More than just a job!
A career in residential childcare isn’t just a job - it's a journey with real opportunities to grow, develop, and build a meaningful future. Whether you are just starting your career or already have experience working in a children's home, there’s a clear path for you to progress, gain qualifications, and shape a career you can be proud of.
Your career, your direction
No matter where you begin, you’ll be supported to develop in a way that fits your strengths, values, and ambitions. With the right mindset and a commitment to making a difference, residential childcare offers a rewarding, long-term career with limitless potential.
Roles and progression routes
Many people begin in entry-level roles such as Residential Support Worker, bringing with them transferable skills, life experience, and the right values. You don't need formal qualifications to get started. You'll receive full training, ongoing support, and the chance to learn on the job.
Starting as a Residential Support Worker, you play a fundamental role in the daily lives of children in care. This position involves providing direct support, implementing care plans and fostering a positive and nurturing environment. You can start this career with no qualifications; however, each authority will enhance your career with a level 3 in Residential Childcare qualification.
With experience, you may progress to a Senior Support Worker role. In this position, you take on additional responsibilities, such as leading shifts, supervising staff and contributing to the overall management of the residential setting. Minimum qualification is a level 3 residential childcare qualification.
Advancing further, you might step into a Team Leader or Deputy Manager role. This position involves overseeing the day-to-day operations of a residential home, coordinating staff and playing a key role in decision making. Minimum L3 residential childcare qualification with the potential to obtain L5 in Residential Childcare Management.
Aspire to lead an entire residential facility? The role of a Registered Manager could be your next step. This position involves taking overall responsibility for the home, ensuring it meets regulatory standards and managing a team of staff. L5 in Residential Childcare Management is required.
Moving into more senior leadership positions, you might consider roles such as Service Manager or Director. In these positions, you contribute to strategic planning, policy development and the broader direction of residential services.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Just like every child has their own unique story, so do the people that support them. We need people from all walks of life to help create an environment where every child feels valued, respected and supported in their unique identity and background.
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of race, gender, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability. We believe in creating an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and respected.
Benefits and Rewards
Choosing a career in residential childcare means choosing a role that is emotionally rewarding, professionally supported, and full of opportunities to grow. Whilst the work can be challenging, the rewards are significant.
Residential Support Workers can earn up to £31,000, with additional payments for unsociable hours and any sleep-in duties you undertake. Exact salaries vary between local authorities, but all roles offer clear and consistent pay structures.
Your salary will increase each year in line with local authority pay scales, giving you predictable progression and financial stability.
We offer one of the best annual leave schemes, 25–33 days plus bank holidays, and you can also purchase extra leave if you need that long-deserved break or you have a special occasion that requires more time. Either way, your well-being is important to us, and we encourage that work–life balance.
Each local authority in the East Midlands has its own shift patterns and hours of work. While the exact structure may differ, all roles are designed to ensure two things: the children receive consistent, high-quality care, and you have a healthy, predictable work-life balance.
We care about your future, and one of our great features is our pensions, offering up to 18.5%, which is more than double what the average employer offers. This will be different in each local authority.
We invest in you. From fully funded qualifications like the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare to leadership training and CPD opportunities, you’ll have everything you need to grow your career. You will also be given a comprehensive induction, ensuring you feel confident and supported from day one.
Few careers offer the chance to change a young person’s life in such a direct and meaningful way. You’ll be part of a team helping children build trust, develop new skills, and create positive futures. Every conversation, every small success, and every connection matters and you’ll see the difference you make.
We offer so many more perks, such as free or discounted car parking, discount travel, employee discount perks for shops and the cinema, cycle scheme and much more.