Job Title: Residential Childcare Worker
Location: Chelmsford
Contract Type: Part-time / Shift Work (including evenings, weekends, sleep-ins, and bank holidays as required)

Who We Are
Brook Street Social Care is a national staffing agency, working with care providers across the country.
We support a range of clients who have children homes in and around Chelmsford. Our clients require staff who are able to work day shifts, night shifts and weekends.

Job Purpose
To provide high-quality care, support, and guidance to children and young people living in a residential home. The role involves promoting their physical, emotional, social, and educational development while ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and individual needs are met in accordance with relevant legislation, safeguarding procedures, and the home's policies.

Key Responsibilities
Care and Support

• Provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for children and young people.
• Build positive, trusting, and professional relationships with residents.
• Support children with daily living activities, including personal care, hygiene, meal preparation, and household routines.
• Encourage and promote independence, life skills, and positive decision-making.
• Support children to attend school, appointments, and recreational activities.

Safeguarding and Welfare

• Safeguard and protect children from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Follow safeguarding policies and report concerns promptly and appropriately.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act as a positive role model.

Emotional and Behavioural Support

• Support children experiencing emotional, behavioural, or mental health challenges.
• Implement behaviour support plans and therapeutic approaches where required.
• Help children develop resilience, confidence, self-esteem, and coping strategies.

Record Keeping and Administration

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records, reports, and daily logs.
• Contribute to care plans, risk assessments, and review meetings.
• Record incidents, accidents, and safeguarding concerns in accordance with policies.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and confidentiality requirements.

Teamwork and Professional Practice

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, managers, social workers, families, schools, healthcare professionals, and other agencies.
• Attend team meetings, supervision sessions, and training programmes.

Person Specification
Essential Requirements

• At least 1 years experience working directly with children or young people in a care, education, youth work, within the last 3 years
• Good understanding of safeguarding children and young people
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Flexible approach to working shifts, including sleep-ins and weekends.
• Enhanced DBS check suitable for working with children.

Skills and Competencies

• Empathy and compassion.
• Resilience and emotional intelligence.
• Excellent observation and recording skills.
• Ability to motivate and encourage young people.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Professionalism and integrity.

Salary and Benefits

• -13.00 - -15.00 per hour
• Sleep-in allowance and overtime opportunities.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Pension scheme.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Career progression opportunities.
• Annual leave entitlement in accordance with company policy.