Senior Residential Support Worker – Children’s Residential Care
Athena Care Group | Pontardawe
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £33,216 per year, plus approximately £3,600 per year in sleep-in payments
Build brighter futures. Build your career too.
Are you an experienced Residential Support Worker ready to take the next step in your career?
Athena Care Group is looking for an experienced and confident Senior Residential Support Worker to join our children's residential team in Pontardawe.
As a Senior, you'll continue to work directly with children and young people while taking greater responsibility for leading shifts, supporting your team and ensuring consistently high standards of safe, child-centred and trauma-informed care.
You'll need to be confident making decisions, supporting colleagues and remaining calm when situations become challenging, while never losing sight of what matters most – the children and young people in our care.
Essential requirements – please read before applying
To be considered for this Senior position, you must:
● Have a minimum of one year's experience working within a children's residential care setting, supporting children and young people
● Hold a Level 3 Diploma/QCF in Health & Social Care – Children and Young People, or an accepted equivalent
● Hold a full UK DVLA-issued manual driving licence – automatic-only and provisional licences will not meet the requirements of the role
● Already have the right to work in the UK – we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position
● Be aged 21 or over due to the requirements applicable to our residential childcare service
Please only apply for this Senior position if you meet the essential experience and qualification requirements above.
About the role
As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you'll play an important role in the day-to-day running of the home.
You'll lead shifts and support Residential Support Workers while remaining actively involved in caring for and building relationships with our children and young people.
Residential childcare can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. You'll need the confidence and resilience to lead your team through challenging situations, maintain professional boundaries and ensure children's safety and wellbeing remain at the centre of decision-making.
Key responsibilities
● Build safe, trusting and consistent relationships with children and young people
● Lead shifts and provide clear direction and support to the staff team
● Act as the senior decision-maker on duty within the responsibilities of your role
● Deliver high-quality, trauma-informed and child-centred care
● Mentor, guide and support Residential Support Workers to develop their practice
● Support the implementation and review of individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour-support strategies
● Safeguard children and ensure concerns are recognised, reported and responded to appropriately
● Promote positive relationships, emotional regulation, independence and life skills
● Support everyday routines including education, appointments, activities, meals and household responsibilities
● Maintain effective professional communication with social workers, schools and other professionals
● Ensure records and documentation are accurate, detailed and completed in a timely manner
● Support the home to work in accordance with relevant policies, procedures, safeguarding requirements and regulatory expectations
Shift pattern & hours
● 14.5-hour shifts, plus overnight sleep-ins
● Approximately 3 shifts per week / 173 hours per month
● Approximately 2 weekends per month
● Rotas provided 6 weeks in advance
The shift pattern is an important part of residential childcare, so please consider whether these hours will work for you before applying.
What we offer
● Competitive pay: £33,216 per year, plus approximately £3,600 per year in sleep-in payments
● Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus an additional paid day off for your birthday
● Healthcare: Benenden Health Care
● Pension: Company pension scheme
● Bonuses: £250 Employee Referral Scheme and £200 quarterly Attendance Bonus
● Supported induction: Two-week paid induction before beginning your shifts
● Training and development: Ongoing learning and professional development to support you in your Senior role
● Career progression: Opportunities to continue developing towards Deputy and Registered Manager positions
What we're looking for
Alongside the essential experience and qualification requirements, we're looking for someone who can demonstrate:
● Strong safeguarding knowledge and a clear understanding of professional boundaries
● A child-centred approach to decision-making
● An understanding of trauma-informed care and how children's experiences can influence behaviour
● Confidence leading a shift and appropriately delegating responsibilities
● The ability to remain calm, make safe decisions and prioritise when situations become challenging
● Accountability and willingness to raise and report concerns
● The ability to support, mentor and appropriately challenge colleagues
● Strong communication and accurate record-keeping skills
● A positive approach to working with families, social workers, schools and other professionals
Our commitment to safer recruitment
Athena Care Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Safer recruitment is central to how we recruit, and all appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks appropriate to the role.
For this role, these include an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check, satisfactory references, verification of identity and right to work, a complete employment history with satisfactory explanations for any gaps, and verification of relevant qualifications and professional registration where required.
We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process where required.
Ready for your next step?
If you have the residential childcare experience and Level 3 qualification required and you're ready to take greater responsibility while continuing to make a difference to children and young people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today to take the next step in your career with Athena Care Group.
#IND2
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Benenden Health Care
- Referral programme
- Attendance Bonus
- Paid birthday day off
- Training and career development
Application questions:
- Are you aged 21 or over?
- Do you hold a Level 3 Diploma/QCF in Health & Social Care specifically relating to Children and Young People, or an accepted equivalent?
- Do you have at least one year's experience working within a children's residential care setting?
- Do you hold a full UK DVLA-issued manual driving licence?
- Do you currently have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship?
Experience:
- Children's residential care: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Full UK DVLA-issued Manual Driving Licence (required)
- Level 3 Health & Social Care – Children and Young People, or accepted equivalent (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Pay: £33,216.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Referral programme
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a current DBS on the update Service?
- Do you hold a Level 3 QCF Health & Social Care - Specifically in Children and Young People Qualification?
- Previous experience working with children and young people in a residential care environment.
Experience:
- Trauma Informed Practice with Children: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- DVLA Issued Manual Drivers Licence with less than 6 points (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
