Childrens Home Residential Care Worker, Calderdale

Do you have the compassion, resilience and heart to support vulnerable children to thrive?

Role: Residential Care Worker, Children’s Home

Location: Calderdale

Full-time, all year round

Immediate start

Temp to perm

Engage Education is proud to be working with a highly regarded specialist residential children’s service to recruit compassionate and resilient Residential Care Workers.

This is far more than a care role. It’s an opportunity to become a consistent, trusted adult in a child’s life and help shape brighter futures for young people who have experienced significant challenges and adversity.

The home supports children and young people aged 5-17 with complex social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, autism, ADHD, attachment difficulties, trauma and other additional needs. Through a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach, the team creates a safe, nurturing environment where children can develop confidence, resilience and a genuine sense of belonging.

About the Role

As a Residential Care Worker, you will play a vital role in providing therapeutic care and emotional support within a family-style residential setting. You’ll help children with their daily routines, celebrate achievements, support them through challenges and create positive experiences that help them build trust and confidence.

Working within a trauma-informed framework and guided by therapeutic principles such as PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy), you’ll focus on building strong, meaningful relationships that help children feel understood, safe and valued.

No two days are the same. One day you could be supporting a young person to attend an appointment, helping with homework, cooking a meal together or taking part in activities that build life skills and confidence. The next, you may be helping a child regulate their emotions, achieve a personal goal or create positive memories that will stay with them for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality therapeutic care and support to children and young people.
• Build positive, trusting relationships that promote emotional wellbeing and stability.
• Support children with daily living skills, routines and personal development.
• Act as a positive role model and advocate for children’s voices, rights and aspirations.
• Encourage independence, resilience, self-esteem and emotional literacy.
• Work collaboratively with families, schools, social workers and external professionals.
• Maintain accurate records, reports and safeguarding documentation.
• Support children to engage in recreational, educational and community activities.
• Follow individual care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in people who genuinely care and want to make a difference.

You may already have experience in:

• Residential childcare
• Children’s services
• Education or specialist schools
• Youth work
• Social care
• Mental health support
• Support work
• Foster care or family support services

Or you may be looking to start a rewarding career working with vulnerable young people.

Successful candidates will be:

• Compassionate, patient and emotionally resilient.
• Able to remain calm in challenging situations.
• Passionate about supporting children who have experienced trauma.
• Skilled at building positive relationships and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Flexible and able to work shifts, evenings, weekends and sleep-ins.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting positive outcomes for children.
• Hold a full UK driving licence.

Why Apply?

• Join a highly supportive and therapeutic residential service.
• Extensive training and professional development opportunities.
• Ongoing reflective supervision and career progression pathways.
• Work within a trauma-informed organisation that invests heavily in staff development.
• Be part of a team that genuinely changes lives every day.
• Access to a comprehensive wellbeing package and employee benefits programme.
• Opportunity to develop specialist skills in SEMH, trauma-informed practice and therapeutic care.

The Difference You’ll Make

Many of the children supported by this service have experienced disrupted education, trauma, loss or significant challenges in their lives. Your consistency, encouragement and care could be the reason a child begins to trust again, achieves something they never thought possible, or finally feels that they belong.

If you’re looking for a career where you can make a lasting impact every single day, we’d love to hear from you.

Safeguarding

This role is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references and safer recruitment checks. The employer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Apply today and help transform young lives through care, compassion and positive relationships.