Stable Loving Homes
Reading Borough Council is investing in a new model of children’s residential care – local children’s homes which put relationships, safety, and stability at the heart to provide a homely, caring and nurturing environment where our children can grow, thrive, make friends and learn skills for independence.
We’re building a skilled and compassionate team to bring this vision to life and provide exceptional care for children and young people in Reading.
Brighter Futures for Children is part of Reading Borough Council and delivers children's services across Reading
Putting children at the heart of our service development, we are currently recruiting for three brand new local children’s homes as part of our responsibility to protect and enhance the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Reading and to help them lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
Scroll down for more information and recruitment links.
What are Stable Loving Homes?
We have three new homes designed to meet the therapeutic needs of older children and young people in Reading. All of the children’s homes will provide nurturing, homely environments where staff teams and wider services work together to support children and encourage aspirational thinking.
Click the headings below to learn more about the type of support each home provides.
Cherry Tree House is a small therapeutic children’s home for up to two children aged between 11-17 years old who require higher than usual levels of care and nurture to meet their needs and protect their safety.
Oak Tree House is an assessment home for up to four children between the ages of 12-17 years old. Children will live at Oak Tree House for a period of 12-16 weeks while we assess their needs and work with their family to support them moving on to a home where they can reach their full potential.
Lime Tree House is a mid- to long-term children’s home for up to four children between the ages of 12-17 years old.
Children whose care plans recognise their needs are best met in a children’s home will live with us here.
We also have existing and well-established homes for children and young people with complex disabilities.
Shared Care children’s home for children with complex disabilities aged 8-18 years old.
Short breaks children’s home providing overnight short breaks for children with complex disabilities aged 8-18 years old.
We're recruiting to the below roles
Now is a great time to join the team and help establish a truly nurturing environment for both residents and staff. Click the headings below for more information about each role, plus links to apply.
Full-time, Permanent post
Salary: £29,841–£35,675 per year (includes 15% shift allowance)
Closing date: 10 May 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference:DOC0056
We’re now building our teams to bring our new children’s homes to life, with start dates expected from May 2026.
If you’re compassionate, resilient and child?centred, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.
This is work that matters: It’s emotional, rewarding, challenging and genuinely life changing. It’s also interesting with no two days the same.
For more details and to apply, click the button below.
Full-time, Permanent post
Salary: £29,841–£32,363 per year (includes 15% shift allowance)
Closing date: 10 May 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference:DOC0057
We’re now building our teams to bring our new children’s homes to life, with start dates expected from May 2026.
If you’re compassionate, resilient and child-centred, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.
This is work that matters: It’s emotional, rewarding, challenging and genuinely life changing. It’s also interesting with no two days the same.
You don’t need previous residential experience – we care most about your values and how you show up for children. We’re looking for people who are:
- Kind, reliable and child-focused
- Calm under pressure and resilient
- Great communicators
- Willing to learn and complete the Level 3 diploma
- Able to work flexibly as part of a supportive team
- Hold a driving licence and can drive the home’s vehicle
- Willing to work shifts including weekends and nights
For more details and to apply, click the button below.
Part-time, casual/sessional post
Salary: £13.45 per hour
Closing date: 10 May 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference: DOC0058
We’re now building our teams to bring our new children’s homes to life, with start dates expected from May 2026.
If you’re compassionate, resilient and child-centred, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.
This is work that matters: It’s emotional, rewarding, challenging and genuinely life changing. It’s also interesting with no two days the same.
You don’t need previous residential experience – we care most about your values and how you show up for children. We’re looking for people who are:
- Kind, reliable and child-focused
- Calm under pressure and resilient
- Great communicators
- Willing to learn and complete the Level 3 diploma
- Able to work flexibly as part of a supportive team
- Hold a driving licence and can drive the home’s vehicle
- Willing to work shifts including weekends and nights
For more details and to apply, click the button below.
FAQs
Our children’s homes provide a caring/nurturing home to our children 365 days a year, 24 hours a day so our staff teams are needed to be there to care for our children every step of the way, including weekends, nights and bank holidays. Please see below for more information about the expectations of the role and questions you may have. If you have any other queries, please contact Children’s Homes Service Manger, Claire Lewis claire.lewis@reading.gov.uk.
All working hours are spent at the children’s home with the children. As part of your studies, you will be given study days to support your learning and development. These study days can usually be completed from home or another office location, depending on what best supports your learning.
An early shift is 7am (8am on weekends and Bank Holidays) – 3pm and a late shift is 2pm – 10pm. A shift that includes sleeping in the home is 2pm – 11pm, then retiring in the staff bedroom provided until coming back on shift at 7am. On occasions there may be day shifts (8am-4pm, 9am – 5pm or 10am – 6pm) to meet the needs of the children who live with us.
This varies depending on the children’s home you are working in. On average, the sleeping shifts are rota’d once or twice a week.
On occasion the needs of the role may mean you need to support a child through the night. If this is unplanned you will be relieved at the earliest opportunity by another member of the team to enable you to rest.
Some of the children’s homes have residential childcare assistants (nights) as we can foresee our children will require support throughout the night. The working pattern for these roles are 9.45pm – 7.15am.
Rotas will be provided two months in advance.
On average you will work two weekends a month.
Yes, we have a large learning and development offer in Reading to make sure everyone who works in our children’s homes have the skills and knowledge they need to be able to confidently care and support our children.
It is an Ofsted requirement that all staff in the team who work in the children’s homes have a minimum of a Level 3 diploma in Caring for Children and Young People (residential). Everyone is fully funded to obtain this qualification alongside other learning and development courses.