Most care roles ask you to do everything on a shoestring and promise growth that never comes. This one is different: you'll lead a small team of residential workers supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties across our Kent homes, earn £34,239-£35,227 for a full 38-hour week plus three sleep-ins, and actually get trained and qualified on the job. If you've got the resilience, patience and parental instinct to help troubled kids turn their lives around, and you want a genuine long-term career path, keep reading
You'll be part of a 24-hour operation in one of our homes in Thanet, Folkestone or Deal, leading by example and supporting your team through the toughest moments. These children come to us with real challenges - emotional and behavioural difficulties that have knocked them sideways - and your job is to be the steady, patient presence that helps them believe things can be different. It's challenging work, no question. But when you see a young person begin to trust again, start to manage their feelings, begin to build a better future - that's the reward that sticks with you
We don't just hire you and hope for the best. Every member of staff gets proper training and development leading to professional qualifications. You'll grow your skills, earn recognised credentials, and build a genuine career in residential care rather than just clocking shifts. Our team members stay with us because we invest in them, support them through the hard days, and actually create paths for progression and promotion that are real, not just words on a jobs board
What you will be doing
- Lead and support a small team of residential workers, setting the tone for how the home operates day to day and night to night
- Be present during our 24-hour shift pattern including weekends and three sleep-in duties per week, offering consistent care and stability to the young people
- Work directly with children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, using patience, understanding and clear boundaries to help them develop coping skills and build relationships
- Champion training and professional development across the team, helping colleagues grow their skills and confidence
- Contribute to planning and review meetings that shape each young person's progress and wellbeing
Why you will love working here
- £34,239-£35,227 per year for a full 38-hour week plus three sleep-ins, with the salary reflecting your experience and commitment
- Professional training and development that leads to real qualifications, so you're actually building a career, not just a CV
- Genuine long-term promotion prospects within a provider that invests in its people and wants you to stay and grow
- A role based in Kent across Thanet, Folkestone or Deal, with part-time options available if that suits your life
- The chance to lead a team and make a measurable difference to children whose lives depend on adults who truly show up for them
Is this you?
- Are you someone with genuine resilience and patience - the kind of person who doesn't break under pressure but stays calm and grounded when things get difficult
- Do you have a strong parental value base - the instinct to care for young people as if they matter deeply to you, which they do
- Can you demonstrate commitment to working with children and supporting teams to help them achieve their best, even when progress feels slow
- Are you ready to work a 24-hour rota including weekends and sleep-in duties, showing up reliably week after week
- Do you want to actually learn and earn qualifications rather than just go through the motions
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.