Rockhopper Children's Services

Residential Children's Care Worker

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Help children and young people overcome adversity and achieve goals they never thought possible.

Salary: £28,136 to £30,952 per annum (depending on experience and qualifications) plus £60 per sleep-in shift worked

At Vernon House Children's Home, we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing and supportive home where they can thrive.

We're looking for dedicated, compassionate and resilient Residential Children's Care Workers to join our team and help shape positive futures for children and young people who have experienced adversity, trauma and disruption in their lives. You'll play a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing and therapeutic environment where children can build confidence, develop resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

This is more than a care role. It's an opportunity to become a trusted adult, positive role model and advocate for children and young people, helping them experience stability, develop meaningful relationships and achieve goals they may never have thought possible.

Why Join Rockhopper Children's Services?

At Rockhopper Children's Services, we know that exceptional care starts with exceptional people.

We invest in our staff, providing ongoing support, training and development opportunities to help you build a rewarding and successful career in residential childcare.

We Offer
• Competitive salary
• £60 payment for every sleep-in worked
• Fully funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
• £1,000 bonus upon successful completion of the qualification within 12 months
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Career progression opportunities
• Supportive and experienced management team
• Health and wellbeing support, including a free and confidential counselling service
• Retail, travel and leisure discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life cover
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference every day

The Role

As a Residential Children's Care Worker, you'll spend your time supporting children and young people in their daily lives, helping them feel safe, valued and supported while creating positive experiences and opportunities for them to grow and thrive.

As a 24-hour residential childcare service, our home provides round-the-clock care and support. You'll work as part of a dedicated team to ensure children and young people experience consistency, stability and high-quality care at all times.

Key Responsibilities
• Provide day-to-day care and support within a safe and nurturing home environment
• Build positive and trusting relationships with children and young people
• Support children and young people with daily routines, education and personal development
• Encourage independence, confidence and the development of life skills
• Promote positive behaviour and positive outcomes
• Support children and young people through challenges and transitions
• Contribute to care planning, record keeping and safeguarding responsibilities
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner professionals
• Support children and young people to access activities, hobbies and experiences that enrich their lives
• Promote and champion the voice, wishes and feelings of children and young people

About Vernon House

At Vernon House, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and therapeutic home where children and young people feel valued, supported and empowered to achieve their potential.

We recognise that every young person is unique, and our team works together to provide consistent, child-centred care that promotes safety, stability, resilience and positive outcomes. We take pride in building meaningful relationships, celebrating achievements and helping children and young people develop the confidence and skills they need for the future.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Experience working with children and young people, or transferable experience from care, education, health, support work, youth work or similar settings
• Ability to build positive relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Resilience, patience and a positive attitude
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Ability to work shifts, weekends and sleep-ins
• A genuine passion for helping children and young people achieve positive outcomes

Desirable
• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to work towards)
• Experience supporting children and young people who have experienced trauma, adversity or complex life experiences
• Full UK driving licence

Safeguarding

Rockhopper Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all colleagues to share this commitment.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and other relevant safeguarding checks. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce and believe that diversity of experience, background and perspective benefits both our colleagues and the children and young people we support.