Job Description – Residential Support Worker
Location: Cedar House, Southall, West London
Service: 4-Bed Residential Children's Home (LD/Autism)
Responsible to: Senior Support Worker (Shift Lead) on shift; Deputy Manager for line management
Responsible for: Direct day-to-day care and keywork responsibilities as assigned
1. Job Purpose / Summary
To deliver high-quality, individualised day-to-day care to children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism, supporting their welfare, rights, development and outcomes. The Residential Support Worker will practise Positive Behaviour Support on shift, work within safeguarding standards and support the wider team in ensuring the home operates in full compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and standards, including the Children Act 1989; the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards; and relevant safeguarding, health and safety and employment legislation.
The home is a 4-bedroom specialist children's home based in Southall, West London, providing care and support to children and young people aged 11–17 with mild to moderate LD/autism.
2. Essential Requirements
- Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) — desirable. Where it is not already held, the post-holder must commence the Level 3 Diploma within six months of appointment and attain it within the Regulation 32 timescale — that is, within two years of starting in a care role. The qualification is fully funded by Barclay Care Group.
- Demonstrable experience supporting children, young people or adults with learning disabilities and/or autism — residential, education, community or family setting.
- Willingness to train in Positive Behaviour Support, Total Communication / Makaton, sensory regulation and BILD-accredited safe physical intervention.
- Willingness to train in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and best-interests decision-making as it applies to young people aged 16 and over.
- Willingness to train in LD-associated health needs, including epilepsy awareness; eating, drinking and swallowing (dysphagia) risk; and the recognition of pain and distress.
- Working knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards, or willingness to develop this in post.
- Sound working knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Calm, values-led and child-centred; comfortable with personal care, routines and boundaries.
- Emotionally resilient; able to remain composed and consistent in challenging situations.
- Good verbal and written communication skills, including accurate record keeping.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and follow the direction of the shift lead.
- Honest, reliable and accountable; able to take responsibility for work undertaken.
- Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development and LD/autism practice.
- Willingness to work shift patterns including days, evenings, weekends, waking-night and sleep-in duties.
- Full UK driving licence.
3. Main Responsibilities
3.1 Direct Care and Support
- Deliver personalised, therapeutic day-to-day care to children with LD/autism, including personal care, mealtimes, routines, health appointments, community access and activities.
- Support children to develop life skills, independence, communication and social confidence at their own pace.
- Act as a keyworker to individual children as assigned, taking responsibility for building relationships, tracking outcomes and coordinating specific pieces of work.
- Contribute to the development of each child's communication passport, working with the child, their family and the school and therapy team, and use each child's preferred communication methods consistently.
- Work to the recommendations of the home's commissioned clinical team — the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist and Positive Behaviour Support / AAC partner — applying their guidance consistently in daily practice.
- Ensure children's rights, dignity and cultural identity are respected at all times, and that practice is free from oppression and discrimination.
3.2 Positive Behaviour Support in Practice
- Implement each child's Positive Behaviour Support plan consistently and confidently on shift.
- Use Total Communication, sensory strategies and de-escalation techniques to reduce distress and support emotional regulation.
- Where safe physical intervention is required, use only BILD-accredited techniques trained in and permitted under the child's PBS plan — as a last resort, to prevent injury or serious harm, and for the shortest time necessary.
- Record every measure of control, discipline or restraint fully and without delay, in line with Regulation 35, and take part in post-incident review and debrief with the child and the team.
- Record PBS incidents, antecedents and outcomes accurately to support ongoing plan review and the reduction of restrictive practice.
3.3 Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Take shared responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in placement, in line with the home's policies and statutory guidance.
- Recognise and report any safeguarding concern to the shift lead, Deputy Manager or Registered Manager immediately, and to the Designated Safeguarding Lead where required.
- Remain alert to the heightened vulnerability of children with learning disabilities and autism to abuse, neglect and exploitation — including child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, online exploitation and mate crime — and act on any concern without delay.
- Follow the home's Missing Child policy and protocols immediately where a child is missing or absent from the home.
- Support and empower children to voice concerns; support their access to advocacy where needed.
- Complete safeguarding and child-protection training annually and maintain up-to-date knowledge of the home's safeguarding procedures.
3.4 Health, Medication and Wellbeing
- Follow safe medication administration procedures at all times, in line with training, competency assessment and the home's medication policy.
- Record and report the effects of PRN medication, and work to STOMP/STAMP principles —medication is never used as a substitute for Positive Behaviour Support, nor as a response to behaviour that can be met by other means.
- Remain alert to LD-associated health needs — including epilepsy; eating, drinking and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties; constipation; and pain — recognising that a child's distress may present as behaviour.
- Support children to attend health appointments and to access both universal and specialist health services.
3.5 Preparation for Adulthood
- Support each child's preparation for adulthood from the point of admission — life skills, cooking (including use of the education and training kitchen), money awareness, travel and road safety, social communication and independence — at the child's own pace.
- Contribute to each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), supporting the child to participate and providing evidence for annual reviews.
- Record and celebrate progress and achievement, understood broadly and individually.
3.6 Recording, Reporting and Communication
- Maintain accurate, timely and professional records of care, incidents, PBS data, medication administration and safeguarding matters.
- Contribute to reflective handovers, team meetings and reviews.
- Support the wider team in delivering clear communication with parents, carers, social workers and other stakeholders as directed by the shift lead or Deputy Manager.
- Ensure documentation is available for internal audits, Regulation 44 visits and Ofsted inspection as required.
3.7 Compliance and Standards
- Work in accordance with the home's Statement of Purpose, policies, procedures and Ofsted registration conditions.
- Maintain a clean, safe and homely environment; report maintenance and health-and-safety issues promptly.
3.8 Health and Safety
- Employ safe working practices in accordance with Health and Safety at Work legislation.
- Cooperate with designated personnel with responsibilities for health and safety.
- Respond appropriately to emergencies and follow the direction of the shift lead in the moment.
3.9 Other Duties
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role that may be required from time to time by the Senior Support Worker, Deputy Manager or Registered Manager.
- This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities but indicates the main areas attached to the post. It may be amended to reflect changes in social care, legislation or organisational requirements.
4. Salary, Hours and Benefits
Salary: Competitive, with structured pay grades, bonus scheme and paid sleep-ins.
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week on a shift pattern including days, evenings, weekends, waking-night and sleep-in duties. On-call: None.
- 28 days' paid annual leave per holiday year, inclusive of the 8 public and bank holidays, rising by 1 additional day for each completed year of service, to a maximum of 5 additional days (33 days inclusive).
- Paid sleep-ins.
- Employer pension contribution (e.g. 3%).
- 100% employer-funded LD/autism, Positive Behaviour Support and Makaton training.
- Free enhanced DBS check.
- Refer-a-friend bonus scheme.
- Comprehensive induction programme.
- Clear pathways for career progression.
- Therapeutic training and consultation for staff.
- Casual dress (where appropriate).
- Commitment to work/life balance, including wellbeing support and team-building events.
5. Safer Recruitment and Pre-Employment Checks
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check including a check of the children's barred list; two written references, including one from the most recent employer involving work with children; proof of identity; a full employment history with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps; documentary evidence of qualifications; and confirmation of fitness for the role. These requirements are set by Regulation 32 and Schedule 2 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. No post-holder will work unsupervised with any child until all pre-employment checks are complete.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £14.50-£18.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
