Senior Therapeutic Support Worker - Children's Residential

Role: Children's Residential Senior Support Worker
Location: Kettering and Desborough area
Pay: £15.00–£16.50 per hour
Hours: Up to 46.5 hours per week (overtime available)
Rota: Three-week rolling rota, including evenings and weekends
Sleep-ins: Up to 8 per month, paid at £60 each

About Heart and Home Living

Heart & Home Living provides specialist residential care for children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). Our trauma-informed, child-centred approach ensures every child feels safe, valued and empowered to grow. We focus on delivering high-quality care, personalised education and life-skills development tailored to each young person's individual needs, helping them build a brighter future.

The Role

As a Senior Support Worker, you'll support the Manager and Deputy Manager in leading and running the home. You'll supervise and guide support workers to ensure consistent, high-quality care and a nurturing environment. You'll build meaningful, trusting relationships with young people, offering emotional and practical support through their challenges, empowering them to grow in confidence, develop independence and feel a strong sense of belonging. This is a deeply rewarding opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children and young people.

What We Are Looking For

We need someone confident in guiding a team and stepping up when needed, with a strong commitment to safeguarding and supporting emotional and developmental needs. You should be calm, compassionate and confident in managing challenging behaviours, able to work collaboratively with colleagues, professionals and families, and passionate about helping young people thrive and achieve their potential.

Qualifications and Requirements

You will hold a Level 3 in Health and Social Care (Children and Young Adults) or equivalent, or be willing to work towards it. You should have a working understanding of current legislation and regulatory frameworks relevant to residential childcare, plus a commitment to ongoing professional development, including training, supervision and reflective practice.

Role Suitability Checklist

To meet the physical and practical demands of the role, you must be able to safely perform physical interventions and restraints (once trained), walk long distances during outings and community activities, carry heavy provisions or equipment for trips, get down to floor level to engage in play or therapeutic activities, work flexible shifts including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins, and hold a full UK driving licence.

Perks and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary with a quarterly performance bonus (when the home is at full occupancy), a £500 retention bonus after 12 months, a £300 "Recommend a Colleague" bonus, and a £2.00 per hour overtime enhancement. You'll also benefit from a comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programme, employee mentoring and professional development, casual dress, company events, a company pension, a cycle-to-work scheme and a supportive, inclusive work environment.

Important Information

Successful completion of the 'Proactive Approaches' training course within the first 3 months is required. All offers are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references within a reasonable timescale. The role involves regulated activity and it is an offence for barred individuals to apply. We reserve the right to close this advert early if sufficient applications are received, so early applications are encouraged.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits include:

• Casual dress,
• Company events,
• Company pension,
• Cycle-to-work scheme,
• Discounted or free food,
• Health & wellbeing programme,
• Referral programme and store discount.

Application Question

This role requires you to meet specific physical and practical demands, including performing physical interventions and restraints (once trained), walking long distances, carrying heavy provisions or equipment, getting down to floor level for play or therapeutic activities, working flexible shifts including sleep-ins, and holding a full UK driving licence. Can you confirm that you are able to meet all of these requirements? Answer: Yes (I confirm I can meet all the above) or No (please explain).

Work Location: In person