Residential Worker - Working for Essex

About the role

Residential Worker

Permanent, Full Time

£27,935 - £35,344 per annum (including allowance)

Location: Basildon

Interview Dates: week commencing 13th October 2025

“If you have the ability to be patient, to be kind and to be there for any young person, then you can definitely do the job” – Cerys, Residential Worker.

Join our brand-new children’s homes to help shape and empower brighter futures for our young people.

Are you looking to work in a brand-new children’s home that makes a positive, lasting difference to children’s lives? Are you compassionate, empathetic and resilient? If so, this opportunity could be perfect for you to start your career within the children and family sector!

We are looking for a team of compassionate and patient Residential Workers to make a difference to the lives of local children and families who experience difficulties and inequalities.

Hear more about the rewarding role of a Residential Worker here

Role Overview:

The role will be based across our brand-new Basildon sites - where you'll help create safe, nurturing environments for young people aged 11–17 who have experienced trauma.

The Residential Worker will effectively contribute to looking after and working with young people and families directly to ensure the delivery of good quality care. The role requires you to be empathetic and resilient to ensure our young people feel safe and protected.

In return, you'll be part of a team of passionate, like-minded professionals, supported by an encouraging and approachable management team. You'll also benefit from access to high-quality training and development opportunities, helping you grow and advance your career within the child and family sector.

What You’ll Get

37-hour working week + potential overtime opportunities
26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy more
Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
Essex Rewards – discounts at hundreds of retailers
Lifeworks Health & Wellbeing Platform
2 paid volunteering days (individual) + 2 team volunteering days annually
Ongoing learning and development to support your career journey

What You’ll Do

This role calls for a compassionate, resilient, and dedicated individual who can make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.

Directly support children and young peoplewithin a residential home, ensuring all regulatory requirements and codes of practice are consistently met.
Contribute to care planning, helping assess individual needs and develop clear, actionable placement plans that are regularly reviewed and updated.
Facilitate positive family contact, supporting young people in maintaining healthy relationships and preparing for adulthood.
Empower young peopleto make informed decisions about their lives, encouraging independence and self-confidence.
Collaborate with the management teamto maintain a healthy, safe, and supportive living environment that promotes independence.
Support access to education and personal interests, helping young people grow, learn, and prepare for a successful transition into adulthood.
Contribute to the operational effectivenessof the residential home, including monitoring care standards and occasionally leading shifts.
Work towards individual and shared objectives, reviewed annually as part of the performance management framework.

What We’re Looking For

Previous experience of working in a children’s home would be desirable however there are many skills that you might have that would make you suitable for the role:

Essential skills:

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete within 2 years – fully funded) or equivalent by experience
Strong communication and listening skills and the ability to engage with others effectively and at all levels.

Desirable skills:

Evidence of working with young people to explore their behaviours and develop an understanding of their individual needs.
Evidence of an awareness of child protection issues.
Understands and demonstrates the ability to promote people’s equality, diversity and rights alongside experience of being able to protect children from abuse.
Experience of contributing to the development, provision and review of Placement, and other care management plans, with evidence of the ability to encourage young people to develop and maintain a positive sense of identity

You will work an average 37 hours a week with shift times being 7.00am – 2.30pm or 2.00pm – 9.30pm and you will have every other weekend off.

The salary offered is made up of a basic salary £25,395 up to £32,131 per annum, plus a guaranteed 10% allowance per annum, paid monthly, alongside the basic salary.

Due to nature of this role any applicants need to be at least 21 years old to undertake this post.

If shortlisted the interview process will be a video interview, followed by a face-to-face interview at the home.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re ready to bring your skills, compassion, and energy to a team that’s changing lives, we’d love to hear from you.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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