Oakview Children’s Homes (SEN, Ages 8–18)
Oakview Children’s Homes is inviting expressions of interest from skilled, motivated
Residential Support Workers and Senior Residential Support Workers seeking
employment within our new residential services in Hull, supporting children and young
people aged 8–18 with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
We are committed to delivering high-quality, trauma-informed, child-centred care in
line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards.
To achieve this, we are looking for individuals who demonstrate professionalism,
resilience, and a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children.
Essential Attributes
- Commitment to SEN practice and inclusive care
- Ability to form and maintain positive, professional relationships with
children
- Calm, consistent, reflective approach to behaviour support
- Understanding of trauma-informed and attachment-aware practice
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a
multidisciplinary team
- High standards of professionalism, reliability, and ethical conduct
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) OR willingness
to work towards this qualification.
What Oakview Provides
Oakview Children’s Homes is committed to creating a supportive, safe and professional
environment where staff feel valued, equipped and confident in their roles. We offer:
Structured Environment
A well-organised, child-centred workplace with clear routines, expectations and
consistent support.
Comprehensive Induction
Full training covering:
- Special Educational Needs (SEN)
- Safeguarding
- Trauma-informed practice
- Behaviour support and de-escalation
- Policies, procedures and regulatory standards
Professional Development
Clear pathways for progression, ongoing CPD opportunities, and support to achieve
further qualifications.
Staff Wellbeing
Reflective practice, regular supervision, open communication and a commitment to
continuous improvement.
Competitive Pay
- Residential Support Worker (RSW): £15.00-£15.50 per hour (depending on experience)
- Sleep-ins: £70 per night
Pension Scheme
Access to a workplace pension in line with statutory requirements, with employer
contributions.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Confidential wellbeing and mental-health support available 24/7.
Shift Pattern & Rota Structure
Oakview Children’s Homes operates a clear, predictable rota designed to support
consistency for children and work-life balance for staff.
Shift Times
10:00 a.m. – 10:00 am including sleeps.
Three-Week Rolling Rota
This rota ensures fairness, stability, and regular rest periods:
- Week 1: Monday, Saturday, Sunday
- Week 2: Thursday, Friday
- Week 3: Tuesday, Wednesday
This structure ensures:
- Every staff member has two full weekends off each month
- A good break between working blocks, supporting wellbeing and reflective
practice
- Consistency for children through a stable, repeating pattern
Main purpose of the Job
To provide advice, assistance, and support to young people, always safeguarding their welfare. To attend to their practical, physical, and emotional needs. To act as an appropriate role model and to work closely with them to enable them to address their difficulties and achieve their optimum potential. To work with contracted clinical team to promote, deliver and create a Therapeutic Environment.
Equality & Diversity
All children are equally entitled to have their needs met in a fair and balanced way. Residential Care Practitioner are responsible for promoting equal opportunities for all and for challenging any behavior or practice which discriminates against any young person or colleague on the grounds of race, religion, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation or any other perceived difference.
Duties and Responsibilities
To meet the needs of children through:
· To undertake a lead role in ensuring the care and welfare of each child in placement.
· To give guidance and support to all residential workers.
· To be responsible for the supervision of designated members of staff.
· To raise any concerns with the Registered Manager as appropriate.
· Ensuring that each staff member is aware of each child’s care plan and their responsibilities for its implementation
· Attending childcare reviews and planning meetings to provide information and achieve best outcomes for children
· Undertaking one-one work with children
· To act as an appropriate role model
· Maintaining accurate written records in logs, continuation sheets and files both to record information and enable regular monitoring and evaluation to take place
· Chair children’s meetings and facilitate consultation with children generally
· Act as an appropriate adult at PACE interviews
· To be aware of and respond to the children’s medical needs, including detail and optical and to ensure they are met appropriately.
· To be interested, responsive and understanding to the children’s behaviours and feelings and work on the basis that the behaviour is a way children communicate their feelings which more than likely will often stem from their previous traumatic experiences.
· To be inquisitive and reflective around behaviours and where this comes from and be sensitive and supportive to the children in helping them to manage these.
To manage a care team through:
· Providing supervisory control and direction in relation to residential staff duties and responsibilities
· Taking responsibility for planning shifts and ensuring their smooth running when on duty
· Providing consultation and informal advice and support to residential staff in relation to day-to-day matters
· Undertaking individual 1:1 supervision to residential staff in line with Quality Standards & Regulations
· Contributing to team meetings to facilitate good communication and staff development
· Ensuring residential staff work within the home’s policies, procedures and Quality Standards & Regulations requirements
· To participate in safer recruitment training
· Assist with the recruitment and retention of residential including induction training for new staff into the home
· Supervision of new staff during their probationary period using observation skills to guide and support staff
· Develop a management style which balances the need to exercise control and give direction with the need to offer residential staff the opportunity to make appropriate decisions
· Identify and progress individual training and development needs of residential staff in the context of their personal development plans
· Undertake and support annual appraisal of residential staff if directed by the manager.
· Addressing issues in relation to conduct and competence of carers
· To participate in management of allegation training and to undertake management investigations when required and as directed
· Assist the Registered Manager in promoting personal and professional development through the appropriate delegation of duties and responsibilities
· To perform duties as directed by the registered manager ensuring that areas of responsibility are adhered to and managed.
· To support the Registered Manager to develop the staff rotas to meet the needs of the business and children
· Take effective action to safeguard children and to ensure the prompt referral of any safeguarding matters to the Registered Manager, Responsible Individual and the safeguarding authority and to avoid unnecessary drift and delay
General Responsibilities:
· To assist the Registered Manager in the implementation of all aspects of the Statement of Purpose
· To run in-house workshops childcare related matters to facilitate implementation of formal training and improve practice
· To work on a Rota basis according to the needs of young people
· To ensure that resources are allocated appropriately, and financial records are accurately maintained under the direction of the Registered Manager and or Responsible Individual
· To receive supervision in line with Quality Standards & Regulations and to take responsibility for personal development and progress of individual training needs
· To carry out all other reasonable tasks as directed by the Registered Manager and/or the Responsible individual
· To deputise in the absence of the Registered Manager by taking control of the children’s home, staffing and practice during the period of absence.
· To develop systems which ensure the effective allocation of resources through:
· Ensuring adequate staffing levels that meet the needs of the children
· Ensuring that budgets are managed effectively, and the use of finances is properly monitored including petty cash returns, weekly attendance records
· Ensuring that company vehicle is regularly maintained
· Monitoring closely the fabric of the building (including fixtures, amenities, and grounds) and taking remedial action where necessary
· To be actively involved in the development and implementation of children’s individual Therapeutic Care / Placement Plans, Behaviour Support Plans and Risk Assessments and to regularly participate in the review of these plans.
· To contribute to and prepare reports, where appropriate and take delegated responsibility for communications with external agencies/parents and present in a professional manner.
· Contribute to a high standard of internal staff communication face-to-face interactions with colleagues and through handovers, regularly checking and completing daily logs, message book and diary.
To promote the efficient and effective operation of the home through:
· Developing in consultation with children and residential staff routines and safe boundaries in relation to all aspects of child’s care and welfare.
· Clarifying expectations in relation to maintaining the home in a clean and orderly condition
· To ensure effective handovers that all staff coming on shift are fully aware of events and what needs to happen during the next shift and the safeguarding of the children.
· To be responsible as the senior for the smooth running of shifts and that staff on duty at any time are aware of the expectation, including the home’s routines, boundaries and structures for the safety of the children.
· Ensuring that there are appropriate and adequate reporting and recording systems in place to comply with Quality Standards & Regulations. Where there are shortfalls in the quality of reporting and recording that as senior you take prompt and effective action to address this without delay.
· Attending all administration issues in relation to the home and the provision of weekly management information reports.
To work as part of a team through:
- Being aware of the aims and objectives of the home and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve them
- Attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to them
- Actively contributing to the development of the team
- Receiving and storing information to improve communication
- Being willing to give and receive feedback on performance with colleagues and managers
- Being aware of childcare plans for all children and providing support for colleagues by maintaining consistency in the execution of those plans
- Providing informal practical and emotional support to colleagues experiencing difficulties
- Monitoring the conduct of colleagues and referring on any causes for concern (Whistleblowing)
- Being familiar with all policies and procedures and adhering to them
The details contained in this Job Description are not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different duties commensurate with the level of the post as required by Oakview and the overall objectives of the organisation. The nature of the work and organisation means that tasks and responsibilities are sometimes unpredictable therefore staff are expected to work flexibly when the occasion arises.
This role will include shift work involving evenings, weekends and sleeps (including a sleep-in allowance)
Pay: £15.00-£15.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
