Most care jobs feel like you're fighting alone, understaffed and unsupported, watching young people's potential slip away because nobody has the time or training to really help them grow. This is different: we're looking for someone ready to be the steady, consistent adult in the lives of young people with autism, learning difficulties and complex health needs - the person who changes everything because you actually have the backup, the training and the space to do this work properly
Imagine coming to work knowing you're part of a team that genuinely believes every single young person deserves positive, meaningful life experiences. You'll be key worker for young people who've often had their trust broken before - and you'll rebuild that through day-to-day consistency, through showing up during their hardest moments, through helping them process past trauma and see what they're actually capable of. That's the real heart of this role
You'll work 12-hour shifts (day, night, and sleep-in options at £50 per sleep-in) with the flexibility to bulk your shifts together if you live further out - so you finish the week with proper rest time built in. Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday pay double time; all other bank holidays pay time and a half. Free parking, casual dress, and discounted food are the small stuff. The big stuff is supervision, team meetings that actually matter, and a workplace culture built on equal opportunities where you're expected to challenge discriminative behaviour and speak up
Training isn't an afterthought here - it's built in as a team responsibility. NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care is preferred but not essential, and the home invests in your development. You'll attend placement planning meetings, work alongside colleagues who support you when young people are in crisis, and build the kind of consistent relationships that allow deeply vulnerable young people to finally feel safe enough to grow
What you will be doing
- Be the key worker for your young people: manage their placement care plans, support their emotional and physical needs, model appropriate behaviour and help them work through past trauma so they can achieve their goals
- Provide day-to-day care and safeguarding across various 12-hour shifts (days, nights, sleep-ins), ensuring the home is a nurturing, secure environment where young people feel safe
- Challenge inappropriate behaviours consistently and compassionately, support young people through emotionally difficult times, and act as their advocate to help their voice be heard
- Assist with education, extracurricular activities and community clubs; keep detailed records and reports; attend supervision and team meetings to stay aligned with policies, risk assessments and the ethos of the home
- Support colleagues when required, especially during times of distress, and maintain consistent boundaries across the team so young people experience stability
Why you will love working here
- Salary of £12.60 to £14.60 per hour (or £30,000 to £37,576 annually depending on experience and shift pattern) with double pay on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday
- Flexible shift patterns: 12-hour days, nights, or sleep-ins at £50 per sleep-in, with the option to bulk shifts together so you have proper rest time built into your week
- Free parking, casual dress, and discounted or free food - because we look after our team
- Real training and development: supervision meetings, team support during crisis moments, and investment in your NVQ Level 3 qualification so you progress in this career
- A workplace built on genuine equal opportunities, where your voice matters, your wellbeing is taken seriously, and you're part of a team that truly believes in the young people you support
Is this you?
- You're 22 or above and authorised to work in the United Kingdom
- You have at least 1 year's experience working with children or young people, ideally in a support environment, and you understand what it takes to build trust with young people who've experienced trauma
- NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care is preferred - but if you're committed, passionate and ready to develop this qualification with us, that matters more than having it already
- You can work various shifts including nights and sleep-ins, with flexibility around your individual circumstances discussed at interview
- You're someone who'll challenge discriminative behaviour, speak up when something isn't right, and genuinely believe every young person deserves equal opportunities and positive life experiences
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.