Residential Support Worker

Job Introduction At Wilderness, we provide a unique approach to residential care, health, and education. We form a specialist therapeutic team around our children. We can offer you more than ‘just a job’, the positive outcomes that you will achieve will stay with you for a lifetime.

We have opportunities available for experienced support workers and passionate individuals who are looking for a new career in Residential Child Care.

**Your role during a child’s time with us,**
- With the support of your team, you will create safe spaces for our children so that they can learn, develop, and flourish
- Your priority will be to safeguard our children from risk and harm, ensuring that they receive an outstanding level of care during their time with us
- As well as providing emotional support, you will create routines that include, outdoor activities, cooking, writing, music, games, and relaxation at home
- You will drive our children to activities and appointments, encouraging them to take part in exciting new challenges
- You will be supported by a team of care professionals, including outdoor education specialists, psychology experts, and a dedicated Training Academy who focus on your development at Wilderness
- This role offers you a work life balance where you will work on a rota pattern of 2 days on, and 4 days off, including sleep overs

**What we offer you,**
- ** Overall Expected Earnings**: £28,974 - £31,276 per annum
- ** Basic Salary**: £25,014 to £27,316 per annum, pro rata, depending upon your experience
- ** Sleepover Allowance**: Equating to £3900 per annum, for approx. 10/11 sleeps per month
- ** Shift Pattern**: You will work condensed shifts of two days on, and 4 days off with one additional day per month, on average.
- ** Holiday**: 5.6 weeks annual leave per annum
- ** Additional leave**: at 2 years and 5 years’ service
- ** Training Academy**:An in-depth induction, six-month welcome program, and fully funded enrolment on our Highfield Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
- ** Bonuses**: You will be rewarded £1000 every time you successfully refer a friend
- ** Pension**: Auto enrolment into our Company pension
- ** Recognition Awards**: Our monthly Wilderness Heroes Awards celebrate your success
- ** Your Wellbeing**: Excellent health and wellbeing benefits via Medicash, including an employee assistance programme; a cash back healthcare plan that offers discounts on optical, dental, and a range of complimentary therapies; 24/7 access to a virtual GP, and other lifestyle apps to support your wellbeing; discounted gym memberships
- ** Life Assurance**:of 2 times annual salary
- ** Discounts**: A range of discount schemes with access to savings on high street brands, restaurants, cinemas, and other leisure outlets, including local businesses following feedback from our employees

**Why choose a career with Wilderness?**
- Wilderness is one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of residential care for children who have suffered trauma and adversity
- We foster an environment of continuous development by ensuring that you are supported to achieve industry recognised qualifications
- We provide compassionate, nurturing care for children who have complex needs, supporting them to move from a difficult past to a brighter future
- We have a relentless commitment to providing outstanding care for every child we look after
- We value respect and adaptability, we have fun, and we enjoy working collaboratively meaning that together we make a real difference to the lives of the children we look after
- Celebrating the smallest of achievements at Wilderness, helps us accomplish bigger outcomes for our people and communities
- We foster an environment of continuous development by ensuring that you are supported to achieve industry recognised qualifications

**Key qualities that we look for,**
- Ideally you will have experience of working with children or young people, including roles in youth work, healthcare, education, or childcare
- A responsible attitude towards safeguarding children
- You will share our company values of Collaboration, Adaptation, Respect, and Empathy.
- Patient and resilient when faced with challenging situations
- Creative skills when planning new activities and motivating others
- Excellent communication skills
- Proficient skills in IT and record keeping
- A full, valid, UK driving licence for manual vehicles.

**Pathways for progression when you join Wilderness,**At Wilderness many of our colleagues have progressed their careers and gained promotion or experience in different roles. Upon gaining relevant experience and qualifications as an RSW you will have a variety of career opportunities available to you. Some of these include,
- Senior Residential Support Worker - you will mentor teams and take a lead role in caring for our children.
- You may wish to follow a career path in our Multi-Disciplinary Team, including roles in our outdoor team; education, th