Children support worker jobs

Youth Voice Participation Worker

Permanent with funding until 30th April 2026

£30,600.00 per annum

Location: Whaddon Youth Centre, Dart Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Supporting all services in the West Midlands (including Shropshire and Birmingham)

35 hours full time

When completing your personal statement please outline your specific skills, knowledge and experience that relates to those listed in the recruitment pack.

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role sits within our Youth Practice team, across Birmingham. The focus of the role is to develop a culture of youth voice & participation within services. Also to lead a programme of youth voice and participation work with children and young people in order that their views and ideas inform the work of services and The Children's Society.

We are currently looking for an individual that is passionate and energetic and committed to the values of youth voice and participation to join our dynamic, ambitious team.

A key part of this role will be your ability to

-develop relationships with young people and support them to have their voices heard.

-lead and develop groups.

-respond and adapt to new ways to amplifying young people's voices and addressing the barriers to those least likely to engage.

-have a clear commitment to intersectional approaches when working with young people and working with young people who experience multiple systemic oppressions.

-commit to continuous learning to enhance own practice and keep abreast of innovative practice.

-use your communication & influencing skills, both written and verbal to lead and inspire others and the ability to engage with young people.

-keep clear records of work and complete monitoring and evaluations.

KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

-A minimum of 2 years experience in youth work

-Experience of facilitating participation activities with young people on a one-to-one basis and in group work settings.

-Experience of supporting young people who are dealing with complex and sensitive needs and providing pastoral support.

-Experience of working independently and as part of a team in the field of youth voice and participation.

-Experience of being a champion of youth voice and participation.

-Experience of developing inclusive practice.

Other requirements for the role:

-Regular evening working which are both face to face and virtual engagement.

-Regular weekend working which is on average once a month.

-Regular travel across the region to work with young people.

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support. We campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

Benefits

Enhanced Annual Leave 28 days-length of service extra 2 after 2, 5 and 7 goes up to 36 days.

Free eye test-claim back via my finance-take form to dentist-eye test form can also claim for glasses.

Pension-match contribution up to 8% can opt out, have to auto enrolled every 2 years do get money refunded if opt out you contribute 4% and will be matched to 8%

Life assurance - death in service, 4x salary gets paid to nominated person.

Cycle to work 39% off bike cost can be spread across the year.

770 retailers discounts offered with YouStar App.

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our Children and Young People's Directorate will be required to complete an “Employment history template” document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be uploaded by the candidate alongside uploading your CV.

Closing date midnight 7th May 2025.

Interviews will be held on the 30th May 2025.

Interviews will be in two stages:

Stage 1 Staff interview panel and Stage 2 Young People's panel both taking place on the same day.

Interviews will be held at Whaddon Youth Centre, Cheltenham.

IN1

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Worthing Foyer is a 29-bed medium-low supported accommodation for young people between the ages of 16-25 that is staffed 24/7. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. Situated in the centre of Worthing, the project has strong links with and contributes to the local community.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Worthing Foyer team. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living. 
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law.
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team.

Coaching and Engagement

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives.
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community. 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries.
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance). 

General 

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations.
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice. 

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living. 
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs.
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries.
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists.

Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary. 
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills.
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 4 May 2025 at midnight

Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.

At Toc H Newport, we offer co-produced activities, outreach services and practical support to some of the most disadvantaged individuals and families in the area, reaching over 600 individuals in 2024.Our vision is of a neighbourhood where everyone has the strong community life, emotional wellbeing and socioeconomic opportunities needed to flourish.

Our centre for service delivery is the Toc H Community Centre in Eveswell, Newport, where our offer includes our popular Stay and Play sessions for low-income families, and children’s after-school club Active Juniors. Our activities and services are incredibly popular, and we hold longstanding partnerships with local agencies and stakeholders. 

It is an exciting period of growth for Toc H Newport, with a number of new funding streams making it possible for us to reach many more families in need across Newport in 2025 and beyond. This includes a £300,000 grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Community Ownership Fund, allowing us to soon complete a full structural and interior renovation of our facilities.  Following a Community Asset Transfer, our space will soon triple in size, meaning we can offer more activities and services to more local people. It’s a great time to join us and become part of a dynamic, collaborative team, committed to driving positive change at a local level.

**This role can be negotiated as a consultancy contract.

Mind in Camden has the exciting permanent opportunity to recruit people to work on our leading Hearing Voices Projects.

The Hearing Voices Projects Support Worker will play a vital role in ensuring that those who need our services receive kind and compassionate support. The role involves a mix of frontline support work, administrative support, and working closely with the rest of the team to build and further develop our services. Therefore, the ideal candidate will have excellent communication and organisation skills.

Within the Hearing Voices Projects, lots of opportunities arise for networking, collaboration, and professional development, which can lead to some fun and interesting pieces of work. We are looking for someone with knowledge of peer support and a range of perspectives on mental health to join our Hearing Voices Projects team and to help us support the people who need our services.

The Hearing Voices Projects have a global reputation for offering compassionate, person-centred support that avoids pathologising experiences, especially those that are often highly stigmatised.

Among other tasks, you will be required to:

• Work with partner organisations to establish hearing voices peer support groups in addition to organising and facilitating existing groups.
• Offer support to a range of people who hear voices and/or have other sensory experiences or difficult beliefs (at the moment, primarily young people and their families) in a variety of ways (email, Zoom, phone, face-to-face).
• Deal with enquiries and offer information to interested stakeholders.
• Facilitate focus groups and support young people’s involvement in a range of areas.
• Support relevant data monitoring and evaluation on the projects.

We particularly welcome applications from people from under-represented groups, as well as those who have lived experience of mental distress and are able to use this to inform their work.

For more information and to apply, please visit our jobs page.

Closing date: 5.00pm on 7th May 2025.
First interviews: w/c 14th May 2025.
Second interviews: w/c 19th May 2025 (TBC).

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health Service in Slough.

£26,208.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

This role enables vulnerable people with mental health needs to maximise independent living skills and opportunities for social inclusion as wells as manage their tenancies. The purpose of this role is to support customers developing the skills needed to move on to other appropriate accommodation with lower levels of support and greater levels of independence.

This role involves early and late shifts as well as occasional weekend and bank holidays.

For a full job description, please visit our website

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
Practical understanding of mental health conditions and how they impact the life of those affected by them
Excellent communication skills including a good command of spoken and written English in both formal and informal contexts
Demonstrable ability to build positive professional relationships
Experience of working as part of a team
Good command of MS Office, ability to use computer and learn new systems

Desirable:

Experience working in mental health
Experience working in supported living schemes
Experience dealing with challenging behaviours

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

We are recruiting for a full time and part time Support Worker. A great opportunity to join a small friendly team. Are you empathetic towards and have passion, a commitment to working with those who have faced multiple disadvantages in their lives. Emmaus is a supported housing project that provides work opportunities, training and a place to call home. You will support companions (residents) living and working at Sussex Emmaus.

Project info:
Sussex Emmaus is a 58 bed supported accommodation project. We offer low to medium support for those who have experienced or may be at risk of experiencing homelessness. Emmaus supports people to work their way out of homelessness, providing a home for as long as someone needs it. Emmaus works with people who may have faced multiple disadvantages. This can include but is not exclusive to: homelessness; mental health issues; contact with the criminal justice system; historical substance and/or alcohol misuse; and domestic abuse.
Emmaus is a homelessness charity with a difference, we offer a home, work and a sense of belonging. For many people who have experienced homelessness, losing their self-esteem can be the most damaging part of their experience. Emmaus provides an opportunity to work; it can be valuable in rebuilding companion’s self-esteem and self-worth. 

Job Summary:
Provide support to Companions using a person-centred approach, both emotionally and practically, so they can live and work in the Emmaus Community. The role will involve using a Strength Based Practice model to encourage Companions to become resilient and fulfilled. Assist Companions to become independent and maximise their skills, where necessary accessing outside support and services. Where appropriate, in accordance with Companion requests, provide a move-on pathway that enables them to be ready to live independently. 
Promote and embed a proactive approach to equality and diversity, by example and approach, with a commitment to treat all staff, volunteers, visitors and Companions with equity and respect.
Please see the Support Worker Job Pack for more information about the role, you can also find this on the Emmaus Brighton and Hove website and the Emmaus UK website. 

· Would you relish the opportunity to work within a residential family centre, carrying out direct work and assessments with families and their children?

· Are you a qualified social worker who is passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children?

· Do you understand the impact of trauma upon adults and children? 

· Do you want the opportunity to work closely alongside families with complex and multiple needs?

If the answers to the above are yes, you may be interested in an exciting opportunity that has arisen to join the team.

Trevi is a nationally award-winning women’s charity based in Southwest England. We provide safe and nurturing spaces for women and their families to heal, grow and thrive.

Our vision is for a society where all women in recovery can access good quality, psychologically informed, gender-based interventions without apology. In the 30 years we have been operating, we have helped transform the lives of thousands of women and their families. From rehab and health to housing and employment, we help any woman in recovery move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’.

This post will be supporting Daffodil Family Centre and Jasmine Mother & Child.

Providing residential parenting assessments in cases where there are concerns about a parent’s capacity to keep a child safe. Trevi’s ambition is that whatever the outcome of the parenting assessment, the experience of the family will be one of transparent working, respectful practice and collaboration.

We are looking for an experienced and confident social worker to join the team across Trevi. You will be working with complex families who have suffered trauma and will be responsible for undertaking a parenting assessment within the timescales directed by the court / local authority.

This will include working directly with families, completing risk assessments, placement plans, providing Court evidence, providing educational activities and feedback to support the child's development and empower the parents to create change that is ‘safe enough parenting'.

We are looking for a candidate who has experience of working within statutory child protection services and is confident operating within the family court arena. You will be focused upon outcomes for children, but able to work compassionately with parents too, many of whom many be fearful and distrustful of professionals.

We are looking for motivated women who are committed to working from a trauma informed perspective.

We offer the following employee benefits:

• A comprehensive induction and training programme.

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays pro rata

• A day off on your Birthday

• An award-winning Employment Assistance Programme

• Company sick pay scheme

• Plymouth City Council Parking Permits payable over 12 months

• Employee of the month awards

• Refer a Friend Recruitment Bonus

• Company contribution to your NEST Pension

• Learning & Development opportunities relevant to this role

• Blue Light Store Discount Scheme

• Long service recognition award

Trevi is a Real Living Wage Employer

Any offer of employment will be subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure, costs of which will be met by Trevi.

Women only need apply under schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.

Trevi is committed to quality, equality, and valuing diversity.

 

Applications are particularly welcome from black and minority ethnic women and women with lived experience

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout April May 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Hertfordshire.

£23,400.00 per annum, working 37.5 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
Linden Road in Redbourn supports 2 gentlemen living in their own bungalows with everyday life skills. The service provides a 24/7 support service, with an emphasis on choice and control, enabling customers to achieve greater independence, improved quality of life and integration into the wider community.
We are looking some someone who is able to build supportive, trusting relationships with customers and create a positive atmosphere.

What you'll do:
- This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
- To provide a flexible and responsive support service that is tailored to each customer's abilities and aspirations.
- Providing personalised support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support customers to independent living
- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy environment, including cleaning their accommodation and maintaining good personal hygiene

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Excellent customer relationship management and ability to lone work
- Proven experience of motivating and supporting customers
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
- The ability to think creatively to work with the staff team to provide a variety of community activities for our customers
- A willingness to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.
- A willingness support the customers in various community activities, such as swimming, walking, going to the church etc.
- Driver desirable.

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector

Desirable:
- Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism
- Drivers

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for the full Job description

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and 2 weekends off per month.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout April & May 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• all shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Outreach Support Worker

This is an exciting opportunity for a Young People Outreach Support Worker to work as part of a team delivering an assessment, support and move on service to vulnerable clients in supported community-based accommodation located in Tow Law, County Durham.

Position: Outreach Support Worker

Location: County Durham

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours a week

Salary: £24,136 Per Annum Plus Pension & Other Benefits

Closing Date:  15th May 2025

About the Role

As a Young People Support Worker, you will work under the direction, guidance and support of a Service Manager and an Assistant Area Director you will be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service. 

In the community-based services, you will ensure that the accommodation is properly maintained and support the client to sustain their tenancy and participate in positive and successful move on. You will ensure that their tenancy is not at risk and that they have the skills and resources to manage and maintain their accommodation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients, adhering to safeguarding, emergency procedures, and health and safety protocols.

• Hold a caseload as key worker, delivering day-to-day and personalised support, including SMART support plans and regular assessments.

• Collaborate with internal teams and external agencies to provide holistic support, respecting data protection and partnership protocols.

• Encourage client participation in service decisions, community activities, and development opportunities such as education, training, and employment.

• Support new client move-ins, ensuring a welcoming environment and smooth transition into accommodation.

• Assist with property maintenance by conducting health and safety checks and responding to repair issues in collaboration with managers.

• Promote and support the work of volunteers, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

• Maintain accurate records, attend meetings and training, and undertake additional duties as directed by your line manager.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Experience working with young people or those affected by homelessness.

• Understanding of asset-based approaches, safeguarding procedures, and support planning including risk assessments.

• Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and treating all individuals with dignity and respect.

• Knowledge of health and safety principles and a commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all.

• Good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills to support effective communication and record-keeping.

• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain clear professional boundaries in a team setting.

• Reflective and committed to continuous personal and professional development.

• Alignment with the values and ethos the charity.

In return for working here, you will receive:

• A comprehensive training package tailored to your needs and role

• Flexible working model for suitable roles.

• 26 days annual leave rising to 30 after five years of service.

• Family-friendly leave policies including - maternity, adoption and parental leave and Carers leave.

• Auto-enrolment to pension scheme employer from day 1 with employer contribution up to 7% and increasing with service

• Employee Assistance Programme and access to the app – 24/7 GP appointments, prescription service, health checks and nutrition advice.

• Discount vouchers including gym, retail, food & drink, travel, electricals and more.

• Cash benefit plan for you and your partner (living with you) and children under 18 including covering Dental, Optical, Hospital Stays, Scans and More

• Death in service (4x Base salary)

• Legal Advice line

About the Organisation

The charity delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. They specialise in the provision of services that prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those they work with and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities they work within. The organisation reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester to Sheffield and Kent.

You may have experience in areas such as: Support Worker, Peer Support, Project Manager, Care Caseworker, Youth Project Coordinator, Youth Caseworker, Care Worker, Health Care Assistant, Support Worker, Nurses, Social Care Worker, Care Assistant, Wellbeing Worker etc. #INDSCP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

OTR is a charity committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the young people in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES). Our current five-year strategy seeks to strengthen the reach of OTR with those young people that need us most. We know there are barriers for young people engaging in the support they need, and that we have a responsibility to address those barriers and ensure the young people that need our support – get it.

OTR is at a pivotal moment, with significant opportunities for growth and innovation. We seek a dynamic, mission-driven leader who can balance strategic vision with hands-on engagement to be our next CEO.

With a strong foundation, a dedicated team, and an engaged board, this is a compelling leadership opportunity to shape the future for young people’s support in BANES.

As CEO, you will drive our mission of empowering young people and transforming lives and lead a values-driven, people-first organisation, ensuring our person-centred services continue to provide life-changing support to those in need.

You will be a collaborative and entrepreneurial leader with senior leadership experience in the voluntary sector. You will demonstrate expertise in strategic planning, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement.   

A key objective for our new CEO will be to lead our strategy on income generation, therefore we’re looking for someone who can bring this experience to our organisation.

This is an exciting and pivotal leadership role with opportunities to expand, build new partnerships, and strengthen collaboration across our partnerships and locality. You will embody inclusive leadership, empowering people to feel valued, respected, and able to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. 

Young People Support Worker

We have a new role available for a Young People Support Worker to work as part of a team delivering an assessment, support and move on service to vulnerable clients in supported or community based accommodation based in Bishop Auckland County Durham.

Position: Young People Support Worker

Location: County Durham

Contract: Full time, permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours a week

Salary: £24,136 Per Annum plus pension and other benefits

Closing Date:  Thursday 15th May 2025

About the Role

As Young People Support Worker you will work under the direction, guidance and support of a Service Manager and an Assistant Area Director, you will be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service.

The accommodation service is based in Bishop Auckland County Durham. You will ensure that the accommodation is properly maintained and support the client to sustain their tenancy and participate in positive and successful move on. You will be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as shared responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all clients, following safeguarding and emergency procedures as needed.

• Act as key worker for a caseload of clients, leading on risk and needs assessments and SMART, outcomes-based support plans.

• Provide personalised, flexible, and creative support, involving clients in decision-making and encouraging participation in activities.

• Collaborate with external agencies to support clients, adhering to data protection and information sharing protocols.

• Support clients to access Education, Training, Employment, and Volunteering opportunities aligned with their goals and aspirations.

• Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment, including preparing accommodation for new clients and supporting their transition.

• Assist in coordinating and supporting volunteers and promoting client involvement initiatives and residents' meetings.

• Maintain clear, accurate records and participate in team rotas, including evenings and weekends, carrying out additional duties as required.

About You

You will need to have the following skills and experience:

• Experience working with young people or those affected by homelessness.

• Understanding of the needs of individuals facing homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse, or the care system.

• Knowledge of risk assessments, support planning, safeguarding, and health and safety procedures.

• Strong literacy, numeracy, IT skills, and commitment to diversity, equality, and professional integrity.

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, work collaboratively, and reflect on practices for continuous development.

In return for working here, you will receive:

• A comprehensive training package tailored to your needs and role

• Flexible working model for suitable roles.

• 26 days annual leave rising to 30 after five years of service.

• Family-friendly leave policies including - maternity, adoption and parental leave and Carers leave.

• Auto-enrolment to pension scheme employer from day 1 with employer contribution up to 7% and increasing with service

• Employee Assistance Programme and access to the app – 24/7 GP appointments, prescription service, health checks and nutrition advice.

• Discount vouchers including gym, retail, food & drink, travel, electricals and more.

• Cash benefit plan for you and your partner (living with you) and children under 18 including covering Dental, Optical, Hospital Stays, Scans and More

• Death in service (4x Base salary)

• Legal Advice line

About the Organisation

The charity delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. They specialise in the provision of services that prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those they work with and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities they work within. The organisation reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester and Milton Keynes.

You may have experience in areas such as: Support Worker, Peer Support, Project Manager, Care Caseworker, Youth Project Coordinator, Youth Caseworker, Care Worker, Health Care Assistant, Support Worker, Nurses, Social Care Worker, Care Assistant, Wellbeing Worker etc. #INDSCP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation

We are seeking to recruit a highly skilled Key Worker for our Key Worker Service in East Berkshire. The role will be diverse and service user centred and would suit someone with significant experience in supporting young people and young adults with Autism and Learning Disabilities and their families.

The day to day work will involve a flexible approach to coordination and direct support for the young person and their family, as well as providing responsive communication at times of increased need. This is an exciting role which allows for the Key Worker to support families to navigate the system whilst advocating for them and ensuring that their voice is heard.

There will be opportunities for collaboration and co-production and our vision is to provide young person and family centered support, whilst influencing system change to achieve better outcomes for more children,  young people and adults under the age of 25.

The service will be provided across the entire East Berkshire footprint covering: Slough, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest.Although the team will be “virtual”, there will be frequent (weekly) travel within and across the East Berkshire area, therefore being a car driver with access to a car is essential, as well as being based near the local area. 

The Key Working Function has been developed as a response to the NHS England & NHS Improvement Long Term Plan (LTP) commitment that by 2023/24, children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, with the most complex needs will have a designated Key Worker, applying the recommendations made by Dame Christine Lenehan in ‘These are our Children'. The East Berkshire Key Worker Service has been established since 2023 and has developed and evolved over this time. 

We are looking for someone who:

• has significant experience of working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or who are Autistic and their families.
• has an understanding of mental health and how this may impact this service user group 
• Is tenacious and passionate about advocating for our families, whilst respectfully challenging professionals and working collaboratively with other agencies
• Able to complete frequent visits to service users and have the ability to be flexible to complete visits/meetings at short notice within working hours across the East Berkshire area

A Barnardo's Project Worker 3 job description and person specification is attached to the advert for this role. This is a generic role description in use throughout the organisation to cover all roles at the given salary band. The Additional Information Sheet outlines the specific responsibilities, skills and experience required and it is important that you read this carefully before you apply.

When completing your application form, please refer to the skills, knowledge and experience required as detailed in the Person Specification and also in the Additional Information Sheet. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.