Waking night children residential support worker jobs
At St John's College, part of Ambitious about Autism, we support autistic young people to develop confidence, independence and skills for adult life.
As a Waking Night Residential Support Worker, you will ensure our learners feel safe, secure and supported throughout the night. You will remain awake and alert, responding to individual needs and helping maintain a calm and structured home environment. This is a rewarding role where your vigilance, compassion and professionalism make a genuine difference.
Key responsibilities include:
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Staying awake and vigilant to ensure learner safety and wellbeing
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Carrying out regular checks of the home and responding to any concerns
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Supporting learners with personal care and medical needs where required
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Monitoring health needs in line with care plans
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Completing accurate handovers and written records
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Working collaboratively with night staff across residential homes
We are looking for someone who is calm, dependable and values-driven, able to work independently during the night while remaining connected to the wider team. You will need a strong commitment to safeguarding, good communication and written skills, emotional resilience and sound judgement, and a willingness to work flexibly.
Experience in care or education is helpful but not essential. We welcome applicants with transferable skills and the right attitude.
Closing date for applications
15th March 2026
Candidates informed of outcome of application
16th March 2026
Interviews
19th March 2026
Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.
Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.
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
- Waking Night Residential Support Worker- 2026.pdf (459.03 KB)
We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Summary
To provide, manage and co-ordinate support for people that is based on their individual needs, desires and aspirations. To be responsible for the day to day organisation and effective running of services in compliance with the wishes of the individuals the Tower Project supports to live independently, the contractual obligations to the purchasing agencies, and legislative, statutory and organisation requirements.
To provide support to people in a way that is respectful, promotes independence and enables the individuals you support to realise their own potential. Effective delegation of duties to deputy service manager, team leaders, registered nurses, senior support workers and support workers as applicable. To promote good practice at all times, act as an effective and positive role model.
To support individuals in accessing the community, in their own homes or in any setting their needs and choices may require. Service managers may work alone with the people they support or as part of a team. Service managers may provide support to individuals with a variety of different specialist needs and conditions which may include learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, nursing needs, mental health conditions, neurological impairments, psychiatric and clinical needs, complex behaviours and other needs.
Service managers may provide support in any location appropriate to meet the needs of the service. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021
Main Duties
1. Assessing, planning and implementing, in partnership with the individuals you support, programmes of support and/or care that meet their general needs and maximise their independence, presence and participation within the community and to ensure the quality of service delivery.
2. Working with individuals (current and prospective people the Tower Project may support), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to facilitate good communication and decision making so that the service provided is coordinated and applicable.
3. Working closely with Operations Managers and Referral and Assessment Managers, in addition to external professionals, to assess new individuals and deliver and assist in presentations etc for service development and expansion.
4. Working with individuals (current and prospective), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to support individuals to maintain their personal finances, benefit entitlements, and tenancy agreements and to therefore gain financial security and long term housing.
5. Ensuring the continued financial viability of each service, closely monitoring budgets, contracts, care hours, auditing as necessary, and addressing any shortfalls at the earliest opportunity.
6. Being responsible for the recruitment, supervision, training and day to day management of staff so that the service can consistently provide the proper staffing levels, attitudes, and skills to support the individuals.
7. Ensuring the allocation of staff duties is clearly and adequately defined and communicated to all staff through the appropriate channels, to ensure that all staff members understand their own and others’ roles and responsibilities.
8. Ensuring that each service remains within its allocated budget; monitoring expenditure on an ongoing basis and taking corrective action as appropriate.
9. Ensuring that all paperwork and returns required by the organisation and support purchasers are completed accurately and on time so that the service can meet its procedural and contractual obligations in terms of data collection and monitoring.
10. Attending provider forums, conferences and seminars as required by the Tower Project, and maintaining an up to date, in depth knowledge of the development of the sector. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021
11. Identifying and reporting risks, and if required taking necessary precautions to ensure health and safety for the individuals the Tower Project supports and visitors as specified within service contracts from housing partners and/or purchasing agencies.
12. Maintaining and developing specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practice by attending mandatory training and relevant professional development in order to continuously improve knowledge and skills.
13. Building and maintaining an excellent service reputation in the area, with purchasers and local authorities, and the community, ensuring high quality support provision and community presence at all times.
14. Co-ordinating and monitoring all mandatory training requirements, nominating and liaising with appropriate bodies as applicable in order to ensure that training is up to date and all staff members receive the appropriate training.
15. Complying with the Tower Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy so as to ensure that no person is disadvantaged on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which may include, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership.
16. Being responsible for ensuring that all staff are familiar with and are actively implementing company policies and procedures, including fire procedures.
17. Providing the Operations Manager/Director with reports on aspects of the services as directed, including undertaking regular audits of each service in your portfolio.
18. Carrying out duties in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent Health and Safety legislation.
19. Managing rotas to ensure that all services have appropriate staff cover at all times, and that statutory and contractual obligations are met, if necessary working shifts on a staffing rota including weekdays, weekends, split shifts, wake nights, sleep-in, wake night duty and bank holidays as required, and working at multiple sites as necessary.
20. Planning, managing and covering special events such as service user holidays, liaising with family, advocate, social services etc as necessary.
21. Undertaking on call duties as required and managing on call rota for Team Leaders / Deputy Service Managers / Registered Nurses when you are not on call.
22. You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at your initial place of work or at any other of the company's establishments.
Full Time ( 40 hrs per week)
Inclusive of 3 Sleep - Ins
Please Note:
You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at any other sites or premises, locations in the community and in the homes of people we support as the Tower Project may reasonably require on an occasional or frequent basis to meet the needs of service provision as required by The Tower Project.
This is a description of the job as it is at present. The Tower Project may periodically review your job description and update it to ensure that it relates to the job as then being performed. It is the company's aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible the company reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description, following consultation.
The key aims of the The Tower Project are to enable and empower people with disabilities to develop opportunities, and have a voice in the community



Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
£13.85 per hour
Variable hours (24 hours rota)
South London- Croydon
We are currently recruiting Bank Support Workers to join our permanent staff team at our new Children’s Home in Croydon, South London. We are seeking committed and compassionate individuals who can build positive relationships with young people and are passionate about improving their life chances, even in the most challenging circumstances.
You will join a team of St Christopher’s workers providing day-to-day care and support for young people aged 12–18. The role includes administrative duties and accurate record-keeping, which are essential to ensuring high-quality care and compliance.
As the service operates on a 24-hour rota, the role will include weekends, bank holidays, early and late shifts, sleep-ins, and waking nights. You will need strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.
To apply you will have:
- At least two year’s experience supporting young people to achieve their full potential.
- The ability to motivate, encourage, and inspire young people towards positive outcomes.
- Patience and resilience when managing challenging behaviour.
- The ability to act as a positive and consistent role model.
- Good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills.
- Flexibility to work a rota including nights, weekends, and bank holidays.
- A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent is essential
About UsOur 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 supporting children and young people, with a proud history of delivering high-quality fostering, children’s homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK and the Isle of Man. We are passionately committed to placing young people at the heart of everything we do and to providing positive life experiences for those who are unable to remain in their parental or foster homes.
We are an equal opportunities employer and are dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to belong. We welcome applications from under-represented groups and encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including—but not limited to—different cultures, nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions and beliefs, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and those with caring responsibilities.
Recruitment Process
At St Christopher’s, we are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people in our care. As part of the recruitment process, applicants are required to complete an online application form to ensure that we gather essential information in line with legislation, best practice, and safer recruitment requirements.
Applicants will ideally be registered with the DBS Update Service; however, where this is not the case, St Christopher’s will arrange for an enhanced DBS (police) check prior to commencement of employment.
It is a criminal offence to apply for work with children or young people if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity or if your name appears on the Children’s Barred List.
All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be required to complete and return a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form before an interview can be arranged.
Please note that this post has a minimum age requirement of 21 years for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent homes, in accordance with the Equality Act and its occupational requirement provisions.
We are a leading charity for children and young people, providing fostering, children's homes and leaving care services across the UK and Isle of Man



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