Most care jobs feel like you're just going through the motions, understaffed and undervalued. This role is different: it's a chance to actually shape the lives of young people aged 12 to 18 who desperately need someone steady, skilled, and genuinely committed to their future. If you're tired of work that doesn't matter, this is where you change that
Picture arriving at a home where five young people - each with their own story, struggles, and potential - know you're the adult who listens, who keeps them safe, and who actually believes they can build something better. That's what happens here. You'll work across day shifts (7.45am-8pm), evening and night shifts (11am-11pm and waking nights from 7.45pm-8am), which means you'll be there through the moments that count: homework support, crisis moments, those midnight conversations where trust gets built. Every shift genuinely matters
The home itself is designed to feel warm and lived-in, not institutional. Five comfortable, personalised bedrooms where young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, mental health challenges, and learning disabilities actually feel they belong. You'll be part of a team that believes in building life skills, fostering independence, and creating real connections - not just managing behaviour. Care plans come alive through your work, and you'll sit in planning meetings with social workers and families, your insight genuinely shaping how young people progress
This is a provider that invests in you. A fully funded Level 3 and 4 Health & Social Care qualification is yours to take (most places make you pay). Enhanced maternity cover, proper annual leave, and Blue Light Scheme retail discounts sweeten the deal. But the real offer is this: you'll work somewhere that sees professional development as non-negotiable, not an afterthought. Progression is real here
What you will be doing
- Bring care plans to life every single shift: respond to each young person's emotional and behavioural needs with compassion, consistency, and real understanding of their developmental stage
- Build the trust that changes everything. Create strong relationships with young people and their families, communicate confidently with social workers and other agencies, and help everyone pull in the same direction
- Keep young people safe, always. Stay sharp on safeguarding, follow procedures decisively, protect dignity, and maintain the professional integrity that vulnerable teenagers need to feel secure
- Shape the space and the culture. Create a warm, welcoming home environment where young people feel supported and safe, whether you're on days, evenings, or waking nights
- Actively contribute to planning and reviews. Attend meetings, offer insight from your frontline perspective, and help track progress that actually matters
Why you will love working here
- Salary of £27,999.72 to £29,428.49 per year depending on experience, plus genuine progression as you build your skills
- A fully funded Level 3 and 4 Health & Social Care qualification - your pathway to a real career in care, not just a job
- Flexible shift patterns (days, evenings, waking nights) that work with your life, plus enhanced annual leave and enhanced maternity support that actually acknowledges you're human
- A small, focused home where your contribution isn't lost in the noise - you'll see the impact of your work every single day
- A team and provider genuinely committed to helping you flourish professionally and personally, with real career development opportunities built in from day one
Is this you?
- Is this you: you've worked with vulnerable children or young people before - in residential care, schools, community support, or similar - and you understand what it takes to hold someone through their difficult days
- You genuinely get adolescent development. You can spot what a 14-year-old actually needs versus what they're saying, and you know how to meet them where they are emotionally, intellectually, socially, and educationally
- You're a real team player with empathy that doesn't burn out easily. You bring sensitivity, genuine motivation, and the kind of resilience that lets you manage stress and stay professional when things get challenging
- Safeguarding isn't jargon to you - it's how you think. You understand child protection, you know when and how to act, and you're committed to keeping young people safe as your north star
- You're flexible, adaptable, and you listen more than you assume. You can shift approach when a young person's needs change, and you communicate at all levels - with teenagers, families, colleagues, and managers - with real confidence
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.