About the Role
We are looking for compassionate, resilient, and dedicated Night Wake Residential Support Workers to join our residential childcare team in Nottingham. You will be working with high-risk young people aged 8–17 who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or placement breakdowns.
This role specifically supports young people who may be at high risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and child criminal exploitation (CCE), including county lines involvement. Some young people may be subject to a Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) order authorised by the High Court and may present with challenging or distressed behaviour, including attempts to leave the home or physical aggression.
As a Night Wake Support Worker, you will be responsible for providing active, awake supervision throughout the night, ensuring young people are safe, supported, and appropriately monitored. You will remain alert to safeguarding concerns, changes in behaviour or presentation, missing-from-home risks, and any incidents that may require immediate intervention or escalation.
Location: Nottingham, NG5 9LU
Key Responsibilities
- Provide active, awake supervision throughout the night, ensuring the safety and welfare of all young people in the home.
- Maintain a calm, safe, and supportive environment during night hours.
- Complete regular checks and observations of young people in accordance with individual care plans, risk assessments, and the home’s policies and procedures.
- Remain alert to changes in a young person’s mood, behaviour, presentation, possessions, phone use, or other indicators of safeguarding concerns or exploitation.
- Respond appropriately to young people who wake during the night, providing reassurance, emotional support, and appropriate guidance.
- Follow individual care plans, risk assessments, behaviour management plans, safeguarding plans, and missing-from-home protocols.
- Monitor and manage risks associated with young people attempting to leave the home during the night, following agreed procedures and escalating concerns immediately.
- Follow missing-from-home procedures, including contacting emergency services or police where required and completing accurate records.
- Apply any restrictions authorised under a young person’s Deprivation of Liberty order precisely and lawfully.
- Use verbal de-escalation and relational approaches when a young person becomes distressed or presents challenging behaviour.
- Use physical intervention only where trained, lawful, proportionate, necessary, and in accordance with the home’s approved procedures.
- Complete accurate records of incidents, observations, safeguarding concerns, significant events, and actions taken during the night.
- Complete a detailed handover for the incoming day team.
- Administer medication where trained and authorised to do so, following medication policies and individual medication plans.
- Maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety within the home during the night.
- Complete agreed domestic duties, including cleaning communal areas, laundry, preparing the home for the following day, and ensuring the environment remains safe.
- Respond appropriately to emergencies, including fire alarms, medical emergencies, safeguarding incidents, and behavioural incidents.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, managers, social workers, police, healthcare professionals, and other agencies where required.
- Attend training, supervision, team meetings, and reflective practice sessions.
- Maintain professional boundaries and act as a positive role model at all times.
- Safeguard the welfare of all young people in accordance with legislation, Ofsted requirements, and organisational policies and procedures.
Night Wake Responsibilities
As a Night Wake Worker, you must remain awake and alert for the entire shift. You will not be permitted to sleep while on duty.
You will be expected to:
- Maintain continuous awareness of the home and the young people’s wellbeing.
- Complete scheduled and responsive observations throughout the night.
- Respond promptly to any noise, movement, distress, requests for support, or changes in behaviour.
- Monitor and respond to safeguarding and exploitation risks.
- Record significant events and observations accurately and contemporaneously.
- Ensure the home is appropriately prepared for the morning team.
- Provide a comprehensive verbal and written handover to day staff.
- Escalate safeguarding, medical, behavioural, or missing-from-home concerns without delay.
Requirements
- Previous experience working with children or young people in a residential, secure, education, fostering, youth work, or similar setting (essential).
- Experience supporting young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour, trauma, exploitation, or safeguarding concerns (essential).
- Experience of working with physically aggressive or challenging behaviour, with the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure (essential).
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment, safeguarding, and contextual safeguarding.
- Ability to remain awake, alert, and attentive throughout overnight shifts.
- Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies and unexpected situations during the night.
- Strong observational skills and the ability to identify changes in a young person’s behaviour or presentation.
- Ability to maintain clear, factual, and accurate written records.
- Strong communication, empathy, resilience, and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work independently overnight while knowing when and how to escalate concerns.
- Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and bank holidays.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Enhanced DBS check including the Children’s Barred List (we will process this).
Desirable
- Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent, or willingness to work towards it.
- Previous experience working night shifts within a children’s residential setting.
- Experience supporting a young person subject to a Deprivation of Liberty order or secure accommodation order.
- Current certification in an accredited positive handling approach such as Team Teach, PROACT-SCIPr-UK, MAPA/CPI, or similar.
- Medication administration training.
- First Aid qualification.
- Experience working with young people at risk of CSE, CCE, county lines, or missing episodes.
- Lived experience of the care system — we particularly welcome applications from care-experienced people.
What We Offer
- Contract type: Full-time and part-time positions available.
- Hours: 36 hours per week for full-time.
- Hourly rate: £15.50 per hour.
- Comprehensive induction and shadow shifts before working independently.
- Ongoing training including safeguarding, CSE and CCE, trauma-informed practice, positive handling, first aid, medication, missing-from-home procedures, and online safety.
- Monthly formal supervision, reflective practice, and access to therapeutic support.
- Post-incident debriefs and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Funded support to achieve your Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma.
- Supportive and professional working environment.
- Opportunities for overtime and additional shifts.
- Career progression opportunities to Senior Support Worker, Deputy Manager, and Registered Manager.
Job Types
Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Bank
Benefits
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Free Enhanced DBS
- Funded qualifications
- Training and development opportunities
- Career progression
- Overtime opportunities
Work Location: In person
Pay: £15.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
