Residential Support Worker Apprentice

GUIDING LIGHT RESIDENTIAL CARE LTD

Chesterfield (S44 6SU)

Closes on Monday 30 November 2026

Posted on 20 October 2026

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Summary

To provide care to children and young people living in the home. The postholder will build positive relationships, support day-to-day routines and development, promote each young person’s voice and independence, and contribute to a nurturing home environment in which young people feel safe, valued and able to make progress

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

·   Casual dress

·   Company pension

·   Discounted or free food while on duty, where applicable

·   Employee and store discounts, where available

·   Free on-site parking

·   Health and wellbeing programme

·   Employee referral programme

·   Training, supervision and development opportunities

Training course
Children, young people and families practitioner (level 4)
Hours
2 shifts on, 4 shifts off, including sleep-in duties. Shifts TBC.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

  • Provide day-to-day care and support in line with each young person’s placement plan, care plan, risk assessments, behaviour support strategies and agreed outcomes.
  • Build trusting, professional relationships using a warm, respectful, trauma-informed and PACE-informed approach.
  • Support young people with routines, education, health appointments, family time, hobbies, community activities and the development of independence skills.
  • Act as a positive role model and promote dignity, choice, equality, participation and respect.
  • Support the preparation of meals, household routines and the maintenance of a clean, welcoming and homely environment.
  • Safely transport young people to school, appointments, activities and family time, following company procedures and individual risk assessments.
  • Complete clear, accurate and timely records using the organisation’s electronic and paper systems, including daily records, key-work notes, incident records and handovers.
  • Contribute to key-working sessions and to the review and implementation of plans for young people.
  • Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, disclosures, missing-from-home incidents, self-harm, exploitation risks and other welfare concerns in line with policy and management direction.
  • Use approved behaviour support and de-escalation approaches, and only use physical intervention when trained, authorised, necessary and proportionate.
  • Administer or support medication in accordance with training, competency assessment, policy and the young person’s plan.
  • Participate in shift handovers, team meetings, supervision, appraisal, training and reflective practice.
  • Work flexibly across days, evenings, weekends, bank holidays, sleep-ins and, where required, waking-night duties.
  • Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and appropriate use of information at all times.
  • Report maintenance, health and safety, fire safety and environmental concerns promptly and follow emergency procedures.
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities of the role.

Where you'll work

Mansfield Road
Scarcliffe
Chesterfield
S44 6SU

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

ACORN TRAINING LTD

Training course

Children, young people and families practitioner (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Communicates in way that enables the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard
  • Encourages individuals to engage positively with their community and relevant agencies and actively participate in the way their care and support is delivered
  • Actively promotes respect, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Works together with children, young people and families to keep them safe and manage risk and promoting the development of skills the family need to successfully manage risk themselves
  • Works with and supports other professionals to respond to safeguarding concerns
  • Identifies the influences on the individual and the family and supports them to make informed choices
  • Leads on the development and recording of holistic plans, delivery of interventions and evaluates their effectiveness
  • Identifies and addresses barriers to accessing resources
  • Identifies and manages evidence-based approaches and evaluates their effectiveness
  • Contributes to the development of a resilient, consistent and persistent approach to practice
  • Models clarity of purpose, clear expectations and a professional approach to decision making
  • Appropriately challenges and/or offers alternative perspectives with the children, young person or family
  • Contributes to own professional development
  • Applies knowledge of legal, economic and social justice systems and implements policy frameworks in support of positive outcomes for children, young people and families
  • Demonstrates critical evaluation of practice and insight into own emotions, behaviour and feelings, and uses these insights to challenge own practice
  • Takes an active part in continuous professional development
  • Sharing and agreeing goals and outcomes when building relationships with partner organisations, other workers, children, young people and families, to ensure appropriate and timely support
  • Assumes the role of professional parent
  • Contributes to creating and reviewing placement plans based on individual need
  • Is able to support traumatised children and young people to live together and make progress
  • Develops and promotes the ethos of the home
  • Models collaborative team working and the ability to support and appropriately challenge each other
  • Engages effectively with child, young person and/or family members
  • Supports children, young people or vulnerable adults to identify and take action to deal with safeguarding risk

Training schedule

The apprentice will complete their Level 4 apprenticeship in Children, Young People and Families Practitioner alongside their employment, gaining practical management experience within the residential childcare setting.

Training will be delivered by Acorn Training through a combination of workplace learning, online learning, virtual training sessions and independent study. The apprentice will have regular contact with their dedicated trainer and will receive ongoing support throughout the programme.

The apprentice will complete off-the-job training during their normal working hours, equivalent to at least 6 hours per week on average. This may include virtual training sessions, learning activities, research, professional discussions, assignments, assessment preparation and other activities that support the development of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the apprenticeship.

The apprentice will apply their learning directly within the workplace, developing their leadership and management skills alongside experienced colleagues

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Mathematics (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Guiding Light Residential Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, verification of identity and right to work, employment history checks and any role-specific suitability checks. Appointment is conditional upon the satisfactory completion of these checks.

About this employer

Guiding Light Residential Care Ltd is a children’s residential care provider.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Successful completion of this apprenticeship will provide the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to progress within the residential childcare sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ACORN TRAINING LTD

Rachel Juniper

rachel.juniper@acorntraining.co.uk

07983529954

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000057672.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 30 November 2026