Residential Child Care Practitioner - Waking Nights

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Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Brighter Futures for Children

About us

Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children’s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.

Our Home

Pinecroft shared care service is dedicated to supporting children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and/or sensory impairment. We pride ourselves in offering high quality personalised care to the most vulnerable and complex children aged 8-18. Our goal is to transform lives by being passionate, committed and creative in everything we do. We believe improved outcomes for children are possible through a proactive and consistent approach, where learning through play and accessing the community is essential.

About the role

This role has a starting salary of £28,508.50 per annum (Including 15% shift allowance), based on a 37-hour week rising up to £31,359.35 per annum. Enhanced rates of pay are available for overtime.

The role requires staff to work 4 nights a week on a shift pattern rota, night shifts are from 9:45pm to 7:15am, shifts will include a combination of weekdays, alternate weekends and religious celebration days. The home will be closed on bank holidays unless we have an emergency admission. This shift-based role involves personal care/manual handling which can be physically demanding, domestic duties including preparation of meals and cleaning, medication administration, and report writing. Pinecroft invests heavily in the continued professional development of its staff, once you have completed your probation, we will offer the opportunity to gain the nationally recognised Level 4 children and young peoples and family’s practitioner residential pathway qualification.

For more information about the role, please read the job description and person specification.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years’ service)
• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season train ticket loans
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• A range of local shopping discounts

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.

Please note we have the right to close the advert early upon receipt of sufficient applications.

Closing date: 26th August 2025

Interview date: W/C 1st September 2025

Interview Type:

• First interview will include written task and verbal interview.
• Second Interview will include a 3-hour trial shift to meet the children.

We look forward to hearing from you!