Most care jobs feel like shift work. This one feels like being part of a family that actually changes young people's lives. We're looking for someone with real warmth and resilience - whether you've worked in care before or you've got lived experience and the right heart - to join a team that builds homes where kids genuinely feel safe and valued
Picture this: you walk into a home where young people know you see them as humans first, not just cases to manage. You're supporting them through homework, cooking meals together, heading out on community trips, and being the calm, steady presence when things get tricky. That's the work here. Not processing paperwork - being real with real young people who need to know someone's got their back
Relief shifts mean you get genuine flexibility. Studying? Parenting? Returning to work after time out? You control when you pick up shifts, which means you can build a life around the work, not the other way round. And you're not a stranger walking in each time - you're part of a team that trains you properly, including Calms training, and actually invests in your growth
The homes we run in Cumbria and across Scotland and England are deliberately small and family-style, not institutional. The pay is weekly or monthly, there's extra for sleepovers, your annual leave is paid pro rata, and you get free meals on shift. But honestly, the real offer is growth: proper training, a pension scheme they auto-enrol you into, and a team that treats you like you matter
What you will be doing
- Show up for relief shifts covering residential care work as and when required - building trust and consistency with young people across multiple visits
- Support day-to-day living: cooking, homework, medication management, personal care, and being the calm voice when emotions run high
- Lead or join in community outings and activities that help young people build confidence and experience life beyond the home
- Communicate clearly with the team and follow safeguarding protocols that keep everyone safe
Why you will love working here
- Pay of £13.80-£15.28 per hour (depending on experience and qualifications) plus extra for sleepovers, paid weekly or monthly into your account
- Paid annual leave pro rata, free meals while you're on shift, store discounts and monthly perks that actually add up
- Proper training including Calms, plus career development support if you want to move into a permanent role or progress further
- Death in service insurance, auto-enrolment onto the company pension scheme, and a Blue Light discount card
- Relief flexibility that lets you study, parent, or ease back into work while still being part of a team that feels like family
Is this you?
- You've worked in a residential or care setting before, OR you've got lived experience that's given you real insight into what young people in care actually need
- You stay calm and supportive even when situations get challenging - you don't panic, you listen, you think
- You've got a full UK driving licence so you can transport young people safely to activities and appointments
- You're genuinely flexible and willing to adapt - relief work means variety, and you're OK with that
- A Health & Social Care qualification (SCQF 7, SVQ 3, NVQ Level 3 or HNC) is a real bonus, but if you've got the warmth and resilience, we want to talk to you anyway
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.