Jobs in Wantage

Residential Support Worker – Bring Your Experience, Build Your Career in Children's Care

Location: Oxfordshire, OX3 & OX5

Salary: £31,876 per annum, including sleep-in payments

Vacancies: 4 to 5 positions available

Role: Residential Support Worker, Children's Residential Care

Introduction:

Have you worked with children or young people in education, SEND, youth work, behavioural support or another child-focused setting?

You may already have valuable skills that could make a real difference in children's residential care.

We're recruiting Residential Support Workers across OX3 and OX5 in Oxfordshire, offering an opportunity for people with relevant experience to develop a career supporting young people who need stability, understanding and consistent care.

You don't need to hold a Level 3 qualification to apply. What's important is your experience with children or young people, your values and your willingness to learn.

About the Role:

As a Residential Support Worker, you'll be part of the team providing day-to-day care, guidance and encouragement to young people living in a residential home.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Building positive, trusting relationships with young people

• Supporting daily routines, education, activities and personal development

• Helping young people manage emotions and develop healthy coping strategies

• Providing consistent boundaries and reassurance

• Working alongside colleagues to maintain a safe and welcoming home

• Contributing to care plans, daily records and safeguarding practice

• Supporting young people to develop independence and confidence

What Makes This Opportunity Different:

Not everyone begins their career in children's residential care.

Some of the most valuable transferable skills come from supporting young people in schools, SEND settings, youth services and therapeutic environments.

This opportunity recognises that experience and provides a route into residential childcare through the Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship pathway.

You'll have the opportunity to build on what you already know while developing the specialist knowledge required for residential childcare.

About You:

We're particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in:

• Children's residential or community-based care

• Schools, education or alternative provision

• SEND support

• Youth work or mentoring

• Therapeutic settings

• Behavioural or emotional support services

• Other roles involving direct support for children or young people

Essential Requirements:

• Previous experience working directly with children or young people

• Willingness to complete a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship in residential childcare

• A child-focused approach and understanding of safeguarding

• Ability to remain calm, patient and consistent

• Good communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team

Desirable:

• Full UK driving licence

We're looking for people who understand that progress can take time and that small, consistent actions can have a lasting impact on a young person's life.

Why Join?

• £31,876 annual salary, including sleep-in payments

• 4 to 5 opportunities across OX3 and OX5

• No existing Level 3 qualification required

• Opportunity to work towards a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship

• A career pathway for candidates with relevant transferable experience

• Meaningful, relationship-focused work supporting young people's development

How to Apply:

If you've supported children or young people in another setting and have been considering a move into residential childcare, we'd be happy to talk through the role and what your experience could bring.

Contact us on (phone number removed) to discuss this opportunity further