WHAT WE DO MATTERS
The team at Aycliffe Secure Centre provide a caring, trauma informed and aspirational environment for young people aged between 10 and 18. Our young people are accommodated under a welfare or criminal justice order and have faced many adversities, including neglect, trauma, relationship breakdown and criminal proceedings. As a result, you will be working with young people with complex needs and behaviours including violence and aggression. Our job is to provide them with a safe and caring home and to support them to develop the relationships and skills that will help them towards a positive and successful future.
The Multidisciplinary team at the Centre work collaboratively together and with external professionals and families to create an experience for young people that results in a successful and safe transition into a community home.
Find out more about our exceptional facilities and testimonies from our team at:
WHO YOU ARE MATTERS
We value the life and work experiences you bring, but what matters most to us is who you are as a person and your personal qualities. If you are empathetic, resilient and have a desire to help shape the lives of our young people then we want to hear from you.
Joining us as a Residential Worker at Aycliffe Secure Centre is an opportunity to make a real and lasting impact. The role is physically and emotionally challenging, but the chance to make a genuine difference simply by offering your care, compassion and time is deeply rewarding.
No two days are the same and the variety of the role means you’ll bring your own strengths and personality into everything do you. You will hold a unique position where you can get to know each young person as an individual, helping to provide the support and guidance that’s right for them.
EVERY SHIFT MATTERS
Our young people receive care 24/7, so this role involves working a rotating shift pattern, including weekends and bank holidays. Shifts are designed to support a healthy work–life balance, with early shifts running from 7:30am to 2:45pm and late shifts from 2:15pm to 11:00pm. A typical rota includes a mix of early and late shifts during the week, with every other weekend on duty. You will also be required to undertake an average of one to two sleep-in duties per month.
YOUR DEVELOPMENT MATTERS
Your role will start with our comprehensive induction programme which includes a range of formal and informal learning opportunities so you can carry out your role safely and effectively. But it doesn’t stop there as the first six months in the role you will also receive specific on the job training and development to enable you to deliver the role with confidence. There are also excellent ongoing training and development opportunities as well as dedicated one-to-one time to reflect upon workplace practice and access to specialist support.
We will support you to achieve a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare if you have not already got it. It is a requirement that all our Residential Workers hold this qualification so this will be achieved within the first 18 months in the role.
YOU MATTER TO US
The difference we make to the lives of our young people is extremely valuable and we want everyone who contributes to that to feel appreciated.
As a valued member of the team you can expect a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service) and membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website ()
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
INTERVIEWS
For those who are successfully shortlisted you will be invited to attend an interview as well as being invited to one of our open evenings. It’s not essential to attend the open evening but offers a great opportunity to find out more about the role of the Residential Worker and what it’s like to work at Aycliffe Secure Centre in preparation for your interview.
Open Evenings - 6pm – 8pm on Tuesday 20th or Thursday 22nd January
Interviews - week commencing 26th January 2026
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website ()
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
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