Residential Worker

About the role

Essex County Council is hiring a Permanent, Full Time Residential Worker for its Colchester service. This is a fixed-base, on-site position supporting children and young people. The role pays £28,914 to £36,581 per year, inclusive of allowance. The closing date is 6 July 2026 and interview dates are yet to be arranged.

You’ll be joining the council at a time of investment and growth in residential care. The organisation has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted and has been recognised as Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in three years.

What the job involves

The post is based in a five-bed home in Colchester for young people aged 11 to 17. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to support young people who have experienced trauma.

The core purpose of the role is to provide stable, nurturing, therapeutic care. You’ll be expected to offer support in a caring, parent-like way, while recognising that every shift can bring different challenges, highs, and lows.

Working pattern

This is a 37-hour role with shifts running Monday to Sunday across the full week. Working hours alternate between early shifts from 07:00am to 14:30pm and late shifts from 14:00pm to 21:30pm, with every other weekend off. Overtime may be available.

Skills and experience

Experience in a children’s home is useful, but it is not the only route into this role. Essex County Council is looking for someone who brings the right attitude, flexibility, and resilience, along with the ability to stay calm and patient when situations become difficult.

You should be able to understand and respond to challenging behaviour, including aggression and violence, by using a range of de-escalation approaches. Strong written and verbal communication skills are also important.

If you do not already hold a Level 3 Diploma, you will need to complete it within 2 years after successfully finishing probation, and support will be provided.

Training and support

The council will provide the training needed for the role, along with regular supervision and a thorough in-house induction. This is designed to help you begin your career with confidence and develop within the child and family sector.

Pay and benefits

The total salary is made up of a basic annual pay of £26,286 to £33,256 plus a guaranteed 10% allowance worth £2,628.60 to £3,325.60 per year, paid monthly alongside basic pay.

• 26 days of annual leave for full-time staff
• Local Authority Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
• Opportunity to work with local children and families and make a meaningful difference
• Supportive colleagues and strong team morale
• Access to high-quality learning and development
• Support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements where applicable

Eligibility and recruitment notes

Applicants must be at least 21 years old to be considered for this post. The interview process is expected to consist of one face-to-face interview at the home for shortlisted candidates.

Essex County Council encourages applications from disabled applicants, veterans, and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements, and reasonable adjustments can be discussed during recruitment. The council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and a DBS check may be required. If so, registration with the DBS update service will be necessary and the annual subscription cost will be the applicant’s responsibility.

Employees are expected to follow the council’s code of conduct and Nolan principles throughout employment and recruitment. Greater Essex’s devolution and local government reorganisation context is also noted as part of the wider organisational environment.

Additional information

For more information about the business area, the Children & Families section is referenced. Contact Wayne Russell, Registered Home Manager, or Marcus Gill, Deputy Home Manager, for an informal discussion, and further queries can be directed to Daniel Warner. The council also references its talent community, careers content, and downloadable materials on pay and reward, ways of working, about us, and organisational behaviours.

The role is part of Essex County Council’s wider public service commitment across the county, with a focus on innovation, productivity, and community impact.