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
The Role
As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you will play a key leadership role in delivering outstanding, trauma-informed care to children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. You will lead shifts, support and mentor colleagues, and help create a nurturing home where children feel safe, valued and able to thrive.
Working alongside the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager, you will be instrumental in promoting a culture of therapeutic practice, positive relationships and continuous improvement, ensuring every child receives high-quality, individualised care in line with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership
- Lead shifts, ensuring the home operates safely, effectively and in line with company policies and regulatory requirements.
- Provide guidance, mentoring and day-to-day support to Residential Support Workers.
- Promote a positive, reflective and professional team culture.
- Support the induction and development of new team members.
Building Relationships
- Develop trusting, consistent and meaningful relationships with children.
- Create a warm, nurturing and family-style environment where children feel respected and listened to.
- Help children develop confidence, resilience and emotional regulation through everyday interactions.
Therapeutic Practice
- Deliver care using trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches.
- Understand behaviour as communication and promote co-regulation and restorative practice.
- Use ProActive Approaches principles to prevent escalation and support positive outcomes.
- Ensure any restrictive physical intervention is used only as a lawful last resort.
Safeguarding
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
- Recognise, record and report safeguarding concerns promptly.
- Respond appropriately to incidents including missing-from-care episodes, allegations and child protection concerns.
- Maintain professional boundaries and act as a positive role model.
Care Planning
- Act as a key worker for allocated children.
- Contribute to care planning, risk assessments and behaviour support plans.
- Complete high-quality daily recordings, keywork sessions, monthly reports and other documentation.
- Attend and contribute to reviews, planning meetings and multi-agency meetings.
Health, Education and Wellbeing
- Promote children's physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
- Support attendance and achievement in education.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles, hobbies, independence skills and meaningful community activities.
- Support children to maintain safe and positive relationships with family and significant people where appropriate.
Quality and Compliance
- Ensure practice reflects the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
- Support audits, medication management, health and safety checks and quality assurance activities.
- Promote accurate recording and reflective practice.
- Contribute to creating a home that is consistently inspection ready.
Professional Development
- Participate in supervision, appraisal and ongoing professional development.
- Complete mandatory training and continually develop your knowledge of trauma-informed practice.
- Support the organisation's vision as it expands across Oxfordshire, embracing opportunities for progression and leadership.
Person Specification - Essential
- Minimum 2 years' experience working in a residential children's home.
- Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or have completed a significant proportion of the qualification and be committed to achieving it within the required timescales.
- Experience supporting children with SEMH, trauma and behaviours that may challenge.
- Good understanding of safeguarding, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards.
- Experience of leading shifts or supporting colleagues in a senior capacity.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce high-quality records and reports.
- Ability to build positive, professional relationships with children, families and partner agencies.
- Flexible approach to working shifts, including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (or working towards).
- Experience of ProActive Approaches, Team Teach or another recognised positive behaviour support system.
- PACE, ARC, DBT-informed or other trauma-informed training.
- Medication, first aid and safeguarding qualifications.
- Experience mentoring or supervising staff.
- Knowledge of ClearCare or similar electronic recording systems.
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.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £36,000 per annum £41,000 (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: £41,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- relevant : 2 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
