Salary: £35,570 to £36,581 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Wigton and Burgh by Sands

Contract: Permanent

About this opportunity
Cumberland Council is seeking to recruit several Residential Support Workers to join two brand-new children’s homes, providing a unique opportunity to help shape a caring, supportive and therapeutic environment from day one.

As a Residential Support Worker, you will play a vital role in helping children and young people who have experienced trauma, attachment difficulties, social exclusion, and challenges with their emotional health and wellbeing. Through building positive relationships, providing emotional and practical support, and promoting stability and resilience, you will help young people feel safe, valued and empowered to achieve their potential.

Working as part of a dedicated and supportive team, you will create a nurturing home environment where children and young people can thrive. You will support them in developing important life skills, participating in education, leisure and community activities, maintaining family connections where appropriate, and having their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives.

This is a rewarding opportunity for compassionate and resilient individuals who are passionate about making a lasting difference. Whether supporting day-to-day routines, helping young people through challenges, or celebrating their achievements, you will play an important part in improving outcomes and creating brighter futures for children in care.

In return, you will join an ambitious and growing service committed to high-quality, child-centred care, with opportunities for training, development and career progression as we build outstanding homes where children can feel a true sense of belonging.

These roles are available on a permanent basis.

Why join us?

• A lifestyle you won’t find elsewhere – Living and working in Cumbria offers the best of both worlds. You’ll have a fulfilling and rewarding career while being surrounded by stunning landscapes, from the world-famous Lake District National Park to unspoilt coastlines and vibrant market towns. Whether you enjoy hiking, water sports, cycling, or simply relaxing in a picturesque setting, Cumbria provides an outstanding quality of life.
• Supportive environment – You’ll be part of a team that values collaboration, compassion, and innovation. We focus on potential over perfection, giving you opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career.

Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Contact

For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Nathan Warn by email at nathan.warn@cumbria.gov.uk

DBS Checks

This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is:

Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.

Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with Children.

Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
• Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview information

• Closing date: 06^th October 2026
• Interview date: W/c 12^th October 2026

If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk.

Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.

Please read the supporting information:

• Post Specification

Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:

• Our Staff Benefits
• Candidate Support
• About Cumberland Council