Job Description

• Location: Crook, Durham
• Contract: 0-hours contract
• Salary: Shift dependent

We are recruiting a Residential Bank Support Worker to join a specialist children’s residential home in Crook on a 0-hours contract. You will help provide a safe, stable and nurturing home, build trusting relationships and achieve positive outcomes.

This role suits someone with experience of supporting children or young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, or someone with a strong commitment to building a career in residential childcare. Experience in related roles, such as residential care, youth work, SEN/SEMH support, behaviour support, foster care or supported accommodation, is also welcome.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide consistent, relationship-based care that supports each child’s safety, wellbeing and emotional development
• Follow individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support plans
• Promote positive behaviour through clear, consistent and respectful boundaries
• Recognise, respond to and report safeguarding concerns in line with the home’s policies and procedures
• Respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies, using de-escalation and approved physical intervention techniques only as a last resort and in line with training [confirm training model, e.g. Team Teach]
• Complete accurate, timely records, daily logs, incident reports and handovers
• Carry out welfare checks, and health, safety, fire and security checks
• Support daily routines, including mornings, mealtimes, education, activities and household tasks
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, managers, families, social workers, schools and other professionals
• Work in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, the home’s Statement of Purpose and organisational policies

Requirements

Essential

• A calm, patient, resilient and child-centred approach
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• A good understanding of safeguarding, child protection and professional boundaries
• Good written record-keeping skills
• The ability to work as part of a team and use your own initiative
• Willingness to work shifts, including weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins
• The right to work in the UK

Desirable

• Experience of working with children or young people, ideally in residential care
• A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (or a willingness to work towards it)
• Experience of EBD, SEMH, trauma-informed or therapeutic approaches
• Full UK driving licence

Working Hours

• Rota-based shifts, including days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment procedures and satisfactory pre-employment checks, including:

• An Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check
• Verification of identity and right to work in the UK
• Two satisfactory references, including one from your most recent employer
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• A full employment history, with any gaps explained
• Confirmation of your suitability to work with children

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants will be asked to disclose all unspent convictions and cautions, as well as any spent convictions and cautions that are not protected under the DBS filtering rules. Having a criminal record will not automatically bar you from the role, as each case is considered individually.

Shortlisted candidates should expect safeguarding-focused interview questions. We cannot accept CVs without a completed application.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to equal opportunities. We will make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process where needed.

Benefits

• A full induction and ongoing training
• Regular supervision and a supportive team