Role: Senior Residential Care Worker
Location: Closeburn, Dumfriesshire
Salary: Up to £32,503.95 per annum (depending on qualifications, including sleep ins plus on call payments)
Hours: Full-Time, Permanent (39 hours per week) | Rolling rota, 5 days out of 7
Essential: Full UK Driving Licence

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role
Looking for a role where you can lead, support and make a genuine difference to young lives? At Options Autism, we’re passionate about helping children and young people with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties build confidence, develop independence and achieve positive futures. We’re looking for an experienced and compassionate Senior Residential Care Worker to join our team in Dumfriesshire.

As a Senior Residential Care Worker, you’ll combine hands on support with additional leadership responsibilities, helping guide and develop colleagues while ensuring our young people receive consistent, high quality care. You’ll be a trusted role model, creating a safe, nurturing environment where every young person feels valued, understood and encouraged to achieve their potential.

This is an opportunity to use your experience to make a visible impact every day, while continuing to develop your own career within residential childcare.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting children and young people with their daily routines, individual needs and personal development
• Administering medication safely and in line with agreed procedures
• Leading, supporting and mentoring Residential Care Workers to maintain consistently high standards of care
• Supporting young people to attend appointments, activities and community based opportunities
• Completing accurate care records and other required documentation
• Promoting independence, confidence and essential life skills through everyday experiences
• Maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, wellbeing and person centred care
• Supporting the Deputy Manager with the development, guidance and day to day leadership of the wider team

We're Looking for Someone Who Has:
Mandatory:

• HNC in Social Care, SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) SCQF 7 (Level 3) or equivalent
• Willingness to work towards an SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) SCQF 9 (Level 4)
• A minimum of 2 years’ supervisory experience
• A Full UK Driving Licence

Personal Qualities:

• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people to achieve positive outcomes
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to lead, guide and support colleagues
• A patient, compassionate and resilient approach
• The ability to remain calm, consistent and supportive when situations become challenging
• A positive and proactive attitude with the ability to lead by example
• Strong relationship building skills and the ability to create trust with young people and colleagues
• A commitment to providing safe, nurturing and high quality care
• A desire to continue learning, developing and progressing within residential childcare

The Location
Holistic Childcare and Education consists of two specialist homes: Closeburn House and Maben House.

Closeburn House supports young people aged 10–16 years, while Maben House supports young people aged 6–16 years. Both homes are within commuting distance of Dumfries, Lockerbie and surrounding areas.

Our homes are dedicated to helping young people develop independence, life skills and personal interests, creating opportunities for brighter futures.

Every day is different, offering both challenge and reward as you support young people in a safe and nurturing environment where they are listened to, respected and encouraged to thrive.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Options Autism?
We place children and young people at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

• Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced Family Growth Support
• Critical Illness Cover
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Develop Your Career
We invest heavily in our people.

• Fully funded qualifications
• "Journey to Management" Programme
• Opportunities to progress into Deputy Manager and Management roles

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.