The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 12 weeks with a possible extension.
Full job description
Senior Residential Support Worker – London Borough of Waltham Forest
Hours: Full-time (36 hours per week)
Contract: 12-week temporary contract from 30 November 2026 to 21 February 2027
Support Young People Through Safe, Consistent and High-Quality Residential Care
We're recruiting an experienced Senior Residential Support Worker to join the London Borough of Waltham Forest, based at Mapleton Road, London, E4 6XL.
This is a frontline residential care role supporting children and young people who require safe, stable and nurturing accommodation. You'll provide day-to-day support, help maintain consistent routines, promote positive behaviour and contribute to safeguarding and care planning.
As a senior member of the team, you'll also support colleagues, provide guidance during shifts and help ensure high standards of care are maintained at all times.
About the Role
As a Senior Residential Support Worker, you'll work directly with children and young people within a residential setting, helping them feel safe, supported and listened to.
You'll contribute to care plans, risk assessments and key-work sessions while helping young people develop confidence, independence and practical life skills.
What you'll be doing:
- Providing high-quality residential support to children and young people
- Maintaining a safe, stable and nurturing environment
- Supporting young people with daily routines and practical tasks
- Building positive and professional relationships with young people
- Supporting emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour
- Acting as a key worker for allocated young people where required
- Contributing to individual care plans and placement plans
- Supporting safeguarding and child-protection procedures
- Monitoring and recording young people's progress, behaviour and wellbeing
- Completing accurate daily records, incident reports and handover notes
- Supporting young people with education, appointments and community activities
- Helping young people develop independent living and life skills
- Responding appropriately to challenging behaviour and crisis situations
- Following risk assessments, behaviour plans and safeguarding procedures
- Supporting and guiding less experienced residential staff
- Helping coordinate shifts and daily activities
- Working closely with social workers, families and other professionals
- Participating in meetings, reviews and professional discussions
- Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality
- Ensuring Council policies, procedures and residential care standards are followed
Requirements
We're looking for a confident and experienced residential care professional with strong safeguarding awareness and the ability to support young people with complex needs.
You'll ideally have:
- Previous experience working in residential childcare or a similar care setting
- Experience supporting children or young people with complex needs
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding and child protection
- Experience managing challenging behaviour
- Ability to remain calm and professional in difficult situations
- Experience contributing to care plans, risk assessments and case records
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Experience providing guidance or support to junior colleagues
- Good written recording and report-writing skills
- Ability to work flexibly across a residential rota
- A relevant Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare, Children & Young People or equivalent would be advantageous
- Previous local authority residential care experience would be desirable
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide relevant references/work history
- Ability to complete an enhanced DBS and other required safeguarding checks
Why Apply
- Opportunity to work with the London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Competitive Umbrella rate of £25.96 per hour
- Full-time 36-hour working week
- Meaningful frontline role supporting children and young people
- Opportunity to take on senior responsibilities within a residential setting
- Chance to develop further local authority residential care experience
- 12-week temporary assignment
- Work within an established children's residential service
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Job Title: Senior Residential Support Worker
Location: Mapleton Road, London, Greater London, E4 6XL
Positions Available: 1
Hours: 36 hours per week
Start Date: 30 November 2026
End Date: 21 February 2027
Contract Duration: 12 weeks
Contract Type: Temporary
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £25.96 per hour
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Pay: £25.96 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you have previous experience working in residential childcare or a similar residential care environment?
- Do you have experience supporting children or young people with complex needs or challenging behaviour?
- Are you confident with safeguarding, risk assessment and incident reporting?
- Have you previously supported or supervised other residential care staff?
- Are you able to reliably travel to Mapleton Road, London, E4 6XL?
- Are you available to start from 30 November 2026?
Experience:
- Residential Childcare / Support Work: 2 years (required)
- Children & Young People: 2 years (required)
- Senior / Shift Leadership: 1 year (preferred)
- Local Authority Residential Care: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Level 3 Residential Childcare / Children & Young People qualification (preferred)
- Enhanced DBS (required or ability to obtain)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR120965-11-26
