Responsibilities

Join our team as a Children’s Residential Worker and help shape brighter futures for young people who need it most. Whether you have previous experience working with children and young people or you’re looking for a career change, if you’ve got the dedication, resilience, and drive to support children through life’s challenges, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for Residential Workers in various locations around the county including Aylesbury, Amersham, High Wycombe and Leighton Buzzard. There are full time opportunities for day and night work along with relief work positions.

"It's wonderful to make a difference to a child's life. You're doing everything you would do for them at home, but as a corporate parent within the structure and boundaries set within Buckinghamshire. If you're thinking about working in residential care, do it! It will be one of the best decisions you can make in your life." - Residential Worker

About the role

This isn’t your average 9–5. As a Residential Worker, you’ll be part of a close-knit team providing a positive living experience for our resident young people, caring for their physical, emotional, and social needs in a safe, supportive home environment. You’ll work a mix of day and night shifts, helping with everything from morning routines and school runs to days out, bedtime stories and emotional support during tough times.

Your day-to-day might include:

Supporting young people with daily routines, meals, and activities.

Encourage and stimulate emotional and social growth through out-of-school activities and community engagement.

Building trusting relationships and being a positive role model.

Helping to manage behaviours using trauma-informed approaches.

Keeping accurate records, participate in the admission process, case conferences, and reviews, producing reports on individual development/progress.

Celebrating achievements, big or small, and encouraging independence.

Providing a warm, accepting environment that meets the diverse needs of individuals.

Promoting equal opportunities and challenge discriminatory practices within the Home.

You’ll work alongside social workers, health professionals, and families to make sure each child’s care plan is followed and adapted to their needs. It’s a role that’s as rewarding as it is challenging—and no two days are ever the same.

This role involves shift work to ensure 24-hour care, including sleeping in duties as required (you will receive a sleep in allowance)

About you

We’re looking for dedicated and compassionate individuals who are:

• Empathetic and patient, with a genuine passion for helping young people
• Great communicators, able to listen, understand, and respond calmly
• Team players, who can also take initiative and work independently
• Resilient, able to work in an emotionally and and/or physically demanding environment
• Flexible, adaptable to change, and able to work shifts including nights and weekends

Committed, to providing equal opportunities and valuing diversity

You’ll also need:

• Experience working with children or vulnerable people (paid or voluntary)
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car
• Basic IT skills (you’ll be recording notes and using digital systems)
• Level 2/3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or willingness to complete training and work towards this qualification

If you already have experience in a children’s residential setting - amazing! But if not, don’t worry - we’ll support you every step of the way.

Click the link below to hear from some of our current Residential Workers who are using their transferable skills to make a difference.

Residential - Transferable Skills

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship in accordance with Home Office guidance.

Other information

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact Laura Armstrong at [email protected]

Please note: applications are reviewed on a weekly basis and interviews are held weekly on a Thursday.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

Person Specification

Essential:

• Sensitivity and empathy to build trusting and supportive relationships with clients and families.
• Experience of working shifts and showing flexibility for shift patterns
• Ability to be able to communicate clearly with people regardless of their age or position
• Ability to be able to listen to young people whilst interpreting their needs, wishes and feelings
• Willingness to grow and develop in the role taking on more responsibility and learning
• Proven ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with a range of people
• Literate and numerate. Ability to maintain required records
• Relevant care qualification, such as NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or willing to study for this.
• Basic ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications
• A full driving license required to be able to carry out the role

Desirable:

• Demonstrable experience of working with the relevant client group and good understanding of the relevant statutory frameworks / requirements.
• Understanding of relevant policies and procedures regarding residential settings and children who live in a children’s home
• Relevant vocational training