Most night shifts in care feel like a lonely grind - but waking nights in a children's home are something completely different. You're not just keeping watch; you're the person a traumatised young person reaches for at 3am when they can't sleep, or who sits with them through their worst moments. This role asks everything of you - and gives back even more
Picture this: a young person who's had their childhood stolen by trauma finally gets a full night's sleep because you were there, calm and patient, when panic hit at 2am. Those are the moments that define this work. You'll be part of a team in a children's home supporting young people with complex social, emotional and mental health needs - the kind of kids who've learned not to trust adults. Your job is to gently prove them wrong
The quieter hours matter too. When the home settles, you'll handle the tasks that keep everything running: paperwork, laundry, cleaning. But it's the relational work that sticks with you. Building genuine rapport, becoming someone a young person actually trusts, knowing that your steady presence can turn a crisis into a conversation. These small victories - a child who asks for help instead of lashing out, a night without tears - they're huge
You'll join a provider that invests seriously in its people. A full 4-week induction through their Care Academy means you start confident, not overwhelmed. If you don't already hold a Level 3 Diploma, they'll pay for you to get one. Most team leaders and managers here came up from roles exactly like this one. Real progression, not just promises
What you will be doing
- Support young people through the night - respond to distress, trauma responses, illness and sleeplessness with calm presence and genuine care
- Build trust and rapport with young people who've learned to fear adults, becoming someone they can reach out to in their darkest moments
- Handle essential home tasks during quieter hours: paperwork, laundry, cleaning and general maintenance that keeps the home running smoothly
- Observe and understand each young person's individual needs, personality and potential, guiding them toward positive change
Why you will love working here
- Salary of £29,449 to £32,496 plus an Attendance Allowance of £1,400 (total package £30,849 to £33,896) - genuinely competitive for this sector
- 7 weeks' holiday a year because the work is demanding and you deserve proper rest
- A 4-week induction on the Care Academy that actually prepares you, not just throws you in
- If you don't have a Level 3 Diploma, the home pays for you to study - full support, zero cost to you
- Flexible benefits you can tailor to your life: adjust your holiday, pension and life insurance; access medical cover for opticians and dentist costs; employee assistance and wellbeing support; £1,000 refer-a-friend bonus; high-street discounts; and a real pathway to progression - many managers started in roles like this
Is this you?
- You've got a genuine 'can do' attitude and actually care about the young people you support - not just the job, but the person
- You're honest, empathetic and resilient enough to stay calm when a young person is in crisis or dealing with severe trauma
- You hold a full UK driving licence that you've had for at least 12 months
- You don't need prior care experience, but you do need to be someone who rolls up their sleeves and helps the team, even when it's hard
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.