Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent.

Salary: £25,480 to £28,808 depending on location.

Locations: Camden, North Kensington or Lewisham.

If you’re looking for a fulfilling and rewarding career where no two days are ever the same, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

All you need is a genuine passion for making a difference — we’ll provide comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you thrive, even if you don’t have prior care experience.

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

About the Role

As a Trainee Practitioner Support Worker in one of our Semi-Independent Homes, you’ll play a key role in helping young people aged 16–21 build independent and fulfilling lives.

You’ll develop meaningful relationships with residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing, offering guidance, and maintaining accurate support records. You’ll also liaise with other professionals involved in their care.

Support is always available — an on-call manager is just a call away, and you’ll take part in monthly team meetings and supervision to help you grow in your role.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. 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

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

Working Hours

Our young people need care 24/7, so we operate on fixed rotas with a variety of shift patterns:

• Day staff: 8am – 10pm (8, 10, or 12-hour shifts)

• Night staff: 9pm – 8:30am

You’ll typically work an average of 40 hours per week, including weekends and bank holidays.
For example, if you work four 10-hour shifts, you’ll then have three days off.

Overtime is available and paid at time and a half, including on bank holidays.

Location

We have Semi-Independent Homes for young people based in Camden, North Kensington, and Lewisham.
During your interview process, you’ll have the opportunity to let us know your preferred location, and we’ll do our best to match you with a home that suits your preference and availability.

What you need to bring to this role

• Genuine commitment to working and supporting Young People to achieve their full potential.
• An understanding of the issues facing young people.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.

What you should expect from us

• Competitive salary and performance-based pay progression.
• 4 weeks full induction and training program (paid).
• Competitive pay and reward structure offering salary progression based on performance.
• 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 social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

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.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care.

1. Application: Complete our online form and include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. 

   Job Description and Person Specification

2. Online Situational Test: After submitting your application, you will be asked to complete an online situational test. The results of this test will help inform the shortlisting process. 

3. Interview: Shortlisted candidates attend a face-to-face interview at our Putney office.

4. Second Stage: Successful candidates will visit the home they applied to.

Please apply as soon as possible, as we review applications on a rolling basis.

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

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.