Residential Support Worker

Job Introduction
**Residential Support Worker - Childrens Residential**
**£28,974 - £31,276** At Wilderness, we offer specialist care to children who have experienced trauma and exploitation. Our unique approach combines robust safeguarding with therapeutic care which focuses on building strong relationships and promoting the child’s wellbeing.This role is much more than ‘just a job’. It is an opportunity to use your skills to change the course of children’s lives and to make memories that will last a lifetime.We are looking for people to join us who have the ability to engage, inspire, and form life-changing connections with our children.
**Your role**:

- Safeguarding children from risk and harm and providing a safe, nurturing environment in which they can learn, develop and flourish.
- As the child’s primary caregiver, acting as a role model and teacher, and caring for them with Patience, Acceptance, Positivity and Empathy.
- Building trusting relationships with children and providing emotional support and encouragement.
- Delivering care which successfully promotes children’s enjoyment and achievement, education, wellbeing, safety, education, views, wishes and feelings and positive relationships.
- Establishing routines and providing activities and opportunities, both inside and outside the home, which promote the child’s interests, health and wellbeing.

**What we offer you**:

- Support from a team of professionals, including teachers, outdoor education specialists, clinicians and therapists.
- A sector-leading Learning Academy which focuses on your career development and supports you to attain a professional qualification in residential childcare.
- A rota pattern of 2 days on and 4 days off, including sleep overs, offering an excellent work-life balance.
- Competitive salary with annual expected earnings of £28,974 - £31276 per annum depending upon experience, including sleepover allowance.
- Company pension, Life Assurance, ‘Refer a friend’ bonus, and a company recognition programme.
- Excellent health and wellbeing benefits via Medicash and a range of discount schemes.

**Why choose a career with Wilderness?**A career in residential childcare at A Wilderness Way is one of the most rewarding roles there is. Caring for our children means going on a life-changing journey with them. With our encouragement, skills, love and support, we witness them grow in confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem and achieve things they never thought possible. The pride we feel when we see the children flourish and transform is truly life-affirming.At Wilderness our teams become much more than co-workers; we become family. We are there for each other when things get tough, we support each other’s ideas and initiatives, and we celebrate each other’s achievements. Our empathy and compassion are what define us, both as carers and as colleagues. We set high expectations for our children and for ourselves and we work together as a team with purpose, trust and humility to achieve our goal of providing outstanding care which transforms children’s lives.
**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.
- You will have a passion for supporting and inspiring children and a commitment to delivering exceptional care.
- You will share our company values of Collaboration, Adaptation, Respect, and Empathy.
- You will be patient, creative and dynamic and you will be able to form connections with children that motivate and inspire them.

**Career Progression**We are committed to supporting our colleagues to progress their careers at Wilderness and we have developed a bespoke Learning Academy which is dedicated to this purpose. Once you have gained experience and qualifications as an RSW there are a variety of career opportunities available to you, including becoming Senior Residential Support Worker and Assistant Manager. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue a career within our Multi-Disciplinary Team of clinicians, tutors and outdoor practitioners, or to join our commissioners or our Learning and Development team.