Residential Child Care Practitioner

We are looking for Residential Child Care Practitioners for our outstanding Ofsted rated Shared Care Service. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

Pinecroft shared care service has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted and 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.

As a Residential Child Care Practitioner, you will:

• Be a positive and professional role model, building effective relationships with children.
• Assist in promoting trauma informed and nurturing home environments for children.
• Keywork children, recognising their positive abilities and supporting and empowering them to develop
• Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children, assess and report areas of concern
• Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.

Staff are required to work on a shift pattern rota, which will include a combination of early (7am-3pm) and late (2pm-10pm) shifts, long days (7am-10pm), sleep-ins, alternate weekend working and religious celebration days.

About you

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working with children and young people
• Motivation to work in residential childcare settings.
• Team player with good interpersonal skills and a flexible approach
• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Uses initiative to problem solve
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• A willingness and ability to demonstrate a commitment to undertake Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
• Sound understanding of ICT with good keyboard skills
• Ability to demonstrate resilience and manage stress
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
• Driving license and willingness to drive homes vehicle

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is 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:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Helena.Baptista@reading.gov.uk

To apply you will need to complete an application and include your answers the following questions.

1. Could you start by telling us why you have applied for this position, and what skills or experience you can bring to the role?
2. Do you have any experience working with children whose behaviour may challenge? Please give an example of how you managed this.
3. If your current team could describe you, what would they say makes you a good residential childcare practitioner?

Closing Date: Sunday 27th September 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore the above questions (Lasting approximately 20 minutes), and if successful following this we will invite you to meet us at the home for a formal interview. If successful following formal interview you will be invited in for a 2-hour shift to meet the children. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis so feel free to submit your application as soon as you wish, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, so applicants must have the right to work in the UK.