Residential Support Worker

Residential Support Worker (Children's Residential)

Salary: up to £30,000 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Contract: Permanent/Full Time – 40 hours per week

Closing Date: Midnight on the 20th of August 2026

Interviews: Will take place in person on

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays and options to buy or sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
• Supportive supervision, helping you to build resilience through reflective practice.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% matched employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers’ discounts
• Eligibility to apply for our 10-month Residential Development Programme

Diversity, equality, and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity for all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

We are one of the largest children’s charities in the UK and have been making a difference to the lives of the UK’s vulnerable children for over 150 years.

A bit about the role:

As a Residential Support Worker (at a senior level) at Yew Tree, you'll play a key role in supporting the day-to-day running of the home and providing outstanding care and support to children and young people. You will act as a positive role model for both the young people we serve and the wider team, helping to create a safe, nurturing and consistent environment where they can thrive.

You will take a lead role within the team, providing guidance and support to colleagues, helping to maintain high standards of care, and ensure that routines, plans, and safeguarding practices are followed effectively. Working closely with the Team Leader and registered manager you will use your experience and knowledge to support decision making, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the continued development of the home.

We are looking for someone with strong experience in residential childcare who is confident taking responsibility, supporting others and stepping up to lead when required.

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

As a (Senior level) Residential Support Worker you’ll support by:

• Provide lead case/care planning management, including assessing, reviewing and managing risk.
• Co-ordinating responsibilities within the service, with multi agency and producing family information, including analysis and written reports.
• Attendance at professional meetings including reviews for young people
• Lead shifts with the primary aim of the provision of a high-quality service.
• Supervise and guide staff as required, in accordance with Action for Children policies and procedures.
• Lead by example with the application of Action for Children's policy procedures and professional practice standards and in line with registration requirements
• Assessing, reviewing, planning, and providing a 24/7 care service in line with regulatory requirements.

Let's talk about you

Are you resilient and have a positive approach to change and challenge? We are looking for someone with a ‘can do’ attitude to join our team. Ideally you will have:

• Demonstrable experience of working in a care setting and developing positive relationships through trust
• Application of a range of techniques to co-ordinate and communicate with service users and their families
• Demonstrate a solution focused approach to address problems, individually and in a team setting
• Demonstrate emotional resilience to respond to the challenging nature of the role
• Possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or recognised equivalent) or if you do not possess this you must be prepared to complete this within 2 years of commencing employment with us, full support will be provided.

About the Service

Yew Tree house in Chesterfield is a residential children’s home supporting children and young people aged up to 18 with physical and learning disabilities. Having successfully welcomed our first young person into the home, we are now continuing to build our team as we prepare to support more children and young people joining us.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of developing service where you can continue to shape the culture, routines and environment of the home.

We are committed to creating a warm, inclusive, and nurturing space where every young person feels safe valued and supported to grow in confidence, independence and achieve their own individual goals.

Why Action for Children?

Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters.

We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here.

Will you join us?

How to apply

If you require any support to apply, please contact: Shannon Neander at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13363

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Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Make a Difference - A Career in Residential Services