About the Role
We are looking for compassionate, resilient, and dedicated Therapeutic Support Workers to join our residential childcare team in Nottingham. You will be working with high-risk young people aged 8 – 17 who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or placement breakdowns.
This role specifically supports young people who are at high risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and child criminal exploitation (CCE), including county lines involvement, some of whom are subject to a Deprivation of Liberty order authorised by the High Court, and who may become physically aggressive when distressed or when attempting to leave the home. Our focus is on providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that promotes positive outcomes and long-term change.
As a Therapeutic Support Worker, you will play a vital role in helping young people build trust, develop life skills, and achieve their potential through consistency, care, and positive role modelling. This is demanding work, and we resource it properly — high staffing ratios, clinical input, reflective practice, and managers who are visible on shift.
Location: Nottingham, NG5 9LU
Key Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day care and emotional support to children and young people within the home.
- Build trusting relationships to support young people in making positive choices and managing challenging behaviours.
- Implement individual care, risk, and behaviour management plans, including exploitation and contextual safeguarding risk assessments.
- Act as a protective adult — notice and report changes in presentation, mood, appearance, possessions, money, phone use or peer contact that may indicate exploitation or grooming.
- Follow missing-from-home procedures, liaise with police, and carry out and record return home conversations.
- Apply the specific restrictions authorised in a young person's Deprivation of Liberty order precisely — no more restrictively and no less than authorised — including supervised contact, searches, and phone or internet monitoring, and complete the recording the court and placing authority require.
- Use verbal de-escalation as the first response, and physical intervention only as a last resort, where trained, proportionate, and necessary to prevent harm. Complete post-incident recording, debriefs, and repair work with the young person.
- Promote independence through life skills activities such as cooking, budgeting, and education engagement.
- Carry out domestic duties within the home, involving the children and young people where appropriate, and plan, shop and prepare meals, ensuring they have a varied and well balanced diet.
- Support young people in attending school, appointments, and community activities, including health and sexual health services and CAMHS.
- Support young people to understand healthy relationships, consent, and online safety at a pace they can absorb.
- Maintain accurate and detailed daily records, reports, and incident logs in line with Ofsted and safeguarding requirements.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, social workers, therapists, police, and other professionals, including attendance at reviews, strategy meetings, and MACE/MASE panels.
- Safeguard the welfare of all young people in line with policies and procedures, escalating concerns without delay.
- Participate in training, supervision, and team meetings to continually develop practice.
Requirements
- Previous experience working with children or young people in a residential, secure, education, fostering, or youth work setting (essential).
- Demonstrable experience supporting young people at high risk of sexual or criminal exploitation (essential).
- Experience of working with physically aggressive or challenging behaviour, with a track record of staying calm and relational under pressure (essential).
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment, and safeguarding principles.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage challenging behaviour professionally, without retaliation, shaming, or withdrawal of care.
- Strong communication, empathy, and teamwork skills, and confident written English for clear, factual recording.
- Flexibility to work shifts (evenings and sleep-ins), including weekends and bank holidays.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Enhanced DBS check including the children's barred list (we will process this).
- Desirable: Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), or willingness to work towards it — completion within 24 months of starting is a condition of the role under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, and we fund and support this.
- Desirable: prior experience supporting a young person subject to a Deprivation of Liberty order or secure accommodation order.
- Desirable: current certification in an accredited positive handling approach (Team Teach, PROACT-SCIPr-UK, MAPA/CPI or similar).
- Desirable: lived experience of the care system — we particularly welcome applications from care-experienced people.
What We Offer
- Contract type: full-time and part-time positions available, 36 hours per week for full-time.
- Hourly rate of £16.00 – £17.00 per hour, with your starting rate based on experience and whether you already hold your Level 3 and a current positive handling certificate.
- Sleep-in allowance of £40 per night, plus enhanced rates for bank holidays.
- Comprehensive induction with shadow shifts before you work independently, and ongoing training including safeguarding, child sexual and criminal exploitation, accredited positive handling, trauma-informed practice, first aid, medication, and online safety.
- Monthly formal supervision, plus reflective practice and clinical consultation with our therapeutic lead.
- Post-incident debriefs as standard, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Career development opportunities, including funded support to gain your Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma.
- Supportive and professional working environment.
- Opportunities for overtime and additional shifts.
- Progression within the organisation to Senior Support Worker, Deputy Manager, and Registered Manager.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Free enhanced DBS
- Funded qualifications
Work Location: In person
Pay: £16.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
