Join a Team That's Building Something Different
At The Bright Barn, we believe exceptional residential childcare starts with exceptional relationships.
We are not simply a children's home. We are creating a home where children who have experienced trauma, instability and loss can begin to feel safe, valued and genuinely cared for. We recognise that behaviour is communication, trust is earned through consistency and that the smallest everyday moments often have the greatest impact.
The Bright Barn is a beautifully converted stone barn set within the Oxfordshire countryside, providing a spacious, welcoming home for up to four children. Combining character with modern facilities, the home offers a warm, family environment where children can feel safe, valued and supported.
The home features generous living spaces, a modern kitchen and dining area, comfortable lounges, spacious bedrooms and extensive secure gardens, together with a dedicated activity building for recreation, learning and enrichment.
We believe the environment children grow up in matters. The Bright Barn has been designed to provide a peaceful, nurturing setting where children can build positive memories, develop independence and thrive.
Our practice is built around therapeutic parenting, trauma-informed care and the ProActive Approaches model. Every member of our team receives comprehensive training designed to help them understand the impact of trauma, build meaningful relationships and prevent incidents through proactive, relationship-based practice. Restrictive physical intervention is always a last resort, with our focus firmly on emotional regulation, de-escalation and positive behaviour support.
We believe children do not simply remember the care they received; they remember how adults made them feel. Whether it's sharing meals, celebrating birthdays, supporting education, encouraging hobbies or simply being present during difficult moments, we understand these everyday experiences are often the foundation of healing and positive childhood memories.
The Bright Barn forms part of an ambitious organisation with plans to develop further high-quality children's homes across Oxfordshire. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people alongside our services, creating genuine opportunities for career progression into Senior, Deputy Manager, Registered Manager and leadership roles.
If you're looking for more than just another residential childcare job and want to be part of building a service recognized for outstanding care, we'd love to hear from you
This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive list. Duties may be amended from time to time to meet the needs of the service following consultation with the post holder.
Why Join The Bright Barn?
Joining The Bright Barn is an opportunity to become part of an ambitious organisation committed to delivering exceptional, relationship-based care for children and young people. As one of our founding team members, you will play a key role in shaping the culture of our home and helping to create positive, lasting outcomes for the children we support.
We invest heavily in our people through comprehensive induction, ongoing professional development and specialist training, including ProActive Approaches, ensuring our team have the knowledge, confidence and skills to deliver outstanding trauma-informed care.
As our organisation continues to expand across Oxfordshire, we are committed to promoting from within wherever possible, creating genuine opportunities to progress into Deputy Manager, Registered Manager and senior leadership positions.
The Bright Barn does not hold a Home Office sponsor licence and is therefore unable to offer employment sponsorship or support visa applications.
Key Responsibilities
Therapeutic Care
- Build safe, trusting and professional relationships with children and young people.
- Provide consistent, nurturing care that promotes emotional security and wellbeing.
- Understand that behaviour is communication and respond using therapeutic and restorative approaches.
- Support children to develop emotional regulation, resilience, confidence and self-esteem.
- Help children understand and manage their feelings through positive role modelling and therapeutic conversations.
- Promote positive attachment experiences through reliable, consistent care.
Daily Care
- Meet children's physical, emotional, educational, social and cultural needs.
- Prepare healthy meals and encourage positive nutrition.
- Support children with routines including mornings, evenings and bedtime.
- Ensure children attend education, appointments and activities.
- Encourage participation in hobbies, sports and community activities.
- Support children to develop friendships and positive social networks.
Promoting Independence
- Teach practical life skills including cooking, budgeting, cleaning and shopping.
- Support young people to prepare for adulthood where appropriate.
- Encourage independence while providing appropriate levels of supervision.
- Promote confidence in decision making and problem solving.
Safeguarding
- Safeguard children at all times.
- Understand and follow safeguarding legislation and company policies.
- Recognise and report concerns relating to abuse, neglect, exploitation, radicalisation or missing episodes.
- Maintain professional curiosity and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Participate in safeguarding meetings and investigations where required.
Care Planning
- Read, understand and implement Placement Plans, Risk Assessments, Behaviour Support Plans and Education Plans.
- Contribute to reviews of care plans.
- Support children in achieving their identified outcomes.
- Monitor progress and identify emerging needs.
Recording and Documentation
- Complete accurate, objective and timely daily recordings.
- Produce high-quality incident reports.
- Record medication administration accurately.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with GDPR.
- Update electronic care records within required timescales.
- Complete body maps, behaviour logs and communication records where necessary.
Health and Wellbeing
- Promote healthy lifestyles.
- Support attendance at medical, dental and therapeutic appointments.
- Administer medication following training and company procedures.
- Monitor children's physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Respond appropriately to medical emergencies.
Education
- Promote regular school attendance.
- Support homework and independent learning.
- Maintain positive relationships with education providers.
- Celebrate educational achievements.
Behaviour Support
- Promote positive behaviour through praise, encouragement and consistency.
- Implement Behaviour Support Plans.
- Use de-escalation techniques to manage conflict.
- Participate in physical intervention only where trained, authorised and absolutely necessary.
- Support restorative conversations following incidents.
Working with Others
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent care.
- Develop positive relationships with families where appropriate.
- Liaise professionally with social workers, schools, therapists, police and healthcare professionals.
- Attend team meetings, supervision and multidisciplinary meetings.
Household Responsibilities
- Maintain a clean, welcoming and homely environment.
- Undertake domestic duties including laundry, cleaning and food preparation.
- Report maintenance concerns promptly.
- Ensure health and safety standards are maintained.
Professional Responsibilities
- Act as a positive role model.
- Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
- Attend mandatory training.
- Participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal.
- Keep professional knowledge up to date.
- Work flexibly, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in duties.
General Duties
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Respect children's rights, identity, culture and individuality.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures.
- Promote the vision, values and ethos of The Bright Barn.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role.
Person Specification
Essential
- A genuine passion for improving the lives of children and young people.
- Ability to build positive, trusting relationships.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Good written and verbal English.
- Willingness to work shifts, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Enhanced DBS suitable for working with children.
- Right to work in the UK.
Desirable
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete within required timescales).
- Previous experience in residential childcare, education, youth work, social care or a related field.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, PACE, PBS or restorative practice.
- Experience supporting children with complex emotional or behavioural needs.
Benefits
- Competitive salary plus sleep-in payments and enhanced overtime.
- Comprehensive induction programme.
- Ongoing therapeutic and trauma-informed training.
- Funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (where applicable).
- Regular reflective supervision.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Supportive leadership team.
- Company pension.
- Annual leave entitlement.
- Employee wellbeing support.
What We Offer
- Competitive basic salary of £31,200 per annum £ 36,400 (Including 2 sleep in a week)
- £50 per sleep-in
- Overtime paid at 1.5x hourly rate
- Comprehensive induction programme
- Specialist training, including ProActive Approaches
- Ongoing professional development and funded qualifications
- Regular supervision and annual appraisal
- Pension scheme
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Genuine career progression opportunities
- The opportunity to work in a beautiful countryside setting within a purpose-designed therapeutic home
What We're Looking For
We are looking for compassionate, resilient and motivated professionals who are passionate about improving the lives of children. You will share our belief that positive relationships change lives and be committed to providing safe, nurturing and therapeutic care that enables children to achieve their full potential.
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process has been designed to identify professionals who share our values and commitment to delivering outstanding care.
Successful candidates can expect:
- Initial application screening
- Face-to-face interview
- Values and competency-based assessment
- Offer of employment subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks
Safeguarding
By Degrees Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references, verification of qualifications, employment history checks and all other safer recruitment requirements in accordance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
Our Promise
At The Bright Barn, we believe that great care starts with great people. We are committed to creating a supportive, respectful and inclusive workplace where every team member is valued, encouraged to develop professionally and empowered to make a lasting difference to the lives of children. Our aim is to build not only an outstanding children's home, but a team that people are proud to be part of.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At By Degrees Care, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We value the diversity of our workforce and recognise that different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives strengthen our ability to provide outstanding care for children and young people.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. By Degrees Care is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this position.
Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK before employment commences.
Please note: This role involves working with vulnerable children and young people and is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory safer recruitment checks.
Information provided as part of your application will be processed in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 and used solely for recruitment purposes.
If you're passionate about making a lasting difference to the lives of children and want to join an ambitious organisation committed to excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £36,400.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- relevant : 2 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
