Residential social workers, also known as residential support workers or care officers, provide support to vulnerable residents of care homes, children’s homes, hostels, adult and youth centres. They frequently work alongside qualified social workers, doctors and other professionals, for example, within housing or education.

Residential social workers support three main groups of people.

Children and young people
Working with this group involves assessing the needs of each child, and establishing guidelines for behaviour. Young people require social and emotional support, and a safe and happy environment in which to live. Residential social workers will provide leisure, sporting and creative stimulation. They act as a positive role model, and give advice on independent living to those who are about to leave formal care.

Adults 
Working with this group will often involve helping the client to develop daily living skills such as budgeting, shopping, and claiming benefits. These clients are likely to need encouragement to create and maintain social and personal relationships, which may be through involvement in the wider community and participation in leisure activities.

Older people 
Working with this group involves making sure that residents are treated with dignity, and are living in a safe, comfortable and stimulating environment.

Other client groups residential social workers may work with include:

• drug/alcohol dependent adults or young people
• adults who are physically disabled
• people with learning difficulties 
• individuals with mental health problems.

A key part of this work involves devising and implementing care plans which have been agreed with residents, their families, outside agencies, and other health care professionals. Using counselling, teaching, therapeutic and physical care skills, they encourage residents to become as independent as possible.

Other tasks may include:

• recruiting and training other members of staff, and foster parents
• accompanying residents on trips and holidays
• attending meetings, writing reports and maintaining case notes.

Residential social workers must remain objective at all times, and act sympathetically and in the residents’ best interests; this may mean restricting their liberty in accordance with the law. Senior residential social workers may be involved with staff supervision, and will have additional administrative and financial responsibilities.

Hours and Environment

Residential social workers typically work 35-40 hours a week, including shifts, weekend and evening work, with a rota for sleeping in. There may be on-call duties in the event of an emergency. Part-time work may be available.

They are usually based in children's homes, hostels, adult or youth centres. These may either be purpose-built or adapted houses.

Skills and Interests

To be a residential social worker, you need:

• the ability to communicate well with a wide range of people from different backgrounds
• to be able to interpret and respond to residents’ needs with sensitivity and patience
• the ability to help people cope with painful situations and decisions
• to be able to anticipate and cope with demanding and stressful situations
• an open-mind, flexibility and the ability to cope with change
• to be self-motivated and able to motivate others
• strong organisational and negotiating skills
• to be able to detach from work when necessary
• to enjoy working as part of a team
• an understanding of appropriate legislation.

Entry

Many residential social workers prepare for this role by doing one of the following:

• volunteering and gaining experience in a caring role
• working with local youth clubs, paid or unpaid 
• working as a care assistant with people who are physically or mentally disabled
• working as a social work assistant (check this job profile for more details).

Local social services departments, the Community Service Volunteers and Volunteering England can give you advice about relevant, local volunteering opportunities.

Having a qualification such as a BTEC (Edexcel), CACHE or vocational A levels in subjects such as health and social care, or childcare may give you an advantage when applying for work in this area.

Those wishing to work in the social work sector must declare any criminal convictions and certain types of conviction may prevent entry to the social work field. For further information, contact the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

Training

As a residential social worker you may be encouraged to undertake a relevant NVQ/SVQ level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (formerly known as NVQ in Care). Within this qualification you can specialise in working with children and young people, or adults.

Some residential social workers gain recognition of their level of expertise by working towards a foundation degree in a subject such as health and social care, or assisting professional practice. Check the entry requirements with each institution; relevant work experience and vocational qualifications are highly regarded. With this qualification there is the potential to enter year two of a social work degree and become a qualified social worker.

For career progression you may need to qualify as a social worker, which will involve studying for an approved degree or postgraduate qualification in social work. Courses are available full- or part-time, and by distance learning. Some employers will sponsor unqualified residential social workers during their studies. For more information, check the Social Worker job profile.

Note: The register for social care workers is currently open to qualified (and student) social workers. In the future all social care workers will be required to join the register and abide by an established code of practice. For more details on professional registration please check the GSCC for England, and the regional councils listed in Further Information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Opportunities

Many residential social workers work with local authorities, however, an increasing number work within the private sector, with voluntary agencies and with specialist employment agencies. Work is available in most areas of the UK, and self-employment and freelance work is sometimes possible. It is common to transfer from the public to the private sector.

Qualified social workers are very much in demand, and depending on experience and qualifications, rapid career progression is possible.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

New or probationary residential social workers earn around £15,000 a year.
Qualified or experienced residential social workers earn between £19,000 and £27,300.
Senior residential social workers may earn over £28,000.

Salaries may be lower in the private sector. Occasionally, free or subsidised accommodation is provided.

Further information

Tel: 0845 604 6404 Albion Court
5 Albion Place
Leeds
LS1 6JL
Tel: 0113 245 1716 7th Floor, Millennium House
19-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7AQ
Tel: 028 9041 7600 Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
Tel: 01382 207101 2 Hay's Lane
London
SE1 2HB
Tel: 020 7397 5800
Registration helpline: 0845 070 0630 South Gate House
Wood Street
Cardiff
CF10 1EW
Tel: 029 2022 6257