Are you passionate about supporting young people and ready to take the next step in your career? Whether youre an experienced Residential Worker or Youth Worker, this is your opportunity to become an Advanced Skills Worker in our newly opened, purpose-built childrens homes in Basildon. The role will be based across our brand-new Basildon sites; Battleswick and Takeley End – where youll help create safe, nurturing environments for young people aged 11‑17 who have experienced trauma.
As an Advanced Skills Worker (also known as a Residential Team Leader) youll play a vital role in supporting children and young people within a residential care setting. Youll provide compassionate guidance and practical support to both young people and their families, ensuring they receive the highest standard of care through consistent, professional practice. Creating a safe, caring, and stable environment is at the heart of this role. Youll bring specialist knowledge and a trauma‑informed approach to help young people feel secure, valued, and empowered to grow. Every day, youll contribute to their development and learning, helping to improve long‑term outcomes and build brighter futures. Youll also use your expertise in residential care to work directly with young people and families, setting and achieving meaningful goals. As a senior member of the team, youll offer day‑to‑day guidance to care staff and formally supervise a group of residential workers, helping to build a strong, skilled, and supportive team under the leadership of the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager.
What Youll Do
* Lead with confidence – Manage and guide shifts to create a safe, secure, and nurturing home environment where young people feel supported and valued.
* Champion therapeutic care – Help maintain a balanced, trauma‑informed setting that promotes healing, growth, and positive risk‑taking.
* Build meaningful relationships – Foster trust and connection with young people and colleagues to support holistic development both in the home and the wider community.
* Deliver high standards – Ensure daily practices align with quality frameworks and policies, contributing to a consistently high level of care.
* Collaborate for success – Work closely with managers and external partners to meet regulatory standards and deliver the best outcomes for children.
* Focus on individual progress – Develop tailored plans for each young person, proactively identifying risks and reviewing interventions to support their journey.
* Support key meetings – Participate in and facilitate meetings that empower young people and promote a learning culture within the home.
* Grow the team – Mentor and support colleagues, helping to build specialist knowledge and strengthen the overall capability of the service.
* Keep things running smoothly – Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the home, ensuring it remains a high‑quality, outcome‑focused environment.
* Drive performance – Work towards shared goals and personal development targets as part of our performance management framework.
You will work an average 37 hours a week with shift times being 07:00 am – 02:30 pm or 02:00 pm – 09:30 pm, and you will have every other weekend off.
Were looking for compassionate professionals who want to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families across Essex. In return, youll be part of a team of passionate, like‑minded professionals, supported by an encouraging and approachable management team. Youll also benefit from access to high‑quality training and development opportunities, helping you grow and advance your career within the child and family sector.
Qualifications
* Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete within 2 years – fully funded).
* Experience working directly with children and young people in residential settings.
* Strong communication and listening skills and the ability to engage with others effectively and at all levels.
* Knowledge of a broad range of specific childcare theories and practices together with relevant policies and legislative framework.
* Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection Procedures together with an appreciation for the impact of trauma effects on child behaviour.
* Confidence in leading shifts and facilitating group meetings.
We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We are also committed to interviewing all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC), if your role requires a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.
What Youll Get
* 37‑hour working week + potential overtime opportunities
* 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy more
* Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
* Essex Rewards – discounts at hundreds of retailers
* Lifeworks Health & Wellbeing Platform
* 2 paid volunteering days (individual) + 2 team volunteering days annually
* Ongoing learning and development to support your career journey
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