Residential Care and Support Worker (Short Breaks)

About the role

Larchwood provides short break overnight respite care for children and young people with severe and complex needs. This part-time, permanent role — 20 hours per week — sits within a close-knit team that delivers individually tailored care across a varied programme of short break opportunities.

Working at Larchwood is both fun and challenging. The team cares deeply about the work and equally recognises the importance of supporting one another. The children and young people are all unique, and staff strive for excellence, ensuring that care is responsive to each child's views, wishes and feelings.

Staff work to a published rota, issued one month in advance. The role includes weekend sessions and overnight stays as part of the short break offer.

Key responsibilities include:

• Participating in the delivery of short break opportunities including tea visits, overnight stays and weekend play sessions
• Keyworking for a number of children and young people, ensuring their care plans and risk assessments reflect their ever-changing needs
• Developing and supporting a wide range of fun activities that reflect the children and young people's wishes and needs
• Promoting children and young people's independence and communication needs
• Contributing to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people in line with Larchwood's commitment to protecting them from abuse

To apply, please submit a fully completed online application form — CVs submitted without a completed application form will not be accepted. Interviews will be held during the week commencing 2 November 2026 and will be conducted in person. Applications are reviewed regularly and the advert may close early if suitable candidates are identified, so early submission is advised.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Clare Turner, Unit Manager: Tel: 01344 452315 or Email: Clare.Turner@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

About You

Larchwood is looking for someone who is highly skilled, motivated, and enthusiastic about providing the highest quality of care and support to children and young people with severe and complex needs. You will be a team player who brings both dedication and warmth to this work.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a skilled and motivated team player with experience of working with children or young people in a care or support setting
• Demonstrate an understanding of individualised care and the ability to respond to each child's views, wishes and feelings
• Have the ability to develop and deliver a range of activities that promote independence and meet individual communication needs
• Show commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Be comfortable working a rolling rota that includes evenings, weekends and overnight stays

Bracknell Forest Council welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you indicate on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran, or are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview provided you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process — contact recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to discuss your requirements.

All appointments are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment. Candidates must currently reside in the UK. This part-time role does not meet the minimum requirements for visa sponsorship under current UK Visas and Immigration regulations.

Please note that AI is prohibited during the interview stage; any candidate found to be using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Bracknell Forest's Offer to You

Bracknell Forest Council's values — inclusive, ambitious, and always learning — shape how the council works with colleagues, residents, and communities. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, this is the place for you.

Benefits include:

• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), rising to 28 days after three years' continuous service, with the option to buy up to 10 or sell up to 5 days
• Local government pension scheme with life insurance cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Paid employee volunteering scheme
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities, and more