Horizons Residential Childcare UK Limited BERWICK UPON TWEED
Residential Childcare Worker
Hourly Pay: £12.75 – £15.50 + Sleepover │ Bank │ Ofsted Regulated
Whether you’re starting your career in care or bringing years of experience, we want to hear from you.
Job details at a glance
Job title: Residential Childcare Worker
Location: Berwick upon Tweed (North East England)
Hourly Pay: £12.75-£15.50
Sleep-in allowance: Paid separately £50 per sleep-in duty
Contract type: Permanent, Bank-FT
Hours: Variety of Hours Available
Experience required: Experience with children or young people desirable but not essential
Qualifications: Level 4 Diploma in Children’s Residential Care (may be supported if not already held)
Setting: Children’s residential care home (Ofsted registered)
Regulated by: Ofsted- Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
DBS requirement: Enhanced DBS check with children’s and adults’ barred list- required before start date
Reports to: Team Leader, Deputy Manager, and Registered Manager
Start date: As soon as possible- negotiable for the right candidate
Could this be the most rewarding job you’ve ever done?
Residential Childcare Workers are the heartbeat of everything we do. They are the consistent, caring adults who are present when a child wakes up, there at mealtimes, alongside them through difficult moments, and cheering them on when things go well. We are looking for the impact of a skilled, committed care worker who truly believes in the potential of every child they work with.
We are looking for people who are warm, resilient, curious, and genuinely committed to making a difference. What you need is the values, the character, the drive to do this job well and transferable experience working in health and social care (children or adults). We do facilitate and support career changes too!
In return, we offer full training, funded qualifications, regular supervision, and a genuinely supportive team environment. We believe that people who feel valued and well-supported deliver better care, and we are serious about living that commitment.
What makes this different?
- Trauma-informed, relationship-based approach
- Every voice in the team matters
- Clear path and support to Team Leader and beyond, depending on performance
- Ongoing well-being support
Who thrives in this role?
- People who stay calm under pressure and are resilient
- Natural relationship builders
- People open to learning, reflection, and feedback
- Those who see the child, not just the behaviour
The children and young people you will be supporting
The children and young people in our home have experienced significant trauma, loss, and adversity including abuse, neglect, family breakdown, and bereavement. Many may have had multiple placement breakdowns before arriving with us.
We use a trauma-informed approach in in care, from how we handle a morning routine to how we respond after an incident. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust, reduce judgement, and support a child or young person to feel safe.
The children in our care have often never had a reliable, caring adult consistently show up for them. You will be that person. It is not an easy job, but it is one of the most important jobs there is.
What you will be doing day to day
No two days in residential care are the same. Here is a flavour of what your role will involve:
Daily care and living
- Support children and young people through their daily routines, mornings, mealtimes, homework time, activities, and bedtime, with warmth, patience, and consistency
- Be emotionally available and attuned throughout your shift: notice when a child or young person is struggling, respond with empathy, and create moments of genuine connection
- Actively engage children and young people in activities, conversations, hobbies, and interests, not passive supervision, but real, purposeful time together
- Support and celebrate each child and young person’s cultural, religious, and personal identity in every aspect of daily life
- Administer medication safely and accurately (full training and competency assessment provided)
Safeguarding and keeping children safe
- Know the signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-harm, and respond correctly when something concerns you
- Respond calmly and without leading when a child or young person makes a disclosure. Record accurately and report to your manager the same shift, without exception
- Follow the home’s missing from care procedures immediately and provide a warm, non-judgmental welcome when a child or young person returns.
- Monitor online safety and contextual risks; report any new information or concerns immediately
- Maintain professional boundaries with all children and young people at all times, including on social media
Key working
- Act as the named keyworker for your allocated children and young people: build a strong, trusting relationship and deliver planned keyworker sessions
- Know each child and young person’s care plan, risk assessment, and behaviour support plan thoroughly, and apply that knowledge on every shift
- Capture and record their wishes and feelings regularly, and ensure their voice is heard in decisions about their own lives and care.
- Support children and young people to attend and engage with school, health appointments, and positive therapeutic activities
- Contribute written input to care plan reviews ahead of each review meeting and on an ongoing basis.
Working as part of the team
- Arrive on time for every shift and provide a thorough handover at the end of it
- Complete daily diaries, incident reports, and medication records accurately, professionally, and before leaving the shift
- Engage openly and honestly in supervision sessions and team meetings
- Support your colleagues, particularly during and after difficult incidents
- Raise any concern about a child’s safety or a colleague’s conduct with your manager without delay
What we are looking for
Essential
✓A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people who have experienced trauma and adversity
✓The personal qualities to build safe, warm, and boundaried relationships with children: empathy, patience, resilience, and emotional self-awareness
✓Ability to remain calm, regulated, and professional under pressure, and to model this for the children in your care
✓Willingness to complete the Level 4 Diploma in Children’s Residential Care within the required timeframe.
✓Willingness to undertake all mandatory training including safeguarding, physical intervention, medication administration, and first aid (all funded and provided)
✓Ability to write accurate, professional, and contemporaneous records
✓Reliability and punctuality: your team and the children depend on you showing up
✓Enhanced DBS check with children’s and adults’ barred list: satisfactory outcome required before start date
✓Full UK driving licence: or willingness to obtain one
Desirable (but not required)
★Previous experience working with children or young people (paid or voluntary) in any setting
★Experience or interest in trauma-informed care, attachment theory, or therapeutic approaches (PACE, DDP)
★Level 4 Diploma in Children’s Residential Care already held
★Experience of residential or supported living settings
★Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, the Children Act, or the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
We actively encourage applications from people who do not yet have direct residential care experience. We look for character, values, and potential, we provide the rest. If you are unsure whether you are qualified enough, please apply anyway.
What we offer you
1. Competitive salary: £12.75 - £15.50 per hour depending on experience, including paid sleep-in allowance
2. Support for training: Level 4 Diploma in Children’s Residential Care, safeguarding, physical intervention, first aid, medication administration- supported by us
3. Annual leave: pro-rata including bank holidays where applicable
4. Supervision & support: Regular 1:1 supervision with your line manager, plus group reflective practice sessions to support your development
5. Wellbeing support: Employee Assistance Programme providing free, confidential counselling and practical wellbeing support
6. Career progression: A clear, supported pathway to FT Residential Childcare Worker, Team Leader, Deputy Manager, and Registered Manager
7. Pension: Workplace pension scheme with employer contributions (auto-enrolment)
8. Team culture: A genuinely supportive team where your voice matters, your wellbeing is taken seriously, and good work is recognised
9. Free meals on shift
New to Berwick? We are happy to have an informal conversation about what it is like to live and work here before you apply. Relocation support is available for the right candidate.
Ready to apply?
Send us your CV and a completed application form.
We do not expect a perfect CV or a perfectly written letter. We are looking for honesty, self-awareness, and genuine motivation. We review applications on a rolling basis and may close the vacancy early if a strong candidate is found.
Informal enquiries are very welcome, please contact the Had Office for a conversation before applying if you would find that helpful.
Safeguarding & equal opportunities statement
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with barred list checks, satisfactory references, and right to work verification. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds, including those with lived experience relevant to the children we support. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from under-represented groups in the residential care workforce.
Pay: £12.75-£15.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Berwick-Upon-Tweed TD15: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you registered with the DBS Update Service?
- Where are you based?
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- NVQ 3 or equivalent (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
