Overview:
Are you eager to empower children and young people by providing them with the support and opportunities necessary for leading positive and fulfilling lives? We are seeking dedicated, resilient, and passionate support workers to join our Step-A-Side family and become consistent, long-term role models in the lives of our youth.
Step-A-Side operates four children's homes nestled in the serene rural landscapes of the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire, with this particular position located near Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. These homes cater to young individuals with complex needs, including trauma and emotional and behavioural challenges. The tranquil rural environment fosters a calming atmosphere, allowing our young residents to grow, develop, and truly feel at home. This setting enables them to express their individuality, truly enjoy their childhood, and reach their fullest potential before stepping into adulthood.
As a children's residential support worker, the well-being of our young people is our top priority, which is why we also value your well-being, career growth, and happiness. Each day brings new experiences, and while the role can be demanding at times, the rewards of working with our young people are immeasurable.
Your duties as a support worker:
* Create positive relationships with our young people, meeting their needs, promote their self-esteem and safeguarding them at all times.
* Provide care and support tailored to the needs of our young people.
* Provide and participate in exciting leisure activities with young people.
* Maintain structure, boundaries and general household duties within the home as you would in a family home environment.
* Complete and maintain administrative records as required by the home.
* Promote health and development to our young people as appropriate to their needs.
* Comply with and promote a therapeutic approach for our young people who may have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences.
* Complete duties in line with Step-A-Side's policies and procedures.
* Build a safe environment for our young people, empowering them to make the right choices, lead a fulfilling life and to promote independence into adulthood. Understand their past experiences, help them to understand their feelings, behaviours and encourage them to make the right choices.
* Be responsible for handling and recording finances and adhering to health and safety policies.
Requirements:
* Previous experience working with children or within social care settings is desirable
* Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
* You must be prepared to complete a level 4 qualification within 3 years of employment, should you not already hold this.
* A valid full manual UK driving licence is essential for the role
* You must be 21+ due to Ofsted regulations.
* You must have rights to work in the UK - We cannot offer visa sponsorship
* Proficiency in IT applications for record keeping and communication is desirable.
* As requested by our young people - You must have a good sense of humour, get involved in banter and you must be good fun
* You must live within 1 hour of Cinderford GL14.
* You must be physically and mentally fit to support our young people and prepared to use physical interventions when required in line with our therapeutic model and Price regulations.
What we offer:
* Enjoy a competitive salary ranging from £30,520 to £33,000, which includes six sleep-in shifts each month.
* Benefit from complimentary enrolment in a nationally recognized Level 4 qualification.
* Receive paid induction training to kickstart your journey.
* Access fully funded training opportunities.
* Get a fully funded enhanced DBS check for peace of mind.
* Participate in the company pension scheme.
* Take advantage of our mental health support services.
* 28 to 34 days of annual leave each year, increasing with your length of service.
* Earn a £500 bonus for referring friends, with no limits on the number of referrals.
* Receive £70 for each sleep-in shift you complete.
* Count on reliable on-call support available 24/7.
* Use of a company vehicle while on duty.
Rota:
All full-time staff members follow a 3-week rolling rota, so you will always be able to plan ahead, you will never have to wait to find out your hours as these are set for the year. Our main shift is called a 'late, sleep in and early' Which starts at 1pm and finishes at 1pm the following day. The late is a 10 hour shifts, the sleep in starts at 11pm and finishes at 7am and the early shift is 6 hours long.
This is an excellent chance for you to join our small yet rapidly growing business. If you're eager to make a significant impact on a young person's life while advancing your own career, we encourage you to apply. For more details, please visit our website, where you can find additional information about our homes and job descriptions at
To apply, please submit your CV through Indeed. If you are shortlisted, we will reach out to you to complete an application form, provide a comprehensive job description, and schedule an interview. We are currently hiring for full-time positions of 40 hours per week, as well as bank roles.
We welcome applicants without prior experience in children's residential care, as we offer complete training and support before you start your role. A full UK driving licence is a requirement for this position. Step-A-Side is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This role involves engaging in regulated activities with children, so all candidates must undergo an Enhanced DBS check to disclose any criminal history (including 'spent' convictions, bind-over orders, or cautions) to Step-A-Side, along with two satisfactory references in accordance with our safer recruitment policy.
The application process begins with an informal phone call to discuss the role, schedule, and any questions you may have. If you are successful, you will be asked to fill out an application form and will be invited for an interview. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer sponsorships due to not meeting the necessary requirements, but we hope to address this in the future.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,520.00-£33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Casual dress
* Company pension
* Discounted or free food
* Free parking
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
* Referral programme
* Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Cinderford GL14: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
* Question from our young people: What are your hobbies and what do you like to do most during your free time?
* Question from our young people: What is your favourite food and what are you best at cooking?
* Question from our young people: If I'm having a bad day, how will you try to make me feel better?
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person