Residential Support Worker
£31,876 per year including sleep in payments
Hourly Rate: £13.50
Full-Time/Permanent
Oxfordshire
38 Hour Week (shifts) plus two sleep-ins per week
At Gratia Cura Residential, we believe that good care starts with trusting relationships and adults who consistently show up.
We are looking for caring, reliable and proactive Residential Support Workers to join our children’s homes. You will support young people through everyday life, celebrate their progress and help them develop confidence and independence.
Founded and led by qualified social workers, Gratia Cura takes a hands-on, child-centred approach. Working alongside senior staff and managers, you will help provide a safe, nurturing and homely environment.
What you’ll do
Every day brings different opportunities to make a difference. Your responsibilities will include:
• Building positive relationships and ensuring young people’s wishes and feelings are heard.
• Supporting daily routines, personal care, education and independence.
• Planning and joining in activities, outings and community opportunities.
• Supporting appointments and family contact, including driving where required.
• Following individual care plans, behaviour support plans and risk assessments.
• Responding calmly and respectfully to young people’s needs, recognising that behaviour can communicate feelings and experiences.
• Preparing meals, shopping, cleaning, completing laundry and helping maintain a welcoming home.
• Keeping accurate records and communicating effectively during handovers.
• Recognising and promptly reporting safeguarding concerns.
• Taking part in supervision, training and reflective practice.
Cooking, cleaning, activities and paperwork are all part of the role. We need people who take pride in the home, use their initiative and contribute fully to both caring for young people and keeping their home running well.
What we’re looking for
You will need:
• A Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare, *or a willingness to work towards the required qualification*.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• The ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
• A positive approach to teamwork, feedback and learning.
• Reliability, flexibility and willingness to undertake all aspects of residential care.
Previous experience in children’s residential care, a full UK driving licence and knowledge of trauma-informed practice are desirable.
Working pattern
The role involves a rota that may include evenings, weekends and bank holidays, alongside sleep-in duties. The advertised annual salary includes payment for two sleep-ins per week.
Safeguarding and recruitment
Gratia Cura Residential is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must share this commitment. Appointment is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, appropriate barred-list checks and satisfactory references.
Apply
If you are ready to build meaningful relationships and make a positive difference in young people’s lives, we would love to hear from you.
Senior Residential Support Worker
£34,840 per year including sleep in payments
Hourly rate: £15
Full-Time/Permanent
Oxfordshire
38 Hour Week (shifts) plus two sleep-ins per week
Are you an experienced residential childcare professional who can bring calm, consistency and clear direction to a shift?
Gratia Cura Residential is looking for a caring, proactive and resilient Senior Residential Support Worker to help create a safe, nurturing home where young people feel valued and supported.
Founded and led by qualified social workers, we take a hands-on, child-centred approach. Working closely with the Deputy Manager and Registered Manager, you will lead shifts, guide colleagues and remain actively involved in everyday care.
Your role
You will help young people build trusting relationships, develop confidence and independence, and have their wishes and feelings heard.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Leading shifts, allocating responsibilities and ensuring tasks are completed to a high standard.
• Supporting and mentoring staff through practical guidance, constructive feedback and positive role modelling.
• Helping staff understand and follow care plans, placement plans, behaviour support plans and risk assessments.
• Promoting calm, consistent and trauma-informed care, recognising that behaviour can communicate feelings and experiences.
• Supporting young people with routines, personal care, education, activities, appointments and family contact.
• Contributing to care planning, key-work and reviews of young people’s progress.
• Responding promptly to safeguarding concerns, challenging poor practice and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Supporting staff during incidents and contributing to debriefs and reflective practice.
• Maintaining and reviewing accurate records, ensuring effective handovers and overseeing delegated health and safety checks.
• Supporting medication administration where trained and authorised.
Leading by example means working alongside your team. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, driving, activities and paperwork are all part of providing a stable, welcoming home. We are looking for someone who notices what needs doing, takes initiative and helps others maintain the same standards.
What you’ll need
Essential:
• At least two years’ experience in residential childcare.
• A Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• The ability to lead, guide and support colleagues while holding them accountable for their practice.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence in prioritising tasks, allocating responsibilities and making appropriate decisions under pressure.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach and willingness to undertake all aspects of residential care.
• The ability to accept feedback, reflect on your leadership and work collaboratively with managers.
Desirable:
• Previous experience leading shifts or a team.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
• Experience of trauma-informed practice and contributing to care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support plans.
Working pattern
You will work a rota that includes evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-in duties. The advertised annual salary includes payment for two sleep-ins per week.
Safeguarding and recruitment
Gratia Cura Residential is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must share this commitment. Appointment is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, appropriate barred-list checks and satisfactory references.
Apply
If you can support colleagues, build meaningful relationships with young people and lead through your everyday actions, we would love to hear from you.
Registered Manager
£64,000 per year including sleep in payments
Full-Time/Permanent
Oxfordshire
Lead a home where young people feel safe, understood and valued
Gratia Cura Residential is looking for an experienced, compassionate Registered Manager to lead a single children’s home in Abingdon.
The home will provide either a solo placement or care for up to three carefully matched young people, depending on their needs and the agreed provision.
Founded and led by qualified social workers, Gratia Cura takes a hands-on, child-centred approach. We are looking for a manager who can build a strong team, develop trusting relationships and create a stable, nurturing home.
You will have the autonomy to lead your home, with support from the Responsible Individual and senior management team.
Your role
You will take responsibility for the quality of care, safeguarding, staffing and day-to-day running of the home. Your responsibilities will include:
• Leading and developing a staff team that provides calm, consistent and therapeutic care.
• Maintaining compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
• Ensuring young people’s wishes, feelings and individual needs shape their care.
• Overseeing placement matching, admissions, care plans, risk assessments and transitions.
• Building effective relationships with families, social workers, education professionals and health and therapy services.
• Managing recruitment, induction, supervision, training and staff performance.
• Supporting staff through challenging situations, including debriefs and reflective practice.
• Reviewing incidents and promoting approaches that reduce the use of restrictive interventions.
• Maintaining safe staffing, accurate records and effective safeguarding practice.
• Managing the home’s budget and resources.
• Using feedback, audits and monitoring to improve outcomes for young people.
• Participating in on-call arrangements and responding to the needs of the home.
This is a visible, hands-on leadership role. We want a manager who knows the young people, supports colleagues and takes pride in creating a welcoming home.
What we’re looking for
Essential:
• A relevant Level 5 qualification in leadership and management for children’s residential care.
• At least two years’ experience managing an Ofsted-regulated children’s home.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and the regulatory requirements for children’s homes.
• Experience supporting young people with complex emotional, behavioural or mental health needs.
• The ability to lead, develop and hold a team accountable with clarity and compassion.
• Strong communication, organisational and decision-making skills.
• A commitment to therapeutic, trauma-informed and relationship-based care.
• A full driving licence and the right to work in the UK.
Experience of solo provision, small group homes or supporting children with learning disabilities would be particularly welcome.
What we offer
• £64,000 annual salary.
• Leadership autonomy with support from experienced social work directors and the senior management team.
• A company culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Company pension.
Working arrangements
This is an in-person role based in *Oxfordshire*. Flexibility is required to meet the needs of the home, including participation in on-call arrangements and occasional evening or weekend work.
Safeguarding
Gratia Cura Residential is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must share this commitment. Appointment is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, appropriate barred-list checks and satisfactory references.
Apply
If you can lead a team with confidence and compassion and keep young people at the centre of your decisions, we would love to hear from you.
Apply with your CV and a supporting statement outlining your management experience and approach to providing high-quality residential childcare.
Dual Registered Manager
£85,000
Full-Time/Permanent
Oxfordshire
Shape two new homes around exceptional care
Are you an experienced Registered Manager with a strong background in supporting children with learning disabilities, mental health needs and complex needs?
At Gratia Cura Residential, we are looking for a skilled, compassionate leader to oversee two newly created solo children’s homes within one building, each supporting one young person.
Leading a workforce of up to 35 staff across two teams, you will have the opportunity to shape the culture, develop your people and embed consistent, therapeutic practice from the outset.
Founded and led by qualified social workers, Gratia Cura puts children’s needs and staff wellbeing at the heart of its approach. You will have the autonomy to lead your provision, alongside support from the senior management team.
The role
As Registered Manager, you will be accountable for the quality of care, safeguarding and day-to-day management of both homes. You will create an environment where young people feel safe, understood and valued, and staff feel supported and clear about what is expected of them.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Leading, developing and supporting two staff teams, modelling calm, consistent and therapeutic practice.
• Maintaining compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
• Acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensuring concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Overseeing individual care plans, risk assessments, placement reviews and transitions.
• Working closely with families, social workers, education professionals, health services and therapy specialists.
• Supporting staff through challenging situations, with effective debriefs, supervision and reflective practice.
• Promoting positive behaviour support and reviewing incidents to reduce the use of restrictive interventions.
• Managing recruitment, induction, training, appraisals and staff performance alongside HR.
• Maintaining safe staffing arrangements and participating in the senior on-call rota.
• Managing delegated budgets and resources.
• Using audits, feedback and monitoring to drive improvements in care.
• Representing the homes at professional meetings and contributing to Gratia Cura’s senior management team.
This is a visible leadership role. You will know the young people and your teams well, remain involved in the homes and lead by example.
What you’ll bring
Essential requirements:
• A relevant Level 5 diploma in leadership and management for children’s residential care.
• At least two years’ experience managing an Ofsted-regulated children’s home.
• Significant experience supporting children with learning disabilities, mental health needs and complex needs.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, children’s homes requirements and therapeutic behaviour support.
• The ability to lead teams through challenging situations while maintaining safe, compassionate care.
• Experience of staff supervision, performance management and service improvement.
• Strong organisational, communication and decision-making skills.
• A full driving licence and the right to work in the UK.
We are looking for someone who combines clear expectations with practical support: a manager who listens, develops others and keeps the young person at the centre of every decision.
What we offer
• £85,000 annual salary.
• The opportunity to shape two newly created solo homes.
• Leadership autonomy with support from the senior management team.
• A company culture that prioritises staff wellbeing.
• Company pension.
• Free on-site parking.
Working arrangements
This is an in-person role requiring flexibility to meet the needs of the homes, including evening and weekend availability and participation in the senior on-call rota. Some travel within the UK may be required.
Safeguarding
Gratia Cura Residential is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must share this commitment. Appointment is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, appropriate barred-list checks and satisfactory references.
Apply
If you have the experience, judgement and commitment to lead two specialist homes, we would love to hear from you.
Apply with your CV and a supporting statement outlining your management experience and approach to supporting children with complex needs.