Residential Childcare Worker

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

Job Title: Residential Childcare Worker

Location: Standlake, Oxfordshire

Job type: Permanent, full-time.

Salary: £30,808-£37,724.

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

About the Mulberry Bush

In response to an unprecedented and growing incidence of social, emotional and mental health issues in young people and adults, we work across a wide range of sectors including special and mainstream education, children’s homes and youth and criminal justice – not only providing education and holistic therapeutic support, but also training, consultancy, insight and thought leadership.

Our approach is founded on nearly 80 years of therapeutic practice and an innovative mindset that looks to the future to ensure we meet the needs of the people we serve and enable them to make the change they need.

This role is part of Mulberry Bush Schools - Standlake - set within five acres of rural Oxfordshire, providing 38-week and 52-week residential therapeutic care and education for children aged 5 to 13 with complex social, emotional and mental health needs. The therapeutic residential care team support children through the everyday experiences, relationships and challenges of shared life a the School. 

About the role

As a Residential Childcare Worker, you’ll play an important part in helping children aged 5-12 years, experience safety, stability, and positive relationships, possibly for the first time in their lives.

Working in children’s residential therapeutic environments can be deeply meaningful work but it can also be emotionally demanding. Some days will involve laughter, play, creativity, and breakthroughs. Other days will be challenging and unpredictable. The children you’ll support have experienced significant trauma, loss, neglect, and disrupted relationships. This can often be reflected in their behaviour and emotions.

We’re looking for people who can remain calm, reflective, consistent and compassionate, even during difficult moments. This role requires resilience, patience, and emotional maturity, working as part of a supportive team. You might be helping with homework, cooking meals, playing games, supporting bedtime routines, managing distressed behaviour, or simply sitting alongside a child who is struggling. The work is varied, relational and purposeful and most importantly, profoundly rewarding.

We’ll look to you to:

• Provide day-to-day therapeutic care and support for children within the household, including school routines, mealtimes, activities, and bedtime.
• Build safe, consistent, and nurturing relationships with children who may struggle with trust and support them through moments of distress and challenging behaviour, using therapeutic approaches.
• Plan and provide child-centred cultural, physical, recreational activities, contributing thoughtfully and creatively to care planning and reflective practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide a stable and therapeutic living environment.
• Develop your understanding of therapeutic childcare practice through training, supervision, and reflective learning.
• Participate in a 7-day a week shift pattern, between the hours of 8am-10pm. Working on a total of 40 hours a week.
• You’ll be required to participate in the sleep-in rota (10pm-8am). These hours are separate from your 40 hours and are paid on top of your salary. On average you would be expected to sleep in 1-2 times per week.
• Complete a fully accredited and fully 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 people with resilience, warmth and empathy, having genuine commitment to help children heal and grow. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need the emotional capacity to stay engaged during difficult moments and the willingness to reflect, learn, and work therapeutically. The children at The Mulberry Bush need adults who are consistent, emotionally available, and able to maintain boundaries with care and compassion.

We'll care for you too

• Sleep-in allowances which means you could earn up to £4k more annually.
• Paid overtime (based on operational requirements).
  
• 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.

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).

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.

Click to view the Job Description.

If you have any question about the role or the work we do, please email the HR team at careers@mulberrybush.org.uk