Waking Night Children's Residential Support WorkerCrook, County Durham | Full-Time | Residential Childcare | Shift WorkMore Than a Job. A Chance to Change a Young Person's Story.
What if your next job could be one where you genuinely matter?
We’re looking for a Waking Night Children's Residential Support Worker to join our team in Crook, County Durham.
This is not a role for someone who simply wants to clock in, clock out and count down the hours.
It’s for someone who wants to be the calm voice at the end of a difficult day. The reassuring presence when a young person is struggling. The person who notices when something isn't quite right. The person who celebrates the small victories that other people might overlook.
And yes, there will be paperwork. There will be challenging days. There may even be a debate about whose turn it is to make the tea.
But there will also be moments when you realise you've made a real difference to someone's life.
That’s what makes this job special.
A Home, Not Just a Workplace
You’ll be working in a specialist children's residential home supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD).
These young people don't need perfect people.
They need consistent people.
People who can remain calm when things get difficult. People who listen without immediately judging. People who understand that behaviour is often communication. People who can set boundaries while still showing warmth, patience and compassion.
Your role will be to help create an environment where young people feel safe, respected, understood and valued.
Sometimes progress looks like a huge breakthrough.
Sometimes it looks like getting through a difficult night.
And sometimes, it’s simply a young person deciding they trust you enough to talk.
Those moments matter.
What Will You Actually Be Doing?
As a Waking Night Support Worker, you’ll provide attentive, reassuring and professional support throughout the night.
You will:
- Carry out regular welfare checks in accordance with care plans and risk assessments
- Provide reassurance, emotional support and positive role modelling
- Respond calmly and appropriately to incidents, safeguarding concerns and emergencies
- Encourage positive behaviour through consistent boundaries and relationship-based care
- Build trusting, professional relationships with young people
- Maintain accurate records, reports and handovers
- Complete security and fire safety checks
- Help keep the home clean, safe and welcoming
- Support morning routines where required
- Work closely with colleagues, managers and external professionals
- Follow care plans, safeguarding procedures, regulatory requirements and organisational policies
You’ll also learn that “quiet night” is sometimes a phrase used by residential care professionals with a very optimistic outlook.
Who Are We Looking For?
We’re looking for people who genuinely care about children and young people and want to use their skills to make a difference.
You may already be a:
Residential Support Worker | Children's Support Worker | Care Worker | Residential Care Practitioner | Youth Support Worker | Behaviour Support Worker | Therapeutic Support Worker
Or perhaps your experience comes from:
- Children's social care
- Youth work
- SEN or SEMH settings
- Behaviour support
- Foster care
- Supported accommodation
- Education
- Care roles involving children or young people
Experience in children's residential care is desirable, but attitude, character and a genuine commitment to young people matter enormously.
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Compassionate and patient
- Calm under pressure
- Emotionally resilient
- Dependable and trustworthy
- A strong communicator
- Confident with professional boundaries
- Committed to safeguarding and child protection
- Comfortable working independently
- A strong team player
- Child-centred in their approach
- Able to maintain accurate and professional records
- Flexible and willing to go the extra mile when needed
A full UK driving licence is desirable.
Why Should You Join Us?
Because some jobs pay the bills.
Some jobs give you a reason to be proud of what you do.
This role offers the opportunity to build a meaningful career while helping young people overcome challenges, develop confidence and move towards a more positive future.
We offer:
- Competitive salary
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Career progression opportunities
- A supportive and inclusive working environment
- A rewarding role where your work genuinely matters
- The opportunity to develop specialist experience in children's residential care
- The chance to become part of a team that is passionate about improving outcomes for young people
You won’t always see the impact of your work immediately.
But the encouragement you give today might help a young person make a better decision tomorrow.
The consistency you provide might help them learn to trust again.
The boundary you calmly hold might help them feel safer.
That is the difference you can make.
The Reality of the Role
This is a full-time position working on a rota, including:
- Waking night shifts
- Weekends and bank holidays
- Flexible working to meet the needs of the service
- Sleep-ins and participation in an on-call rota where required
- Occasional rota changes to maintain continuity of care
Residential childcare isn't always easy — and we won't pretend that it is.
But if you’re the kind of person who can walk into a difficult situation, take a breath, stay calm and think, “Right, let's work this out,” you could be exactly who we're looking for.
Safeguarding Comes First
The safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in our care is our highest priority.
This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose convictions or cautions that are not protected under current filtering legislation.
All appointments are subject to safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory pre-employment checks.
Could This Be You?
If you’re looking for more than just another job...
If you want to wake up knowing that the work you do has purpose...
If you have the patience to listen, the resilience to keep going and the compassion to see the young person behind the behaviour...
We want to hear from you.
You don't need to have all the answers.
You just need to care, be willing to learn and be prepared to show up consistently for young people who need someone in their corner.
Join us in creating a home where young people feel safe, supported and able to believe in themselves again.
Apply today.
Your next job could be more than a career move. It could be the beginning of something that genuinely changes a life.
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: £29,160.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Referral programme
Application question(s):
- Why do you want to work for Paragon Social Care?
- How far are you willing to travel for work? (miles)
Experience:
- Support Environment: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- full UK Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
