Senior Residential Support Worker

Senior Residential Support Worker – Compass House

£32,000–£35,000 per annum DOE + £70 per sleep-in | Full-time, permanent | 2 days on, 4 days off

Lead the shift. Stay close to the child.

A Senior at Inkfish isn't an extra layer of management. You're there to make good care more consistent.

You'll lead shifts at Compass House and stay fully part of ordinary life in the home. That means meals, school mornings, difficult evenings, appointments, key work, records, laughter, boundaries and repair. You'll work in a fixed pair with a Residential Support Worker, and when you lead, they should feel supported by you, not managed from a distance.

Why Inkfish is different

Compass House is our first home: small by design, for up to two children. We're building towards two closely located homes with a maximum of four children across them, subject to registration. The aim is to keep each home small while building a strong permanent team around both. That means familiar adults for children, cover for leave and sickness, and far less reliance on agency staff.

Every shift is led by a permanent Senior, Deputy or Registered Manager. Agency staff never lead shifts.

We're backed by our own network of ethical investors who put outcomes for children ahead of shareholder returns.

What you'll be doing

• Leading shifts safely, and taking delegated responsibility when the Deputy or Registered Manager isn't leading

• Building safe, trusting relationships through direct, everyday care

• Modelling trauma-responsive, PACE-based, DDP-informed practice (you're not expected to be a therapist)

• Staying curious about what behaviour may be communicating, while holding clear and predictable boundaries

• Safeguarding children, and recording, reporting and escalating concerns promptly

• Coordinating the shift, allocating tasks and making sure actions are followed through

• Supporting and coaching the RSW alongside you

• Writing high-quality daily records, incident reports and key-work records

• Supporting education, health, family time, identity, independence and community life

• Responding to incidents with the least restrictive approach, and prioritising de-escalation and repair

• Speaking up when something is unsafe or inconsistent with a child's plan, even when that's uncomfortable

What you'll bring

• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England), or an accepted equivalent, held on appointment

• Experience working with children or young people. Children's residential experience is strongly expected.

• Evidence you can organise a shift and make safe decisions under pressure

• Strong safeguarding understanding

• Clear, factual, respectful recording

• The ability to guide, support and challenge colleagues

• Availability for the rota, including weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins

Nice to have: a year or more in a children's home; Senior, Team Leader or shift-lead experience; PACE, DDP or attachment-aware practice; mentoring experience.

How we work: curiosity, regulation, warmth, consistency, courage, reflection, boundaries, humility and repair.

What you get

• £32,000–£35,000 base salary, plus £70 for every sleep-in, paid separately

• Fixed pair on a 2-on/4-off rota

• Structured supervision, reflective practice and training

• A real route to Deputy Manager or specialist practice

• Company pension and free on-site parking

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks: identity, enhanced DBS, references, full employment history with gaps explained, qualification verification and right to work.