Shared Services Partnership
Children's Home Support Worker
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Children's Home Support Worker
Support Worker (Children’s Home) / Community Residential Staff (CRS)
** Job Reference: HCC622917** ** Salary**: £27,780 - £30,564 per annum + Market Supplement: £3,000 per annum ** Location**: Hockley House Residential Home, Romsey ** Hours**: 37 per week ** Contract**: Permanent ** Closing Date**: 15 July 2026
About the Role
Create opportunities. Build futures.
Join our compassionate team at Hampshire County Council’s Hockley House Residential Home and make a real difference in the lives of children aged 12+ who require high levels of emotional, behavioural and mental health support. Our children thrive in a trauma-informed therapeutic environment, where a multi-agency team of Care, Health, and Education professionals work together to design personalised intervention plans.
Our goal? To heal, stabilise, and empower young people, helping them reconnect with families, progress educationally, or transition confidently towards independence.
As a Support Worker, your role will be pivotal in nurturing growth, ensuring safety, and fostering resilience in children who may have experienced trauma or complex family situations.
Key Responsibilities
Core Duties
- Build trust-based, trauma-informed relationships with children, families, and professionals to advocate for their wellbeing and progress.
- Provide holistic care, addressing both physical and emotional needs in a safe, supportive setting.
- Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams (Health, Education, Social Workers) to draw up and implement trainable care plans.
- Assist children with personal development, life skills, and educational attainment, while delivering reward-based, positive behaviour support.
- Maintain safe environments, conduct risk assessments, implement safeguarding protocols, and ensure compliance with legislation and organisational policies.
- Complete detailed record-keeping, document reviews, and write progress reports for families, education teams, and professionals.
- Encourage independent living goals where appropriate, focusing on freedom from external forces that may perpetuate distress.
- Participate in ongoing training, professional development, and continuous assessment of person-centred approaches.
- Promote positive engagement with kinship carers and wider families wherever relevant.
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Required Qualifications & Experience
Essential Criteria
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or commitment to complete within 12-24 months with workplace support)
- Demonstrated knowledge of:
- Child development practices
- Safeguarding procedures
- Trauma-informed care and its application in residential settings
- Clear, cohesive communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with:
- Challenging young people (with patience and assertiveness)
- Vulnerable families
- Colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds
- Strong teamwork ethos and ability to work flexibly under stressful conditions
- Emotional resilience with a capacity to maintain high standards in a rewarding but demanding environment
- Physical capability to provide 1:1 support in an active setting
Desirable Experience
- Prior experience in residential childcare, mental health support, or social work roles.
- Familiarity with behaviour analysis, de-escalation techniques, or family inclusion models.
- An understanding of coercion-reducing strategies and independent living support.
What We Offer You
Making an Impact
Join a team determined to transform young lives, fostering growth in a proactive, child-first approach. Your skills will help children:
- Develop secure attachments and self-confidence
- Engage with learning and life skill opportunities
- Reconnect with families or prepare for meaningful independence outside of care
Sign up for our informational video on Open Residential Homes here.
Career Development & Growth
- Access to Hampshire County Council’s outstanding training portfolio, recognised for excellence.
- Opportunities to specialise in therapeutic support roles or progress into management.
Exceptional Employee Benefits
- 24/7 Health & Wellbeing Support via Health Assisted Employee Care Consultancy:
- Emotional and mental health guidance, counselling services
- Access to legal, financial, and career advice resources
- Physical wellness programmes and mindset workshops
- Local Government Pension Scheme benefits
- Generous leave entitlement, including occasional paid leave for family commitments.
- Support for community and recreational pursuits, including Friday sports clubs and group activities.
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** Additional Information**
Application Tips
Our Candidate Pack includes:
- A ‘About You’ section where you explain how your skills and experiences align with our values and role expectations (50% of assessments are based on personal narratives).
Vetting Process
As this role involves vulnerable individuals, we are required to:
- Conduct a DBS (Enhanced Disclosure) check.
- Request written references prior to interview under our regulated safer recruitment requirements.
Contact Enquiries
-
General Applications: care.careers@hants.gov.uk (Email advising us of job ref: HCC622917)
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Informal Role Inquiry Helen Gunniss – Registered Manager Tel: (Contact via email) helen.gunniss@hants.gov.uk
Our Commitment to Equality & Inclusion
Hampshire County Council values a diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively oppose discrimination and ensure all candidates have equal access across applicants of any:
- Age, disability or mobility needs
- Gender reassignment, race, ethnicity
- Middle/religious belief, sex or sexual orientation
- Marriage or civil partnership status
- Pregnancy or maternity
If an organisation applies a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) where a specific trait is permitted/necessary under law, we will communicate this clearly as part of the recruitment process.
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability or long-term condition, please let us know on your application form so we can explore accommodations for interviews/training!
The information provided is an outline of key responsibilities and conditions. Overall duties and responsibilities may change to meet the needs of the job and organisation.
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