Most care work feels like you're just managing crises and ticking boxes. But what if you worked somewhere that genuinely invests in your growth, pays you fairly for sleep-ins and weekends, and lets you be the stable, nurturing adult that transforms a young person's life? This children's home is different
You'll be working in a real family home environment, not an institution. The young people here have experienced real trauma - emotional and behavioural difficulties, autism, learning difficulties, complex needs - and they need someone steady, warm and genuinely committed to helping them feel safe. That's you. You'll be their key worker, their consistent presence, the adult who helps them believe their story can change
Every day looks different because every young person's needs are different. One morning you're cooking breakfast and talking through what happened at school. By afternoon you're supporting a young person through a difficult transition, or sitting with another who's learning to regulate their emotions. You're doing direct, purposeful work that matters - helping them maximise education, maintain family relationships, and grow their independence in a home that actually feels like home
This is a charity that puts every penny back into the people it supports. That means no corporate waste, no glossy marketing - just genuine focus on quality care and real staff development. You'll work under a Registered Manager who leads with clarity and vision. You'll be part of a team that develops together, learns together, and genuinely supports each other through the hard bits
What you will be doing
- Provide day-to-day caring support in a home environment - cooking, cleaning, supporting with personal care, and creating the warm, safe routines that help young people feel grounded
- Be the key worker for at least one young person, knowing their history, their triggers, their strengths, and being the consistent adult they can rely on
- Work directly with each young person on the goals in their care plan - whether that's rebuilding family relationships, managing behaviour, or getting to school on time
- Contribute to assessments and care planning, working with other professionals and always keeping the young person's voice at the centre
- Develop and maintain detailed records, attend planning meetings and statutory reviews, and write reports that capture real progress and real needs
- Keep child protection at the front of your mind - spot risks, set boundaries consistently, manage challenging behaviour with skill and compassion, and escalate concerns to the Registered Manager
Why you will love working here
- £26,230 base salary (£13.45 per hour) - and that's just the start. Sleep-in shifts pay £107.60 each, and weekend hours are paid at time and a quarter (£16.82 per hour), so your extra effort is genuinely rewarded
- 27 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays rising to 30 after 5 years and 33 after 10 years - because burnout helps no one
- A generous pension scheme with up to 7% company contributions that rise with your length of service, plus up to 6 times your salary in death in service benefit, and occupational sick pay
- Real professional development and a commitment to your ongoing learning - this charity invests in its people because good staff retention means better care for the young people
Is this you?
- You communicate clearly in speech and writing, and you're willing to keep learning and developing throughout your career
- You're reliable and outgoing, with genuine maturity and emotional intelligence - the kind of person young people naturally trust
- You can be flexible when the young people's needs shift, and you respond to what's happening in front of you rather than sticking rigidly to a plan
- You've got good organisational skills and can manage time, records and multiple young people's needs without dropping balls
- You have a demonstrable track record in care work and the practical skills to work with vulnerable young people - experience in residential settings, early years, education, youth work or similar is essential
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.