Children's Residential Worker

Overview

Looking for a job where you can truly make a difference? 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 Us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

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)
• Willingness to complete training and work towards a relevant 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.

Please be aware that unfortunately, this role is not eligible for sponsorship.

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.

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’).

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events
  
  
  

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/