Salary: £26,000 per annum, pro rata
Location: Bilston, Midlothian
Contract/Hours: Permanent / We offer a range of Full Time and Part Time hours, including set day shifts and dedicated night‑shift contracts.
Closing date for applications is midnight of Sunday 22nd February.
Benefits:
* 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays and options to buy or sell leave
* Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
* Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
* Pension with up to 7% matched employer contribution with included life assurance cover
* Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts
* We are a Real Living Wage accredited employer
We are one of the largest children's charities in the UK and have been making a difference to the lives of the UK's vulnerable children for over 150 years.
A bit about the role
Our Residential Support Worker role is a great fit for anyone with experience in care who's ready to grow and take on something new. You'll be supporting young people in a way that helps them feel safe, confident and able to build their independence. We're looking for someone who brings genuine care, strong values and a positive attitude to the team.
Castlelaw Cottage is a small, lively home for two young people with a learning disability, ASD and behaviours that can be challenging at times. The house has recently been renovated to give them a bright, comfortable space where they can enjoy life both indoors and out. They're non‑verbal, but they communicate in their own ways and really flourish when supported by people who take the time to understand them. They love being outdoors, walks, parks, exploring new places, and they enjoy spending time with their families. They also get a lot out of simple indoor activities that keep them happy, busy and engaged.
We're big on supporting our staff too. You'll get a thorough induction, ongoing training and we'll sign you up for the qualifications you need. You'll have regular supervision and team meetings so you always feel supported and connected. As you build your skills and experience, there are plenty of opportunities to progress within the organisation.
Day to day, you'll be helping the young people do the things they love, encouraging their independence, supporting with personal care and creating a calm, consistent environment that helps them feel secure. The role can be fast‑moving and challenging at times, but it's incredibly rewarding and we make sure to celebrate every achievement, no matter how small.
We also know how important balance is, so we offer flexible working options, including single or double shifts and a range of patterns to suit different lifestyles.
How you'll help to create brighter futures
Our Residential Support Worker's are creative and innovative in their approach to support in making positive choices and achieving personal goals. Some other key responsibilities are;
* Providing lead case/care planning management, including assessing, reviewing and managing risk.
* Co-ordinating responsibilities within the service, with multi agency and producing family information, including analysis and written reports.
* Attending professional meetings including reviews, court work etc.
* Helping young people in all aspects of their daily lives.
* Having good communication skills and the ability to engage well with both young people, colleagues and other professionals.
Let's talk about you
Are you resilient and have a positive approach to change and challenge? We're looking for someone with a 'can do' attitude to join our team. Ideally you'll have:
* Proven experience working within a care environment, building strong and trusting relationships with children and young people.
* Ability to use a variety of communication techniques to engage effectively with service users and their families.
* A proactive, solution‑focused mindset when addressing challenges, both independently and as part of a team.
* Emotional resilience and the capacity to respond constructively to the demanding aspects of the role.
* Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent). If not already achieved, a commitment to completing this within two years of starting the role is essential, with full support provided.
Good to know
Application Process
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.
Talent Pool
We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.
Contact: Laura McCarthy at quoting reference 12661
Diversity, equality and inclusion
At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.
Please click on the below links to find out more about this role and Action for Children;
Job description
Action for Children Employee Benefits
AfC Commitment Statement
Make a Difference - A Career in Residential Services
Action for Children's story
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