The Vacancy
Children’s Residential Waking Nights Support Worker (Disability Service) Part time
Hours Part time (30 hours per week) shift from 22:30 to 7:30am- this will involve alternate weekends
King’s Lynn, Norfolk
About the role
At Break, we create nurturing environments where children and young people can thrive and develop a strong sense of self. As a Break Waking Nights Support Worker in our Disability Services, you’ll play a daily hands-on role - helping the young people living in our homes to grow in confidence, independence, and connection.
As a Waking Nights Support Worker, you’ll be hands on, working with the young people throughout the night helping them rest ready for the day ahead. The role includes a range of duties including preparing the home for the following day.
You’ll need to be an excellent team player who is warm, caring, calm and resilient enough to cope with the complex emotional and behavioural needs of the young people we support.
Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and organisational policies, contributing to the development, implementation, and monitoring of individual care plans.
Follow all health and safety guidance and training, reporting any hazards or risks promptly.
Reflect Break’s values through your conduct, teamwork, and commitment to providing exceptional care.
You’ll be joining a team that values compassion, collaboration, and continuous learning—working alongside professionals who share a deep commitment to transforming lives. With over 50 years of innovative therapeutic practice, Break provides not only care but a lifelong offer of support to those who need us most.
We can’t promise every day will be easy, but we can promise that the sense of pride and purpose you’ll feel will be unmatched.
Essential Criteria:
* Ability to complete an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within two years (fully funded by Break).
* Flexible approach to work, able to use initiative and contribute effectively as part of a team.
* Willingness to work flexibly within a staff rota.
* Good standard of written and spoken English.
* Strong communication and active listening skills, with the ability to build caring relationships within professional boundaries.
* Confidence and resilience in managing challenging behaviour.
* Ability to maintain accurate records and produce clear written reports.
* Able to work calmly under pressure and adapt to changing situations.
* Commitment to continuous professional development, including full engagement in supervision and appraisal.
* Supportive of colleagues and the wider service, contributing to a positive team culture.
* Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
Desirable Criteria
* Relevant NVQ Level 3 Diploma or equivalent.
* At least six months’ experience working with children, ideally in a residential or Key Worker role.
* Experience liaising with other professionals or agencies.
* Experience working with children with learning difficulties and in a residential setting.
* Experience in administering medication and supporting health needs.
* Knowledge of the care system, Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, and other relevant childcare legislation.
* Understanding of child development.
* Ability to cook and understanding of food hygiene standards.
As part of Break, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
* Access to extensive professional development opportunities through Break’s workforce training programs to continue growing your career
* 31 days annual leave per year, and the option to purchase further leave
* Enhanced sick pay and family friendly leave
* Company funded medical cash plan
* A £1000 “Golden Hello” scheme (terms and conditions apply)
* Life assurance to the value of 3x your annual salary
* Pension salary sacrifice scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Opportunities to influence Break’s strategy and direction through our Staff Consultation Forum
* Access to a wide range of other benefits including Blue Light Card, Cycle to Work, Tech purchasing scheme and wellbeing initiatives.
Recruitment process
Should your application be successful, the first interview will be a Safe Care/Warner style interview, followed by a formal interview.
An enhanced DBS check is required for the role. This will be funded by Break.
To comply with OFSTED requirements, you will be asked to provide details of your full employment history.
All prospective employees must provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK as per UKVI guidelines. Further details will be provided if you are invited to interview.
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during your application or the selection process, please contact us to let us know how we can support you. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments to ensure all colleagues can thrive at Break.
For more information on this job opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team
About Break
No young person should feel alone in the world.
At Break, we make sure they don’t.
We walk alongside children and young people in, around and leaving care when we’re needed most. Through fostering, residential homes, wellbeing support, mentoring and our leaving care service, we help children and young people build their confidence, create strong relationships and experience new opportunities.
Simply put, we care differently. More than support, we offer lifelong care, love and ambition so that young people can grow beyond what they thought was possible.
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About Break
Break is a forward-thinking non-profit organisation that’s delivered unique support for young people across East Anglia for over fifty years. Co-production with staff, young people and families is at the very heart of everything we do. Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved.
We have a range of residential services, a fostering agency, Staying Close, Staying Connected and services for disabled children and their families.
As a trauma-informed organisation, all our young people and employees are supported by our highly skilled therapeutic team - and our lifelong offer means that even when young people leave our care, we will always be there for them.
We have low staff turnover and vacancy rates. All of our services are rated good or outstanding and deliver great outcomes for our young people. Our ambition is to grow and build even further - creating an environment where people can develop their talent and see the difference they make. You could be part of this