Orchard House – Northampton
Night Support Worker – Sleep-In Nights
Orchard House – Northampton is looking for a reliable, calm and caring Night Support Worker to join our small and committed team.
We currently provide Ofsted-registered supported accommodation for young people aged 16+ in NN3. This role will remain a supported accommodation sleep-in night role but once children's home registration has been granted then the position will relocate to a second home located in NN2.
Applicants should therefore be comfortable working within a supported accommodation sleep-in night model, while also being flexible to work across Orchard House locations within reasonable travel distance as required by the developing needs of the service.
This is an important safeguarding role. It is not “just a sleep-in”. Young people, colleagues and managers need to know that night staff are present, reliable, punctual, alert when needed, and able to respond calmly and professionally if concerns arise overnight.
Current Hours and Rota
The current supported accommodation night shift is usually:
8pm–8am
The role is based on an average of 36.75 hours per week, worked across a rolling two-week rota:
Week 1:
2 nights on / 2 nights off / 3 nights on
Week 2:
2 nights off / 2 nights on / 3 nights off
Current shifts are made up of:
- 5 active working hours
- 7 hours designated as sleep-in
Sleep-in time is non-active, but staff must remain on site and respond to needs if required.
Pay
The current supported accommodation night role is paid as follows:
- £13.75 per active hour
- £40 sleep-in allowance per shift
- Salary based on the standard rota pattern: £20,122.50 per year
- Paid monthly
- Bank holiday enhancements apply where applicable
If staff are awake and required to work during sleep-in hours, additional payment arrangements apply in line with the contract.
About the Role
As a Night Support Worker, you will help maintain the safety, security and wellbeing of young people and the home during night hours.
The role includes:
- Supporting the safety and welfare of young people overnight
- Monitoring curfews and whereabouts
- Responding to concerns, incidents or young people needing reassurance
- Reporting safeguarding concerns promptly
- Following missing-from-care procedures where required
- Carrying out nightly health, safety and security checks
- Ensuring the home is safe, secure and ready for the next day
- Completing accurate records, logs and handovers
- Liaising with on-call management where concerns or incidents arise
- Maintaining professional boundaries at all times
This is currently a lone working night role, with support available from the on-call manager. Staff are expected to follow lone working procedures, safeguarding procedures and escalation routes at all times.
Driving Requirement
A full UK driving licence is essential for this role.
There may be occasions where night staff are required to use the pool car or other agreed transport arrangements in urgent safeguarding situations, for example if a young person is missing, stranded, or requires support to return safely.
Anyone using their own vehicle for work purposes must have appropriate business insurance and provide evidence of valid insurance, MOT and tax where required.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who is:
- Reliable, punctual and consistent
- Calm under pressure
- Caring, professional and boundaried
- Able to work sensitively with young people who may have experienced trauma
- Confident using digital systems and completing written records
- Able to follow safeguarding procedures and escalate concerns appropriately
- Comfortable working nights, weekends and bank holidays as part of a rota
- Open to developing with Orchard House as we prepare to transition toward a children’s home model
- Able to work to a children’s home standard as the service evolves
Experience in supported accommodation, children’s residential care, youth work, mental health, education, care, safeguarding or similar settings would be helpful. However, reliability, values, emotional resilience and the right attitude are just as important.
Essential Requirements
Applicants must:
- Hold a full UK driving licence
- Be able to work the rolling two-week night rota
- Be reliable and able to commit to planned shifts
- Be able to work weekends and bank holidays where required
- Be confident completing written records and using digital systems
- Be willing to undertake safer recruitment checks
- Be willing to complete mandatory training
- Be able to work professionally with vulnerable young people
- Be open to the role developing as Orchard House transitions toward children’s home registration
Safer Recruitment
Orchard House is committed to safeguarding and safer recruitment.
This role is subject to:
- Enhanced DBS check
- References
- Right to work checks
- Pre-employment screening
- Driving licence checks
- Suitability checks in line with safeguarding expectations
Applicants must be honest and transparent throughout the recruitment process. Reliability and safeguarding suitability are essential for this role.
How to Apply
Please apply through Indeed with your CV.
You will also be required to complete Orchard House’s application form and pre-screening questions as part of our safer recruitment process.
These can be downloaded from:
www.orchardhouse-northampton.com/vacancies
Completed application forms, screening questions and CVs can be sent to:
[email protected]
Please include a brief note explaining:
- Why you are interested in working with young people
- Any relevant experience you have
- Your availability for night shifts
- Confirmation that you hold a full UK driving licence
Pay: From £20,122.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
