All About the Role

We are seeking compassionate, resilient, and committed individuals to join our team as Residential Workers in a Secure Children's Home. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people by providing direct care, guidance, and positive adult role modelling.

You will act in a professional and parental capacity (loco parentis), working closely with each young person, their family, and the local authority to ensure they consistently maximise their potential.

As a key worker, you'll provide advocacy, emotional support, and practical assistance such as shopping, attending health appointments, and facilitating key work sessions. You'll build constructive relationships and model positive behaviours to support life skills and independence, while working in line with all relevant policies, procedures, and legislation.

You'll be responsible for maintaining accurate records, responding to telephone calls, and escalating concerns appropriately. You'll also contribute to care planning, risk assessments, and reports that support each child's development. Engaging young people in purposeful activities, supporting new staff through induction, and occasionally coordinating aspects of the home's daily operations are also part of the role. Sleep-in duties are required as part of the rota.

Please note this is a rolling advert. We have multiple posts available and once filled we will close the role.

🔹 All About You

We're looking for individuals with experience working with children or young people in residential or care settings (preferred), and a strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed care, and child development. You should be an excellent communicator who can build trust and remain calm under pressure, with a commitment to professional development and reflective practice.

Flexibility is key, as the role involves working shifts, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.

🔹 All About Our Team

Clare Lodge is proud to have a dedicated, multidisciplinary team committed to supporting young people with complex needs in a secure, all-female environment. Our care team includes experienced residential workers, qualified social workers, health professionals, and education specialists who work collaboratively to provide a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to care.

Staff at Clare Lodge are skilled in building meaningful relationships with young people, often supporting those who have experienced multiple placement breakdowns or who may initially struggle to engage. The team is passionate about creating a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where every young person is given the opportunity to thrive.

We value empathy, resilience, and professionalism, and we support our staff with comprehensive training, supervision, and development opportunities. Whether you're new to residential care or bring years of experience, you'll be joining a team that is committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.

🔹 Could This Be You?

Before you apply, ask yourself:

• Do you have the compassion and resilience to support young people through challenging circumstances?
• Can you act as a positive role model and advocate for vulnerable children in your care?
• Are you confident in building trusting relationships and working collaboratively with families and professionals?
• Are you ready to take on a role that requires emotional intelligence, adaptability, and a commitment to safeguarding?
• Do you want to be part of a team that makes a lasting difference in the lives of young people?

If you answered yes, we'd love to hear from you.

🔹 All About Our Benefits

We offer a generous annual leave package starting at 25 days plus bank holidays, sick pay, and access to the local government pension scheme. Additional benefits include:

• Access to Vivup for in-store and online discounts, Cycle to Work, and Home & Electronics schemes
• Option to buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Car lease scheme and flexible bank holiday arrangements
• Shared Cost AVCs for pension contributions with tax and NI savings
• Development opportunities including apprenticeships
• Paid volunteering hours each year
• Access to our equality, diversity, and inclusion network
• Employee Recognition Awards

🔹 All About Our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact pccrecruitment@peterborough.gov.uk and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Appointment to this post will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.