Children worker jobs in kent

We’re looking for a kind and compassionate person to join our Family Support team, working directly with families who are facing the unthinkable – the news that their child has cancer or a life-challenging condition.

Primarily based at St George’s, Royal Marsden (transitioning to Evelina, Westminster in 2026), Kingston Hospital and St Peter’s, Chertsey. Travel to other partnered hospitals across London and Surrey as required. Includes at least one monthly meeting at our East Molesey office. 

As our Hospital Family Support Worker, you’ll visit children, young people and their families on the wards of our partnered hospitals. You’ll be a consistent, reassuring presence, offering emotional and practical support when it’s most needed – and helping families feel less alone.

You’ll meet families already known to Momentum, as well as take new referrals. You’ll also support families remotely who live further afield or are adjusting to life after treatment.

This role is about being that calm, empathetic and kind person who makes a difference just by showing up. You’ll be a trusted part of hospital life, and a key link between the families, Momentum, and the wider healthcare team.

Key Responsibilities:

· Offer emotional and practical support to families, being a warm and reliable presence during their hospital stay.

· Build trusting, non-judgemental relationships with parents, carers, children and young people.

· Meet families in hospital, explain our support services, and complete referral forms for further help.

· Work closely with hospital professionals, attending multi-disciplinary meetings, deliver training on Momentum’s service and sharing relevant updates with the wider Momentum team.

· Keep accurate records of your work, including family interactions and safeguarding concerns.

· Understand and follow all safeguarding, child protection, and lone working policies.

· Report any safeguarding concerns in line with our policies and procedures.

· Support Momentum’s fundraising and communications by sharing family stories (with consent) and identifying case studies.

· Ensure all actions reflect Momentum’s values and vision – that no family with a seriously ill child should have to cope alone.

· Comply with hospital policies around dress code, infection control, and health and safety.

· Attend team meetings in-person and online across London and Surrey.

· Complete training requirements relevant to your role.

· Carry out other reasonable duties to support the delivery of Momentum’s work.

Job Title: Experienced Associate Independent Investigating Officers (IOs) for Stage 2 Complaints (This role sits within our Independent Person for Complaints (IPC) service)

Contract: Associate

Hours: Variable, according to demand for services/caseload and role in investigation

Salary: £25.25 per hour

Location: Associate Independent Investigating Officers for Complaints primarily work from home. Some travel may be required as part of an investigation – location will vary according to the referral received from the Local Authority. Cases will be allocated to Associate IOs living locally to the referring authority, wherever possible.

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity, founded by Thomas Coram in London, helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

About the role

We are seeking additional experienced Associate Independent Investigating Officers (IO) for Complaints, to increase our capacity to respond to referrals from Local Authorities to provide an independent element to the formal Stage 2 investigations under the Children Act 1989.

The IO will lead investigations, and will give the complainant (who may be a child, young person or adult) the opportunity to express their view, ensure the child or young person’s rights and best interests are at the centre of the investigation and that the investigation/review process is open and transparent. They write a report on the investigation/review, which is submitted to the referring agency.

The Job Description document sets out the expectations for an Associate Independent Person for Complaints (IPC) who is approved by Coram Voice. IPCs are independent, freelance and responsible for their own work. Nevertheless, IPCs are accountable to the organisation for their professional standards and are expected to comply with Coram Voice Code of Ethics and Practice Guidelines.

Please note: the nature of associate work means that we cannot guarantee a regular amount of work, and complaints will be allocated dependent on the associate’s availability, location and the needs and demands of the individual case. Investigation work takes place Monday to Friday within working hours. This position is not suitable for applicants who already work or have commitments more than two days within the working week.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing date: Please note this is a rolling recruitment campaign

Interview date: TBC

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBTQ+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Starting Salary: Up to £35,000 depending on experience

Specific Hours: 40 hours per week shift work- including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins. 

(flexibility to work evenings and sleep-ins are for the Day position. Waking Night position requires staff to be awake for the entire night shift).

Sleep-ins: £50. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and alternative weekends off

Location: Croydon, CR2 - closest station is 1 stop after East Croydon | 10 minutes from Clapham Junction | 20 minutes from Waterloo.

Looking for fantastic career progression, excellent training and therapeutic support? Join our committed and professional team and make a difference to young people living in residential care, where no two days are the same!

About the role

As a Children’s Residential Worker, you will directly look after children and young people who have complex emotional and mental health needs due to trauma, loss and other adverse experiences.

You will be required to support children to regulate and understand 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 on admission to the Children’s Home).

You will have a key role in making sure our children are safe and happy. You will also be required to work collaboratively with key professionals to ensure that information is recorded and shared appropriately, as well as to enable children to receive the multi-agency support that they require.

If applying for the Day position, you will be required to do sleep-ins paid at £50 each.

If applying for the Waking Night position, 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) as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 2 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, and if applicable, sleep-in’s.
• 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: Up to £35,000 depending on experience
• Sleep-ins: £50. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and alternate weekends off
• 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.

Your Online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.

For the full Job Description and Person Specification please see our wwebsite. CV’s will not be accepted.

For more information or assistance during the application process, please visit our website.

Closing Date: August 18th 2025

First Stage Interview – Throughout August 2025

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

Second Stage Interview 

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at one of St Christopher's residential homes.

Our Children and Young People are looking forward to hearing from you

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.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for people to develop to their full potential, with a focus on children and young people and those who are vulnerable, have a disability or face disadvantage.

We are recruiting for a qualified Youth Worker to join our Family and Youth Services. You will plan, deliver and evaluate youth club activities for young people and ensure that all safeguarding, regulatory and health & safety requirements are met. Actively engaging with young people in informal learning opportunities that promote their physical, mental, social and emotional development.

This role requires a minimum of 2 years experience of leading youthwork sessions, either centre-based and/or detached. The candidate must have a minimum of a Level 3 Youth Work qualification or equivalent, and must be a driver due to the delivery of detached work on the Y Bus. In addition the role requires evening work during Term Time.

Key responsibilities:

• To actively engage with young people aged 10 to 18 in a wide range of youth work programmes that promote personal and social development
• To plan, deliver and evaluate our YMCA East Surrey Youth Work offering
• Coordinate YMCA’s detached programme – Y Bus and Street Talk including liaising with partner agencies. This includes driving our Y Bus.
• Coordinate YMCA’s holiday programme including applying for funding and delivering residentials.
• To oversee part time staff and volunteers, providing professional support and guidance.
• Delivering information, advice, and guidance to young people referring to specialist agencies where appropriate
• To meet with young people and set an action plan to assist with their social and personal development.
• To record and collect data with various tools and to use this to evaluate the effectiveness of youth work programmes.
• Involve young people in co-production of all the youth work undertaken
• Liaise with local partners and stakeholders in schools, the voluntary and statutory sectors to enhance the coherence, range, reach and quality of services for young people.
• To supervise the activity environment to ensure physical and emotional/personal safety for all children and young people attending

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about working for a charity and making a difference to the lives of the children and young people in our community.

PAY:

• £26,780 - £29,974 dependant on experience

BENEFITS:

• Be part of a long-standing and well-respected charity
• Discounted childcare for permanent employees
• Gym membership and free access to all leisure facilities for permanent employees
• Eligibility for Blue Light Discount Retail Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 6.6 weeks annual leave which increases after 2 years continuous service
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• On site parking

CLOSING DATE: 15 August 2025

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 equality, diversity and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.

YMCA East Surrey 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 Adult’s barred lists) check, along with reference checks.

Salary: £29,120 per annum FTE (actual £19,968)

Contract: Permanent, following a 3-month probation period

Hours:24 hours across three days a week: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Do you want to make a tangible difference in the lives of some of the most deprived children in London? 

CARIS Families is a small frontline charity that offers holistic support to families experiencing homelessness in hostels in the London Boroughs of Camden and Hackney.  Amongst our other services, we run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme.  Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back essential childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of.

The services we currently offer our families in hostels are:

- Kids Club: an after-school play club in term time for 0-16s, run from our dedicated play club in the basement of one family hostel in Camden.

- Enrichment Trips and Summer Programme: a series of day trips for groups of families from our 4 hostels in the school holidays.  We take part in exciting activities and visit interesting destinations round London and the South-East, to ease the pressures of being stuck in the hostel during the long school breaks.

- Essentials Bank: Our Essentials bank runs weekly in term-time from two of our hostels, offering families free hygiene products such as toiletries, nappies, washing powder etc. to ease the pressure on family finances at a difficult time.

- Family Support Work and Housing Casework: we offer holistic casework to support families to ease the stress of their situation, from working on finances to supporting employment searches, to assisting with legal cases and supporting them to navigate their housing case and move out of homelessness as soon as possible.

We are currently looking for an experienced Play and Community Worker to join our dedicated frontline Family Services team, delivering this vital support to around 100 children and their families each year.

Responsibilities of the Role

The Play and Community Worker will:

- Deliver play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 at our hostel-based Kids Club’s play sessions during term time in the London Borough of Camden.

- Deliver our Enrichment Trips School Holiday programme during school holidays (in Camden, Hackney and the wider London and South-East England area)

- Deliver our term-time Essentials Bank programme, providing free household goods to families in hostels

- Assist the Services Manager with a range of administrative and operational activities to support the day-to-day running of our Family Services and CARIS Families’ operations as a whole

- Provide a warm and welcoming experience for children and their families attending CARIS Families’ services

- Engage enthusiastically and supportively with children in their play and learning experiences, through staff-led activities and facilitating child-led play

- Work proactively as part of our Family Services team, supporting colleagues, embracing change and contributing ideas to service development within our frontline Family Services.

Person Specification

We are looking for a Play and Community Worker who is:

- Qualified to Level 2 or 3, or prepared to work towards this qualification in: Playwork, Early Years, CYP Workforce, Youth Work or any related area

- Experienced in delivering play within a CYP or community work setting, and working with 0- to 16-year-olds

- Experienced in providing and facilitating safe and creative play experiences

- Passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged children

-  Understanding of the varied needs of children and their families, and of the impact of trauma and ACE on children’s development and wellbeing

- Able to maintain professional boundaries while supporting parents/carers and children empathetically, and with a person-centred, relational approach.

- Understanding of Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding best practice

- A good communicator, comfortable with working with a wide range of service users and professionals

- Proficient in use of Microsoft Office packages and basic web-based software applications (e.g. Canva)

- Reliable and diligent, with good time-keeping skills, who is able to work well as part of a team, take the initiative and lend a helping hand across our fast-changing, responsive frontline work

Do you have the ambition to make a meaningful impact on the lives of autistic children and young people?

At St. John's, we've been making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people for nearly 140 years. We are now looking for an incredible Residential Support Worker to help us continue making that difference!

As a Residential Support Worker, you will work under the supervision and guidance of the Care Management Team, Senior Residential Support Workers, and Therapy Teams. You will support learners in all residential houses and the community, assisting with social and academic activities.

Our aim is to ensure all learners have equal opportunities to develop their independence and social skills, preparing them for adult life.

What will you be doing?

• Supporting learners with self-care and independence skills such as eating, drinking, washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence, dressing, mobility, and medication administration.
   
• Ensuring learners' care files are kept up to date and accurate.
   
• At the start of each shift, reviewing communication and log books, and liaising with staff at handover to ensure learners' needs are well documented and addressed.
   
• Establish supportive relationships with learners and encourage the development of stable relationships.
   
• Promote the emotional health and self-esteem of learners and support them through changes in their living situation and personal circumstances.

In return, we offer a fantastic working environment, generous holidays, career development opportunities, and more!

Please note that sponsorship for this role is not available at this time.

Ambitious about Autism is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Documents

• Residential Support Worker - Day St J (002) - 2024.pdf (452.44 KB)

Location: Remote (based in England & Wales with occasional travel required for biannual team days in London, termly Support Coach Team meetings in various locations, and twice termly vists to facilitators in various locations). Due to location of regional hubs, we would encourage applications from the Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester areas.

Salary: £28,665 - £30,765 pro rata (£22,932 - £24,612 actual)

Hours of work: 4 days a week (28 hours)

Contract type: Permanent

Why work for Kids Matter?

• Generous annual leave – 25 days (plus bank holidays) per year pro rata, with time off between Christmas and New Year's additional to this allowance.
• Remote working contribution – receive £26/month pro rata towards the costs of working from home and/or using a co-working space.
• Access to coaching sessions, training opportunities and our Employee Assistance Programme (a confidential support service for staff).
• Flexible working across weekdays to suit your schedule.

About us​

Kids Matter is one of the UK’s fastest growing children’s charities.

Our vision is to see every child in need raised in a strong family. Our mission is to reduce the impact of poverty on children through community-based parenting programmes.

Research shows that group-based early intervention parenting groups are the most effective way to support children in need. We train peer facilitators in local churches - the largest voluntary body in the country - to run our affordable, accessible and highly effective parenting programmes, written by Clinical Psychologists. They come alongside parents and carers, building long-lasting community in addition to encouraging confidence and learning positive parenting skills.

We value difference and diversity, and we want our workplace to be built on shared values of equality and mutual trust, with team members representing the wide range of backgrounds and experiences that exist within the UK. We therefore actively encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds and varied experiences, particularly those who are African, Afro-Caribbean, Asian or part of other minority ethnic communities, who have lived experience of the impact of low-income/low-support circumstances, and who are living with a disability or identify as being neurodivergent.

About the role

The Support Coach role involves:

• Supporting volunteer facilitators by coaching them through the opportunities, challenges and obstacles of running a Kids Matter programme
• Training and upskilling facilitators by helping run events and develop new resources
• Working with the wider Kids Matter team to encourage and strengthen Kids Matter’s church partnerships

At Kids Matter, we are committed to delivering effective coaching. All Support Coaches are given the opportunity to go through the coaching accreditation process with ICF to become an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). Kids Matter provides the support and supervision for this to take place, and will cover the cost of the accreditation if the individual remains employed as a Support Coach for the two years following applying for accreditation. If the individual leaves before two years, a percentage of the accreditation cost will be required to pay back.

About you

Are you someone who enjoys coming alongside others, encouraging and challenging them as they learn and grow? Do you have a strong understanding of the disadvantages many families face in the UK? Can you sensitively and effectively communicate with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences? Are you a Christian with an active faith in Jesus? Do you have a passion for Kids Matter’s vision to see every child in need raised in a strong family?

Then we would love to hear from you!

How to apply

You can apply for the Support Coach position by clicking ‘Apply via Website’ and completing a copy of our online application form.

The deadline for applications is 4pm Monday 1st September 2025. All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.

We also ask for all applicants to submit an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, which will be sent to you to complete following the submission of your application. This form will be used for anonymous analysis to ensure our overall recruitment procedures are fair and transparent. It will never be viewed or used as part of the selection process. It is optional to submit this form.

If you would like any application/interview support or you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the application process, or if you would like an informal phone call to ask questions or discuss the role, please contact Katie Washington (HR & Systems Coordinator).

Please see the job pack for more details on the role and application process.

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 visit our website.

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 July and August

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.

Are you a Home Manger or Deputy Manager looking for your next challenge?

We have a fantastic opportunity to join St Christopher's fellowship as a Home Manager for our children’s home in South West London. You will lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by Deputy Managers, Team Leaders as well as the rest of the team.

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

 About the Role

We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do and as the Home Manager; you will be a key player in building and extending this commitment.

You will lead and support a team: Deputy Managers, Team Leaders and Residential Workers and all committed to transforming lives and creating positive outcomes.

In addition we have an in house team of Therapists providing support to staff and young people within the home.

St Christopher’s Academy

Our 'St Christopher’s Academy' ensures our staff is continually developing. 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 visit our website.

The successful candidate will have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare and, be either working towards or has achieved the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.
• Prior experience in residential children’s homes, including at least a year with staff supervision and management responsibility.
• A passion for achieving the best possible outcomes for young people.
• Excellent leadership and staff management abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to deliver at least ‘good’ in the home’s Ofsted inspection.
• Sound business awareness and a flair for promoting the service.
• Flexibility, drive and resilience.

This role will involve some shift work plus some on call duties in the evening and at weekends. Applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS (police) checks.

In return we offer:

• Salary from £44,093 to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.
• 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 Young People’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health, 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.
• Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers.
• 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 through “St Christopher’s Academy”

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.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. CV’s will not be accepted. For the full Job Description and Person Specification, please visit our website.

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

Please note that it is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List.

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.

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’.

Job Purpose:  To coordinate and deliver an exciting range of Short Breaks activity clubs for children.

Salary: £29,974 - £34,278

Hours of work:35

Working Pattern: Term time hours: Tuesday/Wednesday – Saturday/Sunday 09:00 – 17:00 on a rota basis with one weekend day each week (max 35 weeks)

School holidays hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00 (min 17 weeks)

Employment type: full-time

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:  YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate, RH2 8HA  Reigate

Annual leave:Starting allowance - 25 days plus Bank Holidays.  Please note that school holidays are key delivery periods and annual leave is not usually agreed during these periods.

Benefits:

Free Gym Membership: The post holder will be entitled to free use of the YMCA East Surrey fitness centre in Redhill and half price YMCA childcare for dependents.

Free Parking : There is free parking availableat all our delivery site. YMCA East Surrey also operates a Bike to Work Scheme.

Pension Scheme: There is a YMCA East Surrey pension scheme - details available on request.

Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 6th August 2025

Interviews to be held: Week commencing 11th August 2025(s)

Proposed Start Date: ASAP

Main Responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver a structured programme of enjoyable, recreational, high-quality activities to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities who attend Short Breaks clubs.
• To coordinate and take responsibility for the planning, allocation of places, and sufficient staffing to ensure safe delivery of Short Breaks clubs.
• To assist in the recruitment, training and ongoing development of the Disability staff team.
• Leadership and Line Management of a team of Play/Youth Workers and volunteers.
• Have responsibility for processing new referrals, initial assessments, individual care plans and any associated risk assessments or specialist plans to ensure we meet individual needs.
• To be the lead practitioner providing the staff team with advice, coaching and on-site management of club structure.
• To develop strategies and behavioural support plans for young people attending activities and access YMCA Disability Services.
• To be aware of Ofsted requirements and ensure Short Breaks clubs for children are compliant, with ongoing monitoring.
• Maintain and monitor agreed attendance levels and activity budget.
• To promote clubs and share stories via social media. Manage cohort numbers and waiting lists efficiently.  
• Lead in Administering medication, PEG feeds and undertaking movement and handling for children and young people with complex health needs. Undergo relevant training and transfer this knowledge onto the staff team.
• Work closely with individual children and young people and their families to identify a range of social, recreational and leisure activities to meet the needs of young people and children.
• Ensure that all young people are made to feel valued and enabled to develop and improve self-esteem, life skills, self-confidence and positive experiences
• To gain young people’s feedback, capturing their voice in shaping and evaluating future club sessions.
• Work closely as part of the delivery team, initiate programmed activities, alongside additional opportunities locally.
• To be responsible for the Health and Safety of children, young people and staff, above all, ensuring that Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults at Risk policies are adhered to.
• Managing the venue, ensuring all risk assessments are completed in line with our policies to ensure the environment is safe, secure and suitable for staff, CYP and our service delivery.
• Provide information, guidance and advice for parent/carers about local services for young people and families.
• Attend and participate in relevant internal/external meetings and forums related to the CYP services activities.
• To provide operational Coordinator or Leader cover for other Disability Services or locations as required.
• Design and deliver training sessions to CYP staff.
• To undertake the role of Duty Officer at the Sovereign Centre, at times to be agreed with Disability Services Manager.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities reasonably requested by the Disability Services ManagerTop of Form.

Young Carers Sessional Worker  

Do you enjoy working with young people? Are you interested in supporting Young Carers by delivering engaging activities that promote wellbeing, reduce isolation and give them a break from their caring responsibilities? 

Then this job is for you! 

Job Title: Young Carers Sessional Worker 
Location: London, Wandsworth – Wandsworth Carers’ Centre (office-based and community/outreach) 
Contract Type: Sessional / Zero Hours Contract 
Salary: £15 per hour 
DBS Check: Enhanced required 

We are seeking a flexible, reliable, and enthusiastic Sessional Worker to support the delivery of services for Young Carers aged 5–16. The role involves two key parts. The first is helping to deliver engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote wellbeing, reduce isolation, and give Young Carers a break from their responsibilities. The second is supporting with outreach to local schools, colleges, community settings and professionals to identify and engage Young Carers. 

About The Role: 

You will work across two key age groups, 5–11 and 12–16, delivering and supervising activities, supporting events and trips, and providing behavioural management where needed. You will deliver awareness training sessions, run stalls and aim to identify and engage Young Carers in the community. You will also help ensure young Carers feel heard, included, and supported as they navigate the challenges of their caring roles. This is a sessional role, therefore hours are not guaranteed but will be offered based on project need.

Key Requirements Include: 

• Experience working with children, young people, or vulnerable groups 

• Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with young people and their families 

• Reliable, punctual, and flexible 

• A strong understanding of professional boundaries and confidentiality 

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends 

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice 

About Wandsworth Carers’ Centre: 

We are a busy, ambitious charity operating at the heart of the Wandsworth community since 1995, helping thousands of people across the borough in unpaid Caring roles. We give information and advice, organise respite, offer complementary therapies, deliver training, provide peer support, arrange fun events and much more.  In short, we are the Carer's friend and advocate, often helping Carers through difficult times. 

Wandsworth Carers’ Centre is an inclusive employer. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do.

Benefits of working for Wandsworth Carers’ Centre:   

Friendly team and working environment, contributory company pension, ongoing training and development opportunities and an employee assistance program.  

Closing date: 1st September 2025

Please note we will be interviewing candidates as suitable applications come in and therefore reserve the right to close this vacancy before the stated closing date. We encourage applications as soon as possible. 

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.

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.

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: £27,248 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 and 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.

*Trainee Practitioner - Young People Support Worker - London

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £25,480 per annum, rising to £27,144 after successful completion of probation.

Location: Camden (NW3)

If you are looking for a fulfilling and rewarding career where no two days are the same, this might be the job for you!

About the Role

As a Support Worker in a Semi-Independent Home, you will have the opportunity of developing authentic relationships with our young people (aged 16 – 21 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. Throughout the shift you will have the additional support of an on call manager should you have any questions. Further to this, you will be involved in team meetings monthly and will also receive monthly supervision.

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 visit our website.

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

Working Hours

Our young people need care 24/7 so we have fixed rotas with different shifts (8, 10 and 12 hours) from 8 am to 10 pm for day staff; and from 9 pm to 8.30 am for night staff.

On average, you will be working 40 hours a week, so meaning if you work 4 shifts of 10 hours each, you will then get 3 days off.

There is always the possibility to do overtime if you need a bit extra, this is paid time and half same as bank holidays.

• 40 hours per week (including weekends and bank holidays)

What you need to bring to this role

• Genuine commitment to working and supporting Young People to achieve their full potential.
• An understanding of the issues facing young people.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £25,480 per annum, rising to £27,144 after successful completion of probation
• 4 weeks full induction and training program (paid).
• Competitive pay and reward structure offering salary progression based on performance.
• Tailored career development plan through our “St Christopher’s Academy”.
• 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.

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.

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.

In order for your application to be reviewed, it must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.

Once application has been submitted, candidates will require to complete an online situational test which will inform the shortlisting process. Unsuccessful candidates will be communicated the outcome via email.

Closing date- 1st August 2025

First Stage Interview – Throughout July & August

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an individual interview, which will include a written exercise. The interview will be face to face at our offices in Putney.

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage at the service they apply to.

Our Children and Young People are looking forward to hearing from you

__________________________________________________________

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.

Job Purpose:  To coordinate and deliver an exciting range of Short Breaks activity clubs for children.

Salary: £29,974 - £34,278

Hours of work:35

Working Pattern: Term time hours: Tuesday/Wednesday – Saturday/Sunday 09:00 – 17:00 on a rota basis with one weekend day each week (max 35 weeks)

School holidays hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00 (min 17 weeks)

Employment type: full-time

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:  YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate, RH2 8HA  Reigate

Annual leave:Starting allowance - 25 days plus Bank Holidays.  Please note that school holidays are key delivery periods and annual leave is not usually agreed during these periods.

Benefits:

Free Gym Membership: The post holder will be entitled to free use of the YMCA East Surrey fitness centre in Redhill and half price YMCA childcare for dependents.

Free Parking : There is free parking availableat all our delivery site. YMCA East Surrey also operates a Bike to Work Scheme.

Pension Scheme: There is a YMCA East Surrey pension scheme - details available on request.

Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 6th August 2025

Interviews to be held: Week commencing 11th August 2025(s)

Proposed Start Date: ASAP

Main Responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver a structured programme of enjoyable, recreational, high-quality activities to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities who attend Short Breaks clubs.
• To coordinate and take responsibility for the planning, allocation of places, and sufficient staffing to ensure safe delivery of Short Breaks clubs.
• To assist in the recruitment, training and ongoing development of the Disability staff team.
• Leadership and Line Management of a team of Play/Youth Workers and volunteers.
• Have responsibility for processing new referrals, initial assessments, individual care plans and any associated risk assessments or specialist plans to ensure we meet individual needs.
• To be the lead practitioner providing the staff team with advice, coaching and on-site management of club structure.
• To develop strategies and behavioural support plans for young people attending activities and access YMCA Disability Services.
• To be aware of Ofsted requirements and ensure Short Breaks clubs for children are compliant, with ongoing monitoring.
• Maintain and monitor agreed attendance levels and activity budget.
• To promote clubs and share stories via social media. Manage cohort numbers and waiting lists efficiently.  
• Lead in Administering medication, PEG feeds and undertaking movement and handling for children and young people with complex health needs. Undergo relevant training and transfer this knowledge onto the staff team.
• Work closely with individual children and young people and their families to identify a range of social, recreational and leisure activities to meet the needs of young people and children.
• Ensure that all young people are made to feel valued and enabled to develop and improve self-esteem, life skills, self-confidence and positive experiences
• To gain young people’s feedback, capturing their voice in shaping and evaluating future club sessions.
• Work closely as part of the delivery team, initiate programmed activities, alongside additional opportunities locally.
• To be responsible for the Health and Safety of children, young people and staff, above all, ensuring that Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults at Risk policies are adhered to.
• Managing the venue, ensuring all risk assessments are completed in line with our policies to ensure the environment is safe, secure and suitable for staff, CYP and our service delivery.
• Provide information, guidance and advice for parent/carers about local services for young people and families.
• Attend and participate in relevant internal/external meetings and forums related to the CYP services activities.
• To provide operational Coordinator or Leader cover for other Disability Services or locations as required.
• Design and deliver training sessions to CYP staff.
• To undertake the role of Duty Officer at the Sovereign Centre, at times to be agreed with Disability Services Manager.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities reasonably requested by the Disability Services ManagerTop of Form.