Therapeutic Residential Worker

Salary: up to £29,500 per annum (depending on experience)

Location: Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Contract/Hours: Permanent/Full Time – 37 hours per week.

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers’ discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you”ll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It”s the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children”s lives.

A bit about the role

We are seeking a compassionate and committed Therapeutic Residential Worker to join our team, supporting three young children who have experienced significant challenges in their early lives. In this role, you will play a key part in creating a safe, nurturing, and predictable environment where each child can grow heal and thrive.

You’ll work closely with each child”s care plan, implementing therapeutic and supportive interventions, completing essential records, and facilitating meaningful activities that encourage emotional and social development. Collaboration is central to the role, and you’ll work alongside multidisciplinary teams to ensure each child”s individual needs are met, helping to build stability, trust and positive relationships.

Effective communication skills, empathy, resilience and a solid understanding of trauma informed, and child centred care are essential for success in this rewarding position.

About the service

Ayton Villa is a trauma informed residential care home dedicated to providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children who have experienced early adversity or trauma. Our approach is grounded in understanding how traumatic experiences can affect a child”s emotions, behaviours and development, and ensuring that every interaction supports healing, trust, and positive attachment.

The home itself is warm, welcoming, and truly child centred. Recently rated Ofsted Outstanding, Ayton Villa is recognised for their exceptional commitment to putting their children first. The team goes above and beyond to create a sense of belonging, consistency and emotional safety. Tailoring care to each child’s needs and working at their pace.

A trauma informed home means we prioritise relationships, predictability, and empathy. We focus on helping children feel understood and valued, supporting them to develop self-confidence, emotional regulation, and the foundations they need for a brighter future.

This role requires flexibility to work across a range of shift patterns, including early mornings, late evenings, waking nights and sleeping in shifts. Sleeping in shifts attract an additional £50, This shift pattern allows for two weekends off per month. This ensures our young people receive consistent, high-quality support while allowing the team to provide stability and continuity of care.

What you”ll be doing:

In the role of Therapeutic Residential Worker, you will be promoting Action for Children”s values as well as supporting the Registered Manager and team to achieve positive outcomes in the lives of our young people.

How you”ll help to create brighter futures

• Having a positive proactive outlook in providing support to children.
• Taking responsibility for the personal care and the daily needs of the young people.
• Being resilient in supporting children through challenging situations.
• Being responsible for the safeguarding of young people.
• Maintaining accurate daily records.

Let”s talk about you

Are you resilient and have a positive approach to change and challenge? We are looking for someone with a ‘can do’ attitude to join our team. Ideally you will have:

• Demonstrable experience of working in a care setting and developing positive relationships through trust.
• Application of a range of techniques to co-ordinate and communicate with service users and their families.
• Demonstrate a solution focused approach to address problems, individually and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate emotional resilience to respond to the challenging nature of the role.
• Possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or recognised equivalent) or if you do not possess this you must be prepared to complete this within 2 years of commencing employment with us, full support will be provided.

Good to know 

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We”d love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you”d rather we didn”t.

Contact: Shannon Neander on 01923 361518 or email us at [email protected] quoting reference 12277

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we”re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

Don”t meet every single requirement?

If you”re excited about this role but your experience doesn”t align perfectly with the job description, we”d love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

Find us on Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.

Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Make a Difference – A Career in Residential Services