Residential Childcare Worker

To apply click on the ‘Apply for this job’.

Job Title: Residential Childcare Worker

Location: Standlake
Oxford.

Salary: £29,180-£35,732.

Sleep-in allowance: Up to £4,000 a year.

Job type: Permanent, full-time.

About the role:

We’re looking for Residential Childcare Workers to join our ever-growing team here at the Mulberry Bush. You'll be a role model and mentor, a gaming buddy and swimming chaperone, as you play a key part in the support system for children who have experienced significant trauma. Whether you’re cooking with the children, taking them on cinema trips, or getting hands-on with arts and crafts, you'll be the hero in their story as you help them build healthy relationships and discover the benefits of education. It can be tough, it can be challenging, but it's always incredibly rewarding.

We'll look to you to:

• Provide practical day to day care of children within the household, e.g. getting the children ready for school, mealtime activities, getting children ready for bed.
  


• Plan and provide child-centred cultural, physical, play and recreational activities.


• Think creatively about – and contribute to – effective care planning.


• Provide appropriate therapeutic relationships with the children.


• Develop your understanding of therapeutic childcare practice.


• Monitor the care and treatment of your assigned children within the household.

Shift Patterns:

• Shift patterns are usually set a term in advance.


• Shifts include 40 hours a week over a 7-day period, between the hours of 8am-10pm.


• You’ll be required to participate in the sleep-in rota, which could involve 1-2 sleep-ins per week, including weekends.


• Sleep-ins take place from 10pm-8am. These hours are separate from your 40 hours and are paid on top of your salary.


• The number of sleep-ins are not set and will be subject to change based on staff availability.

We'll care for you too:

You're not just part of a team, you're part of our family. Support echoes through every part of our community, and your colleagues are always here to lend a hand or share a smile. We also offer the following benefits to make your journey with us even more rewarding:

• Sleep-in allowances which means you could earn up to £4k more annually.


• Paid overtime (based on operational requirements).


• A salary above sector average.


• 50 days’ holiday each year.


• A comprehensive range of informal and formal wellbeing support.


• Employer contribution pension of 6%.


• Enhanced parental leave benefits.


• Subsidised meals.

What’s more, we’re deeply invested in your professional growth and development. As part of your role, you’ll have the opportunity to complete a fully accredited and funded Foundation Degree (FdA) in Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People, run by The Mulberry Bush and validated by the University of the West of England.

About you:

We're looking for someone who embodies resilience, empathy, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact. Someone who can believe in the untapped potential of these children when others have given up. You’ll also need to be happy to get hands-on with all sorts of activities – from crafting to gaming, Warhammer to cooking. Drawing on your life experiences, you can provide valuable guidance and support to help them thrive. You'll also need:

• Desire to undertake further education / training.


• Training or qualifications that demonstrate a clear ability to communicate effectively and think critically.


• A valid and full UK driving licence.


• The legal right to live and work in the UK.

About the Mulberry Bush:

At The Mulberry Bush, we believe that with support and opportunities, children can overcome challenges and shape their future. We see their untold stories, possibilities, dreams, and untapped potential – and we believe in their ability to rewrite their destiny. All while having lots of fun along the way.

The Mulberry Bush is a therapeutic community, registered as a children’s home and a non-maintained residential special school. We are dedicated to transforming the lives of those affected by childhood trauma. Since 1948, we’ve been helping children and those around them through specialist therapeutic services and fulfilling activities.

Over the years we have established an outstanding reputation for transforming the lives of all those affected by childhood trauma. We believe we offer something special – and we’d love you to be part of it.

Apply now:

If you believe that you have the experience and expertise required to succeed in this role or would like to attend one of our visit days, please submit your CV via the 'Apply for this job'.

All applicants shortlisted must be willing to attend a visit day and complete an application form (for regulatory purposes).

If you have any question about the role or the work we do, please email the HR team at [email protected]

The Mulberry Bush is an equal opportunities employer.

The Mulberry Bush is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff and students to share this commitment. 

Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK. For applicants requiring visas we can only accept those with visa’s which allows you to work in the UK indefinitely (we do not have the ability to offer sponsorship).

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore candidates must be prepared to undertake a DBS criminal background check.

To find out more about what its like to be a Residential Care Worker at The Mulberry Bush click here to watch a video.

A copy of the job description can be found here.