What is it Like to Work in a Residential Children’s Home?

Our homes provide a safe and supportive environment for our children and young people. The role of a residential support worker (RSW) is multifaceted, offering both emotional fulfilment and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.

A Day in the Life

A typical day in a residential children’s home can vary significantly, depending on the needs of our young people and any specific circumstances. The day often begins with ensuring that all the children are ready for school or other activities, offering support with their morning routines, and ensuring that they have everything they need for the day. Our support workers then transition into a more structured role throughout the day, assisting children with their academic work, encouraging personal growth, and helping with tasks such as meal preparation, hygiene routines and ensuring the homes are looked after.

Throughout the day, RSW’s have to be ready to respond to emotional crises, behavioural issues, or moments of distress. Many of our young people have experienced trauma, which can sometimes manifest in challenging behaviour. We ensure our RSW’s are trained to remain calm, patient, and composed in difficult situations, offering emotional support and practical solutions to help the children cope with their feelings.

In addition to supporting the children’s emotional needs, our RSW’s also act as role models, guiding them in life skills such as communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution. This helps foster independence, self-esteem, and a sense of responsibility.

Emotional Fulfilment and Challenges

One of the most fulfilling aspects of working in a residential children’s home is witnessing the positive impact of your support. Seeing a young person achieve something they once struggled with, whether it's improving their behaviour, excelling in school, or simply feeling more confident, is incredibly rewarding.

Working in a residential children's home offers a unique blend of emotional fulfilment and challenges. The emotional rewards come from building meaningful relationships with the young people, watching them grow, overcome obstacles, and gain confidence in themselves. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a child make progress, whether it’s learning to trust again, achieving academic success, or simply experiencing a moment of joy. However, the role also presents emotional challenges, as many of the young people have experienced trauma, which can manifest in difficult behaviours such as anger, withdrawal, or distrust. It can be emotionally draining to navigate these complex emotions, especially when progress feels slow or setbacks occur. Balancing the emotional highs of helping young people thrive with the lows of handling crises or emotional breakdowns requires resilience and a deep commitment to the well-being of the young people, making the work both rewarding and demanding.

If you're interested in joining our care team, explore what life is like below.