Residential Support Worker - Ripley
Employment type: Permanent
Hours: Waking Nights
Location: Ripley – DE5 3**
Reports to: Registered Manager / Deputy Manager
Salary starting from: £31580.64
About the Role
As a Residential Support Worker at DNA Residential, you’ll provide high-quality care, support and supervision to children and young people living within our residential homes.
You’ll work as part of a professional and therapeutic team, helping young people feel safe, supported and understood while building positive relationships, encouraging independence and supporting them to achieve positive outcomes.
DNA Residential specialises in solo residential placements for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). Our approach is individualised, therapeutic and relationship-based, with care tailored around the needs of each young person.
What You’ll Be Doing
Your responsibilities will include:
Providing consistent, high-quality care based on each young person’s individual needs and care plans.
Safeguarding children and young people and responding appropriately to any concerns.
Building trusting, professional relationships while maintaining clear boundaries.
Supporting young people’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, development and safety.
Using therapeutic approaches to respond calmly and appropriately to behaviour and emotional needs.
Providing consistent routines, structure and appropriate expectations.
Helping young people develop emotional regulation, confidence, positive behaviours, life skills and independence.
Supporting engagement with education, learning and appointments.
Supporting healthcare arrangements and medication procedures where appropriately trained.
Helping young people maintain relationships with family members and other significant people where appropriate.
Supporting community activities, hobbies, trips, holidays and positive leisure opportunities.
Supporting practical everyday skills including cooking, healthy eating, budgeting, household tasks and personal care where required.
Celebrating achievements and encouraging young people to recognise their progress.
Maintaining accurate records and communicating effectively with colleagues and other professionals.
Responding appropriately to incidents, emergencies, complaints and safeguarding concerns.
Helping to maintain a safe, clean, welcoming and genuinely homely environment.
Working as Part of the Team
You’ll work closely with colleagues, managers, families, carers, social workers, health and education professionals and other relevant agencies.
You’ll participate in staff meetings, handovers, supervision and reflective practice, while continuing to develop your knowledge and professional skills.
You’ll also be expected to act as a positive role model and promote each young person’s rights, dignity, choices, wishes and feelings.
Shift Pattern
The role may include:
Waking night shifts
Evenings
Weekends
Bank holidays
On rare occasions, alternative arrangements, including sleep-in shifts, may be required.
During waking-night shifts, you must remain awake, alert and actively available throughout the entire shift.
Qualifications & Training
A relevant qualification in childcare, residential childcare, health and social care or a related field is desirable but not essential.
If you don’t already hold an appropriate Level 3 qualification, following successful completion of your probationary period you’ll be expected to work towards an appropriate Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, with support from DNA Residential.
You’ll also complete all mandatory and role-specific training required for the role.
Who We’re Looking For
Previous experience working with children or young people is desirable but not essential. Experience within residential childcare, emotional and behavioural difficulties or therapeutic work would also be beneficial.
We’re looking for someone who is:
Patient, resilient and emotionally mature
Empathetic and compassionate
Able to build positive relationships with children and young people
A strong communicator and listener
Calm and consistent in challenging situations
Reliable and responsible
Comfortable working as part of a team
Willing to learn, reflect and develop
Committed to safeguarding children and young people
Able to maintain clear professional boundaries
Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
You should also be able to communicate clearly, understand written policies and guidance, and produce accurate and timely written records.
Driving
A full driving licence is desirable but not essential, unless driving is a specific requirement of the individual position.
Safeguarding
All applicants must demonstrate their suitability to work with children and young people and satisfy applicable safer recruitment, background-checking and safeguarding requirements.
At DNA Residential, we are committed to protecting the welfare, dignity and rights of every young person in our care.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re compassionate, reliable and passionate about supporting young people to feel safe, valued and understood, we’d love to hear from you.
