Careers / Residential Support Worker
Residential Support Worker
Full-time · Edgware, North West London · Reporting to the Registered Manager
Role at a glance
- Contract
- Full-time
- Location
- Edgware, North West London
- Reports to
- Registered Manager
- Shifts
- Days, evenings, weekends and waking nights
- Salary
- Discussed at interview
About the role
As a Residential Support Worker at Westmere Care Limited, you'll provide day-to-day care, guidance and stability to children and young people aged 8 to 17 living in our home. You'll build consistent, trusted relationships that help young people feel safe, valued and supported to make progress — whatever their history.
This is a hands-on, shift-based role at the heart of a young person's daily life: from getting them up and ready for school, to helping with homework, cooking meals together, supporting contact with family where appropriate, and being a calm, reliable presence during difficult moments.
Key responsibilities
- Provide direct day-to-day care and support to children and young people, in line with each young person's individual care and placement plan
- Build positive, consistent relationships built on trust, patience and clear boundaries
- Support school attendance, education and homework, liaising with education providers where needed
- Support young people's health, hygiene, nutrition and daily routines
- Respond calmly and safely to challenging behaviour, using de-escalation and therapeutic approaches rather than confrontation
- Keep accurate, timely written records in line with our policies and regulatory requirements
- Attend and contribute to team meetings, supervision, and reflective practice sessions
- Work as part of a rota that includes evenings, weekends and waking nights
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of every young person in the home at all times
Person specification
Essential
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people in care
- Patience, resilience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure
- Good written communication skills, for record-keeping and handovers
- Willingness to work shifts, including evenings, weekends and waking nights
- Willingness to undertake an enhanced DBS check and provide satisfactory references
- Aged 21 or over, in line with children's homes regulations
Desirable
- Previous experience working with children or young people, in a care, education, youth work or similar setting
- A relevant qualification, such as a Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or working towards one)
- A full, valid UK driving licence
- First Aid or Team Teach / physical intervention training
Qualifications and training
No specific qualification is required to start with us — we provide a full paid induction, shadow shifts alongside experienced staff, and mandatory safeguarding and safer-care training before you work unsupervised. Once in post, we support and encourage all care staff to work towards the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), alongside ongoing CPD throughout your time with us.
Working pattern
This is a full-time, shift-based role. Shifts are arranged on a rota and include days, evenings, weekends and waking nights, reflecting the fact that children and young people need consistent support around the clock.
Safeguarding
This role involves regular, unsupervised contact with children and young people. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and completion of our safer recruitment process, in line with our commitment to safeguarding.
What we offer
- A full paid induction and ongoing training throughout your employment
- Support to work towards a recognised qualification in residential childcare
- Regular supervision and reflective practice
- A workplace pension scheme
- A small, supportive staff team and a genuinely meaningful role
Salary is discussed directly with candidates at interview stage.
Ready to apply?
Send us your details through our recruitment enquiry form and mention "Residential Support Worker" — a member of our team will be in touch.