to be part of a service that is growing and improving
- A role where your work has real impact on young people’s lives
Why Join Care2Share
At Care2Share, we want staff who care deeply, think clearly, and show up consistently.
This role is for people who understand that residential childcare is not just about supervision — it is about relationships, safety, guidance, repair, and helping young people experience adults who do not give up on them.
If you want to be part of a team that takes safeguarding seriously, believes in high standards, and wants to make a genuine difference, we would like to hear from you.
Important
This role requires emotional resilience, good judgement, and a genuine commitment to working with children in a residential setting.
Applications from candidates without relevant experience, transferable experience, or a clear understanding of the demands of the role may not be progressed.
Apply now
If you are passionate about supporting young people and want to be part of a strong and values-led team, apply today.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £32,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience working with children, young people, or vulnerable individuals (e.g. in care, education, youth work, or support roles)?
- Are you able to work shifts including evenings, weekends, waking nights and sleep-ins?
- A young person becomes angry, refuses to follow instructions, and starts shouting at staff. How would you respond?
- Why do you want to work with young people in a residential children’s home?
- This role can be emotionally challenging. Can you describe a time you worked in a difficult or high-pressure situation and how you handled it?
Work Location: In person
