social_careCloses in 13 days

Residential Child Care Worker (SPACE Hub) | Children's Residential Service | Lancaster

Lancashire County Council

Lancaster, LA1 2JHView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Salary

£29,071 to £33,119

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time

Closing date

31 October 2026

13 days left

Job description

| Salary £29,071 - £33,119 per annum* | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Lancaster |

Plus enhancements for shift work, weekend working and sleep-in duty

Visa Sponsorship – this role cannot offer visa sponsorship

As part of our "Where Our Children Live" programme, we are seeking dedicated Residential Child Care Workers to join the teams at our newly launched SPACE Hub, located in Lancaster

This initiative is focused on creating safe, supportive homes for Lancashire children and forms a key part of our wider strategy to modernise and expand residential childcare across the county.

About us…

SPACE (Supporting and Preventing Additional Care Experiences) hubs offer a dynamic, community-based approach to care and support for children, young people and families. This is a new, exciting initiative designed to support children, young people and families across Lancashire.

Diversion from care – offering immediate and preventative support to help families stay together.
Reunification – supporting children in care to return safely to their families.
Stabilisation of care arrangements – strengthening existing care arrangements including SGO, foster care and more to prevent unplanned endings
Tailored support – enhancing our Pause and Reflect care arrangements and the 16/17 year old homeless protocol.

The SPACE hubs represent a significant step forward in our commitment to early intervention, family preservation and care stability.

As a Residential Child Care Worker in our SPACE Hubs, you will be responsible for delivering early intervention and targeted support to families facing a range of challenges. You will work directly with children, young people, parents and carers, in their homes and community settings, providing one-to-one interventions that promote emotional wellbeing and resilience. Your role will involve planning and leading purposeful activities designed to build confidence and strengthen relationships. You will collaborate closely with schools, social workers, and other professionals to ensure a coordinated approach to support. Through your work, you will help families develop stronger connections and achieve positive, lasting outcomes.

This role will involve working on a Rota Basis, working a mix of days, evenings, weekends and sleep-in shifts.

About you…

We are seeking individuals who are committed to empowering parents and enabling young people to thrive. Our ideal candidate is someone who has:

Experience working with older children & young people in a community-based setting.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build meaningful relationships.
Understanding of the needs of children and young people and the relevant legislation surrounding their care.
Excellent communication skills, and the ability to respond appropriately to challenging behaviour.

It is key to us that any worker joining the Residential team has the skills, abilities, and outlook that our children tell us they need from us. When asked what they would want from a Residential Child Care Worker in our home, our children ultimately wanted someone who has time to listen, takes action, makes great food and ultimately will spend time with them.

If you have a passion for building relationships with children and motivation to make a meaningful difference, then we want to hear from you!

By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you with the opportunity to gain personal and professional qualifications - Lancashire County Council really is the place where you can have the career you've always wanted.

In return for your passion, we also offer a generous benefits package which includes:

A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions and optional Additional Voluntary Contributions.
A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which rises with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.

To apply for a post, you can apply via the 'Apply Now' button below. Please ensure you attach the following:

CV
Supporting Statement

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

If you would like more information regarding the role, please contact our Talent Team, via email – talent@lancashire.gov.uk, to arrange an informal chat.

Closing Date: 31 October 2026

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.