Looking for fantastic career progression, excellent training and therapeutic support? Join our committed and professional Team and Make a difference to Children living in residential Care.

Starting Salary: £ 27,352 

Overtime and Bank holidays paid time and half

Shifts: 22.00 - 8.45 - 40 hours per week

Working Hours: Full time 40 hours, including weekends and bank holidays

Locations: Balham (SW12) 

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.  We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

Watch our short video to gain an insight into our working life here at St Christopher’s

About the Role

As an Experienced Children's Residential Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for young people aged 12 to 17 years. Our young people have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and often struggle to regulate their emotions. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at building life skills, develop a restorative learning approach to behaviour and manage their own safety within the community.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here.

Check out here our staff stories to see how you can develop your career with us

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions. 

What are we looking for?

• Desirable Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Experience of achieving outcomes as part of working in a service and the  records which evidence that.
• A working knowledge of key legislation regarding Safeguarding practices relating to children and young people
• Understanding of the issues experienced by young people such as bullying, gangs, radicalisation, self-harm, sexual exploitation and how these impact on behaviour.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve great things.

What you should expect from us

• Starting salary of £27,352 per annum.
• Tailored career development plan through our “St Christopher’s Academy”.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry Leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, Mental health and therapeutic interventions ,
• Contributory pension scheme, Enhanced Maternity and Company Sick Scheme.
• BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme.
• Discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Employee Awards based on performance and length of service.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting. 

Your application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria given in the Person Specification.

Our Children and Young People are looking forward to hearing from you

Job Description and Person Specification

For more information or assistance during the application process, please contact recruitment@stchris.org.uk

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and this opportunity might be filled before the stated closing date.

St Christopher’s Fellowship has a minimum age requirement of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes.