Waking Nights Support Worker Residential Children’s Home

Job Details

Location: Winchester, Hampshire
Pay: £13.08 – £14.87 per hour (depending on experience and qualifications)
Job Type: Full-time/Part-time, Permanent
Annual Leave: 28 days (full-time equivalent, pro-rata for part-time staff), plus a paid day off for your birthday

About [Employer hidden]

At [Employer hidden], we're creating a warm, stable home for up to 3 children with emotional and behavioural needs. We are building a dedicated team who share our values and commitment to providing our children with the best possible care. Our management team bring years of experience and a warm, empathetic, and highly motivated approach - dedicated to creating a nurturing, supportive home for both the children and the staff who care for them.

Working Pattern

• Full-time and part-time roles available, based on a flexible night rota, including: Night shifts (typically 10:00pm–8:00am), Weeknights, weekends and bank holiday
• Typical shifts are 10:00pm to 8:00am, on a block pattern of 3–4 nights on, followed by 3–4 nights off
• The rota is still being finalised and will be discussed in detail during the interview process
• Flexibility is desirable - Rotas are planned in advance, and occasional changes may be needed to meet the needs of the home.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide a calm, stable, and emotionally safe environment for children overnight, using trauma-informed approaches such as PACE
• Remain awake, alert, and responsive throughout the shift, working independently
• Monitor and check on children at agreed intervals, ensuring their safety and emotional wellbeing while respecting their privacy
• Respond to any needs that arise during the night, including illness, emotional distress, or safeguarding concerns — escalating appropriately to senior or on-call staff
• Offer sensitive support, comfort, and guidance to children who wake or require reassurance
• Help children settle into bedtime routines and assist with early morning transitions where needed
• Communicate clearly with day staff and managers to ensure accurate handovers and continuity of care
• Maintain accurate records and complete nightly logs and incident reports in line with Ofsted and safeguarding standards
• Carry out household tasks to support the smooth running of the home, including light cleaning and reporting maintenance issues
• Stay up to date with safeguarding procedures, policies, and relevant guidance

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for caring, dependable individuals with empathy, patience, and a calm, consistent approach to their work. You’ll need to be confident working independently through the night, while remaining alert and responsive to the needs of the children in our care. If you’re committed to providing a safe and secure environment overnight, enjoy being part of a close-knit and supportive team, and want to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll need:

• To be working towards or be willing to work towards completing Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
• At least 1 years’ experience working with children
• Ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
• A good understanding and a strong interest in safeguarding, child development, and trauma-informed care
• Full, valid UK driving licence and willingness to drive for work purposes is preferable
• All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visa applications for this role.

What We Offer

• 28 days annual leave (full-time equivalent), pro-rata for part-time staff, plus a paid night off for your birthday
• Regular reflective supervision and wellbeing support, arranged to suit waking night shifts
• Ongoing training and fully funded qualifications (including PACE and Level 3 Diploma)
• Career progression routes
• Supportive, trauma-informed environment with strong leadership
• Recommend a friend bonus scheme
• Recognition awards and long service bonuses
• Free on-site parking
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Beautifully refurbished, comfortable workplace
• A unique opportunity to be part of our initial core team
• Supportive working environment with a small-scale provider dedicated to high-quality care and staff well-being
• Positive, values-led management team

Our Approach

At [Employer hidden], we are grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care, creating consistency, emotional safety, and trust for children who have experienced early adversity. Our practice is underpinned by the PACE model – Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy – and we invest in developing our team to provide exceptional care. We know that supporting children with complex needs takes resilience, skill, and teamwork. That’s why we offer a strong induction, high-quality training, and a reflective, collaborative work environment. We strive to ensure our staff feel confident, supported, and equipped, so they can provide the best possible care for the children at [Employer hidden].

Safeguarding Statement

[Employer hidden] is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, identity verification, and references (including from your most recent employer). We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.