Senior Residential Support Worker
Location: Worthing (Durrington area)
Salary: £31,469 – £34,823 plus enhanced payments for weekends, bank holidays, sleep-ins and on-call duties (advertised range £34,200-£38,000 is estimate of annual salary with enhancements)
Hours: Full-time | 40 hours per week plus average of two sleep-ins per week | 48-hour shift pattern
Are you an experienced Senior Residential Support Worker who knows that consistency changes lives?
Do you believe children thrive when the adults around them provide warmth, clear boundaries and unwavering consistency?
Would you like to join a home where relationships come first, your judgement is trusted and you're supported to do the job properly?
If so, we'd love to hear from you.
An established home with a strong foundation
Willow Family Care opened its first children's home almost a year ago with a simple ambition: to create a home that genuinely feels like home.
Built by professionals from healthcare and education, Willow was created to offer something different from traditional residential care. The focus has always been on relationships, stability and doing what's right for children rather than simply meeting minimum standards.
We're now looking to welcome another experienced Senior Residential Support Worker to our growing team. You'll be joining an established, supportive group of people who care deeply about the children they work with and about each other.
This role is ideal for someone who is confident leading shifts, enjoys supporting colleagues and understands that maintaining consistent, healthy boundaries is one of the most important ways we help young people feel safe.
What you'll do
- Provide trauma-informed, relationship-based care for young people aged 12–17 with SEMH needs.
- Lead shifts and support colleagues to deliver safe, consistent, high-quality care.
- Model professional practice and help develop less experienced team members.
- Build positive relationships with children while maintaining clear, consistent boundaries.
- Work alongside families and professionals to achieve the best outcomes for young people.
- Help create a home where children feel secure, respected and able to thrive.
What we offer
- A genuinely caring team who believe in doing things the right way.
- A supportive management team who value your experience and judgement.
- Ongoing professional development, reflective practice and quality supervision.
- A culture that prioritises emotional wellbeing alongside high standards of care.
- Opportunities to develop your career as Willow continues to grow.
- Your birthday off.
- 28 days annual leave, increasing with service.
- Health insurance.
- Enhanced payments for bank holidays, sleep-ins and on-call duties.
What we're looking for
Essential
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
- Previous experience working within a children's residential home.
- Experience leading shifts and supporting colleagues.
- A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice.
- Confidence maintaining professional boundaries whilst building positive, trusting relationships.
- A calm, resilient approach, particularly during challenging situations.
- Excellent communication and record-keeping skills.
- Flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins.
You'll fit well if you are...
- Warm, approachable and emotionally intelligent.
- Able to hold firm boundaries with kindness and consistency.
- Someone who leads by example.
- Reflective and always looking to learn.
- Passionate about helping young people achieve their potential.
Recruitment process
We believe recruitment should be thorough, fair and personal.
This recruitment is being managed by People Finding Consultancy, acting as Willow Family Care's in-house recruitment partner. Throughout the process, your main point of contact will be Sam at People Finding Consultancy, who will support you, answer your questions and keep you updated at every stage.
After receiving your CV, suitable applicants will be invited to complete our application form as part of our safer recruitment process.
Applications are assessed against the essential criteria for the role. If your application meets the required standard, we'll arrange an initial telephone conversation to discuss the role in more detail, answer any questions and explain the next stages of the process.
Successful applicants will then be invited to interview with Willow's Registered Manager, Deputy Manager and Directors.
We review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of strong applications. We therefore encourage early applications.
Safer recruitment
Willow Family Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.
This role is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references (including your most recent employer), employment history checks and verification of your right to work in the UK.
Accessibility and support
We want every applicant to have the opportunity to demonstrate their suitability for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, or if you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Sam at People Finding Consultancy by emailing [email protected]. We'll be happy to help.
Your data
People Finding Consultancy is managing this recruitment process on behalf of Willow Family Care.
Any personal information you provide will be used solely for recruitment purposes, handled confidentially and processed in accordance with UK data protection legislation. Your information will only be shared with Willow Family Care where necessary to progress your application and will be retained only for as long as required in line with our privacy policy and legal obligations.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £34,200.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- What town do you live in?
- Do you have right to work in the UK? (If you require a visa, we're sorry but we cannot accept your application because we don't hold the relevant license)
- Do you have a driving license?
- Do you have experience working with children or young people?
- Do you have level 3 in Residential Childcare?
Work Location: In person
