Residential Support Worker
| Posting date: | 05 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,598 to £31,022 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 14 December 2025 |
| Location: | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Leicester City Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | REQ6628 |
Summary
Playing a vital role in improving the lives of young people in Leicester.
No two days are the same for a Residential Support Worker in one of our children’s homes. For example, today you could be helping cook the tea, finishing a report and helping with homework. Then playing games in the garden. But tomorrow you may attend meetings, addressing challenging behaviour (this can include verbal and physical aggression) and helping a young person stay in touch with their family and friends.
Using life skills, you’ll have the opportunity to make a huge difference within a young person’s life. Helping them to overcome any difficulties or disadvantages they may face and supporting them to strengthen their future.
Forming bonds with a variety of children and young people, some of whom may require higher levels of supervision and support. This is a highly rewarding role that can be challenging at times, you will need to be compassionate, self-motivated, and really want to make a difference.
Supporting all our young people to have their voice heard in all aspects of their lives. You’ll actively encourage them to connect with the communities around them, whilst helping them to develop their independence. Working jointly with other individuals, agencies, and community resources, you’ll provide a holistic approach to young people and their families.
Our homes
Based at one of our children’s homes in the suburbs of the city, you’ll work in a team of 20 to 30 staff offering care, guidance and support to children and young people who are in the care of the Local Authority. We are a growing service and are expanding from 7 to 8 homes over the next year and we are looking for staff to support us with both our current homes and our upcoming projects.
Working hours
A typical working week would involve working 5 days out of 7. You will generally work two weekends in a row and have the third weekend off. You will work a combination of early shifts starting at 7am or 8am and finishing at 3pm and late shifts starting at 2pm and working until 10pm or 11pm. You will also be expected to undertake sleeping in duties on a regular basis. We will need you to be fully flexible and able to adapt to the needs of our service but sticking within the above requirements. Children’s homes are open all year round so you will be expected to work some bank holidays but not all of them!
What we can offer you
We prioritise learning, career development and wellbeing across our workforce. With full mandatory training and opportunities to be trained on Signs of Safety/Success, the Secure Base Model and Lundy Model of Participation. We also offer the apprenticeship programme to achieve the Level 4 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
You can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. With generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. We offer career progression from Residential Support Worker to Residential Practitioner and then into management if you are full of ambition!
A diverse and inclusive employer
We serve a vibrant, multicultural city and we’re committed to representing the full range of Leicester’s diversity across the council. Why? Because we want to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and confident in being themselves. And by embracing different viewpoints and opinions, we can generate the innovative new ideas and opportunities that will drive our city forward. That’s why diversity, equality and inclusion are part of everything we do.
Under the Equality Act 2010, you must be aged 21 and over and upon being offered a post, we will do an enhanced DBS check, qualifications check and reference checks.
Please note that Leicester City Council is unable to offer candidates visa sponsorship. So, if you are seeking this, we will not be able to progress your application.
No two days are the same for a Residential Support Worker in one of our children’s homes. For example, today you could be helping cook the tea, finishing a report and helping with homework. Then playing games in the garden. But tomorrow you may attend meetings, addressing challenging behaviour (this can include verbal and physical aggression) and helping a young person stay in touch with their family and friends.
Using life skills, you’ll have the opportunity to make a huge difference within a young person’s life. Helping them to overcome any difficulties or disadvantages they may face and supporting them to strengthen their future.
Forming bonds with a variety of children and young people, some of whom may require higher levels of supervision and support. This is a highly rewarding role that can be challenging at times, you will need to be compassionate, self-motivated, and really want to make a difference.
Supporting all our young people to have their voice heard in all aspects of their lives. You’ll actively encourage them to connect with the communities around them, whilst helping them to develop their independence. Working jointly with other individuals, agencies, and community resources, you’ll provide a holistic approach to young people and their families.
Our homes
Based at one of our children’s homes in the suburbs of the city, you’ll work in a team of 20 to 30 staff offering care, guidance and support to children and young people who are in the care of the Local Authority. We are a growing service and are expanding from 7 to 8 homes over the next year and we are looking for staff to support us with both our current homes and our upcoming projects.
Working hours
A typical working week would involve working 5 days out of 7. You will generally work two weekends in a row and have the third weekend off. You will work a combination of early shifts starting at 7am or 8am and finishing at 3pm and late shifts starting at 2pm and working until 10pm or 11pm. You will also be expected to undertake sleeping in duties on a regular basis. We will need you to be fully flexible and able to adapt to the needs of our service but sticking within the above requirements. Children’s homes are open all year round so you will be expected to work some bank holidays but not all of them!
What we can offer you
We prioritise learning, career development and wellbeing across our workforce. With full mandatory training and opportunities to be trained on Signs of Safety/Success, the Secure Base Model and Lundy Model of Participation. We also offer the apprenticeship programme to achieve the Level 4 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
You can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. With generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. We offer career progression from Residential Support Worker to Residential Practitioner and then into management if you are full of ambition!
A diverse and inclusive employer
We serve a vibrant, multicultural city and we’re committed to representing the full range of Leicester’s diversity across the council. Why? Because we want to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and confident in being themselves. And by embracing different viewpoints and opinions, we can generate the innovative new ideas and opportunities that will drive our city forward. That’s why diversity, equality and inclusion are part of everything we do.
Under the Equality Act 2010, you must be aged 21 and over and upon being offered a post, we will do an enhanced DBS check, qualifications check and reference checks.
Please note that Leicester City Council is unable to offer candidates visa sponsorship. So, if you are seeking this, we will not be able to progress your application.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.