Waking Night Support Worker – Join the Homes & Horizons Project and Make a Difference!
Salary: £27,906 per annum
Attendance Bonus: Earn up to an additional £1,400 per year
Overtime Opportunities: Available to enhance your earnings
About Homes2Inspire and Homes & Horizons
Homes2Inspire is part of Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest charities and a leading not-for-profit provider of public services. We opened our first home in Northamptonshire in 2007 and are now the UK’s largest charitably owned residential children’s home provider.
In 2022, we partnered with Somerset Council to create Homes & Horizons—an innovative model of care for children and young people with complex needs. This partnership delivers:
- 11 residential homes (8 currently operational)
- High-needs foster care for approximately 20 children
- An associated therapeutic education service
Our wraparound approach integrates care, education, and NHS support to prevent placement breakdowns and reduce the need for Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient provision.
Why This Role Matters
The children in our care have faced more challenges than many will experience in a lifetime. As a Waking Night Support Worker, you’ll provide stability, safety, and reassurance during the night, helping children feel secure and cared for when they need it most.
What You’ll Do
- Ensure children feel safe and supported throughout the night
- Offer reassurance and a listening ear for those who wake feeling anxious or unsettled
- Help with bedtime routines and morning wake-ups
- Carry out regular safety checks to maintain a secure environment
- Record observations to support each child’s care plan
This role involves long nights on a rotational shift pattern, including weekends and holidays. The children we support may experience intense emotions and, at times, may become verbally or physically aggressive. Emotional resilience is essential you’ll need to remain calm and compassionate in challenging moments.
You’ll receive full training, including our Safe and Sound physical intervention package, which is used only as an absolute last resort to keep everyone safe.
What We’re Looking For
- A full UK driving licence (essential)
- Flexibility to work waking night shifts across a 24/7 rota
- Patience, empathy, and a calm approach under pressure
- Willingness to complete a Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare
Experience in care is a bonus, but not essential—we’ll provide all the training you need.
Why Join Us?
At Homes2Inspire, you’ll be part of a team that values your wellbeing, supports your growth, and celebrates your impact.
We offer:
- Quarterly Attendance Bonus – earn up to £1,400 per year
- Refer a Friend Scheme – £500 per successful referral, £1,000 for manager referrals
- Purchase Additional Leave – up to 5 extra days annually
- Subsidised Days Out – join children on funded activities, trips, and meals
- Vivup Employee Benefits – discounts on shopping, cinema, holidays + Blue Light Card access
- Cycle to Work Scheme – spread the cost of your bike over 12–18 months
- Wellbeing Support – Employee Assistance Programme and internal wellbeing team
- Unum Healthcare & Aviva Digicare – free Digital GP consultations, annual health checks, mental health assessments
- Learning & Development – fully funded Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification and ongoing training
Please Note
- All successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment safer recruitment checks in line with Ofsted requirements and Homes2Inspire Safer Recruitment Policy
- We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
- Applications will be reviewed regularly, and we may interview before the closing date
- Interviews will take place in-person during pre-planned assessment days—please contact us for accessibility requests or reasonable adjustments
- We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic communities and welcome people with lived experience of care or social exclusion
- Care leavers are guaranteed an interview if minimum requirements are met—please indicate this in your application
- Male staff are under-represented in our homes, and we encourage more male applicants
- Candidates may be matched to the most appropriate service based on skills and the needs of young people
For any questions or to receive a full job description, contact careers@homes2inspire.co.uk or call 01788 487057.
Apply now and start your journey with Homes2Inspire.