Waking Night Autism Practitioner

Join Our New Autism-Specialist Children's Residential Home in Mansfield

Make a Difference to the Lives of Autistic Children and Young People

We are excited to be opening a new 3-bed autism-specialist Children's Residential Home in Mansfield, providing high-quality care and support for autistic children and young people aged 4-18 years.

We are seeking caring, enthusiastic, and dedicated individuals to join our team as Senior Residential Support Workers, Residential Support Workers, and Waking Night Support Workers.

This is a unique opportunity to help create a nurturing home environment where autistic children can feel safe, understood, respected, and supported to thrive.

Our Ethos

We believe that every autistic child and young person deserves:

A safe, caring, and stable home.

To be understood as an individual.

Consistent, nurturing relationships with trusted adults.

Opportunities to develop independence, confidence, and life skills.

Respect for their communication style, sensory needs, and preferences.

The chance to achieve their full potential in their own way and at their own pace.

Our practice is built upon compassion, respect, inclusion, and a commitment to understanding autism through a strengths-based and person-centred approach.

Our Aims

Our aim is to provide an environment where autistic children and young people can:

Feel safe, valued, and listened to.

Develop positive relationships and social skills.

Build emotional resilience and self-confidence.

Access education and community opportunities.

Learn practical life skills and increase independence.

Understand and regulate emotions with appropriate support.

Enjoy meaningful experiences and positive childhood memories.

Achieve outcomes that reflect their individual aspirations and abilities.

Statement of Purpose

Our home provides care and accommodation for up to three autistic children and young people aged between 4 and 18 years.

The home adopts an autism-informed and child-centred approach, recognising that every child has unique strengths, needs, interests, and communication preferences. Through consistency, structure, positive relationships, and therapeutic support, we aim to provide an environment where children can feel secure, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes.

Our team works closely with families, education providers, health professionals, and other agencies to ensure children receive holistic support that promotes their emotional wellbeing, personal development, and independence.

The home is committed to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding while ensuring every child is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding

What the Role Involves

Successful candidates will:

Support autistic children with daily living activities and personal care where required.

Develop trusting and positive relationships.

Promote education, independence, and community engagement.

Support emotional regulation and wellbeing.

Implement individual care plans and behaviour support strategies.

Record and report information accurately.

Promote the rights, dignity, and individuality of each child.

Work collaboratively with families and professionals.

Maintain a safe and nurturing home environment.

Year-Round Service Commitment

As a children's residential home, our service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including weekends, bank holidays, Christmas, New Year, Easter, and all other seasonal periods.

The children and young people living in our home rely on consistent care and support throughout the year. Therefore, all staff are expected to contribute fairly to the rota and be available to work across seasonal periods and public holidays as required.

We recognise the importance of work-life balance and ensure that weekends, sleep-ins, bank holidays, and seasonal shifts are allocated as fairly as possible across the team through our 4-week rolling rota system.

Shift Patterns and Flexibility

Our home operates a 4-week rolling rota designed to provide consistency for the children we support and predictability for our staff teams.

Residential Support Workers and Senior Residential Support Workers

Full-time hours: 35-37 hours per week

Part-time hours: 15-22.5 hours per week

A mixture of:

*

• Early shifts

• Late shifts

• Sleep-in shifts

• Weekend working

• Bank holiday working

• Seasonal holiday working

Sleep-ins form part of the role and are shared fairly amongst the team.

Waking Night Support Workers

10-hour waking night shifts

140 contracted hours per month

Worked across a 4-week rolling rota

Includes weekend, bank holiday, and seasonal holiday working where scheduled

Important Information

This is not a fixed-shift role. Successful candidates must be willing and able to work a mixture of shifts as part of a 4-week rolling rota. Flexibility is essential to ensure our autistic children and young people receive consistent, high-quality care all year round.

By joining our team, you will play a vital role in providing stability, routine, and meaningful relationships to children who need support every day of the year, regardless of weekends, bank holidays, or seasonal celebrations.

Essential Requirements

NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, Children and Young People's Workforce, or an equivalent qualification.

OR

A willingness to undertake and complete the Level 3 qualification within the first two years of employment.

You will also demonstrate:

A genuine passion for supporting autistic children and young people.

Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.

Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Commitment to person-centred care.

Ability to remain resilient and calm in challenging situations.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility and is central to everything we do.

We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment where autistic children can thrive. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and safer recruitment checks in line with Children's Home Regulations.

Why Join Us?

Together, we will create a home where autistic children feel safe, understood, empowered, and able to achieve their full potential.

Competitive salary

Sleep-in payments

Comprehensive induction programme

Ongoing training and development

Autism-specific training

Support to achieve the Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification

Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Support.

Blue Light Card eligibility, providing access to thousands of discounts on shopping, travel, leisure, hospitality, and more

Refer a Friend Scheme with a financial reward for successfully introducing new colleagues to our team (subject to scheme terms and conditions)

Pension scheme

Opportunity to be part of a brand-new autism-specialist children's residential service from day one