Support worker helping child to read in a residential setting

Why the East Midlands?

Residential childcare in the East Midlands is growing and evolving, with increasing demand for skilled, compassionate staff. The diverse mix of communities- cities, towns, and rural areas, are united by the shared goal of supporting children and young people who need stability and care. This is your chance to join a forward-thinking network of professionals who are shaping care standards across the region.

The total package

When you combine salary, additional payments, leave, pension, training, and support, working for a local authority in the East Midlands offers a rewarding, financially competitive, and professionally fulfilling career. You earn a fair, predictable salary while gaining benefits, security, and opportunities you won’t always find in the private sector. This is more than a job. It’s a career that values you, develops you, and lets you make a lasting impact.

Find Your Place in the East Midlands

Children's residential social care teams are based across the whole of the East Midlands, offering a wide range of opportunities no matter where you live or where you hope to build your career. Explore the opportunities in each local authority below.

Derby City Council want the best for Derby and its diverse communities, and our vision is for a proud, successful and ambitious Derby. Our values are that we are bold, we are strong, we care and we are one team. Our vision is that we will get the best out of each other, we value and trust each other and are driven to make a positive difference every day. Working in Children's Residential Care is no ordinary job, it's an extraordinary opportunity to make a positive difference to a young person by helping them to build a brighter future!

"Working for Derbyshire means serving the community I live in and care deeply about. I started my career in residential childcare as a zero‑hours worker, and I’ve grown all the way to Head of Service — something I could only achieve because Derbyshire genuinely invests in its people. Having worked across three different local authorities, I’ve chosen to build my future here because Derbyshire offers exceptional wellbeing support, real progression pathways, and a strong commitment to developing its workforce. There is a true sense of purpose in supporting the families I’m connected to, and Derbyshire’s culture of nurturing talent means you feel valued, supported, and able to thrive."

Working in children’s residential care in Leicester City means being part of a vibrant, diverse and ambitious community where every child’s story matters. Leicester is one of the most culturally rich cities in the UK, and our homes reflect that — places where young people feel respected, understood and proud of who they are.

Our residential teams focus on building trusting relationships and creating stability for children who may have experienced uncertainty. Every day is about helping young people feel safe, develop confidence and believe in their future. Staff work alongside education, health and therapeutic professionals so children receive consistent, joined-up support tailored to their individual needs.

Leicester City Council invests in its workforce. You will receive high-quality training, regular supervision and clear progression opportunities, whether you’re beginning your career or developing into a specialist or leadership role. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a supportive team that recognises the emotional impact of the work and makes sure you are cared for as well as the young people you support.

If you want a role where relationships come first and every small step forward matters, Leicester offers the opportunity to make a real and lasting difference.

Barnardo's and Leicester County Council are in an exciting Strategic Partnership which has led to a redesign of the residential offer for children and young people. This has enabled us to jointly open seven children homes so far with an eight one waiting for its Ofsted registration. The homes are based on innovative therapeutically led models and offer different specialisms in beautiful, homely environments. Joint collaborative working enables workers to benefit from both local authority and charitable resources such as training opportunities.

If you're looking for a career where your compassion and purpose truly shine, Lincolnshire’s children’s homes offer an opportunity to make a real and lasting impact. Here, you’ll join warm, supportive teams dedicated to helping children feel safe, loved, and nurtured while preparing them for confident, successful adult lives. Every day you’ll play a part in helping young people build independence and hope for their future, supporting them to live with us or return move to a family environment, never losing sight of the love and connection that shape who they are.

And as you help our children grow, you’ll grow too. Lincolnshire is committed to your development, offering clear pathways for career progression and personal and professional fulfilment. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance into leadership, you’ll be supported to achieve your goals through high quality training, reflective supervision, and opportunities to specialise and aspire. This is a place where both staff and children are encouraged to dream bigger, aim higher, and thrive in a culture that celebrates dedication, passion, and potential.

Residential childcare in Northamptonshire is about creating homes where children experience belonging, stability and genuine care. Our services focus on smaller, nurturing environments where young people can build secure relationships and rediscover trust in adults.

Staff work as part of close-knit teams supported by experienced managers, therapeutic services and multi-agency partners. The aim is simple: help children understand themselves, build resilience and achieve the everyday successes that many take for granted — attending school, forming friendships and feeling proud of who they are becoming.

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is committed to developing its people. You will receive structured training, recognised qualifications and a clear pathway for career progression. Supportive supervision and wellbeing resources ensure you never feel you are doing the job alone.

This is a career where patience, empathy and consistency change lives. If you want to see real progress in young people and grow professionally in a service that values your contribution, Northamptonshire offers the support and purpose to help you succeed.

In our children’s homes, we are proud to be recognised for delivering consistently good and often outstanding care, creating a warm, stable, and nurturing environment where young people truly thrive. Our dedicated team is at the heart of this success, bringing compassion, resilience, and a commitment to making every day better for the children we support.

Nottingham City Council offers a strong benefits package with generous annual leave, the option to buy additional leave, and a full range of family‑friendly entitlements, including maternity, adoption, paternity, parental and fostering leave. Employees benefit from an 18.5% contributory Local Government Pension Scheme, travel and cycle‑to‑work schemes, fee‑free credit union membership and wide‑ranging discounts. Wellbeing support includes occupational health, an Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing resources, eye tests and discounted leisure facilities, alongside comprehensive learning and development opportunities.

We invest in our staff, value their voices, and celebrate their achievements. If you’re passionate about transforming young lives and want to be part of a home that genuinely puts children first, we would love to hear from you.

Choosing to work in a children’s home ran by Nottinghamshire County Council means becoming part of a service that genuinely cares about its young people and its staff. Nottinghamshire County Council offers a diverse range of settings, including mainstream residential homes, specialist disability homes and a secure children’s home. The focus across all Nottinghamshire homes is on creating safe, nurturing and homely environments where children feel valued, listened to and supported to thrive. Staff build strong, consistent relationships with young people, helping them understand their emotions, develop resilience and achieve in education and daily life.

Just as importantly, Nottinghamshire County Council invests in its people. You’re not simply stepping into a job, you’re joining a supportive team with clear expectations, strong leadership and real opportunities to grow. Comprehensive training, recognised qualifications and a structured career pathway mean you can build long-term skills and progress into senior or specialist roles over time. If you’re looking for a role where you can be a positive role model, build meaningful relationships and see genuine change in young people’s lives, Nottinghamshire offers the environment, support and ambition to help you do exactly that.

Working in Rutland offers a unique opportunity to provide highly personalised care in England’s smallest county. Our homes benefit from strong community connections, allowing young people to feel part of local life rather than separate from it.

Because services are smaller, staff can build meaningful, consistent relationships with children and truly understand their individual needs, interests and goals. The focus is on creating calm, stable homes where young people feel safe, listened to and encouraged to achieve independence at their own pace.

Rutland County Council places great importance on supporting staff wellbeing and development. You will work within a supportive team where your ideas are heard, your achievements recognised and your professional growth encouraged through training and supervision.

If you value relationship-based practice, community connection and the chance to see the direct impact of your care every day, Rutland provides a rewarding environment to build a career while helping young people build confidence and brighter futures.