Job Description
Brighter Futures for Children
About Us
Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.
We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of childrens social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.
Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
Our Home
Pinecroft shared care service is dedicated to supporting children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and/or sensory impairment. We pride ourselves in offering high quality personalised care to the most vulnerable and complex children aged 8-18. Our goal is to transform lives by being passionate, committed and creative in everything we do. We believe improved outcomes for children are possible through a proactive and consistent approach, where learning through play and accessing the community is essential.
About The Role
This role has a starting salary of £28,508.50 per annum (Including 15% shift allowance), based on a 37-hour week rising up to £31,359.35 per annum. Enhanced rates of pay are available for overtime.
The role requires staff to work 4 nights a week on a shift pattern rota, night shifts are from 9:45pm to 7:15am, shifts will include a combination of weekdays, alternate weekends and religious celebration days. The home will be closed on bank holidays unless we have an emergency admission. This shift-based role involves personal care/manual handling which can be physically demanding, domestic duties including preparation of meals and cleaning, medication administration, and report writing. Pinecroft invests heavily in the continued professional development of its staff, once you have completed your probation, we will offer the opportunity to gain the nationally recognised Level 4 children and young peoples and familys practitioner residential pathway qualification.
For more information about the role, please read the job description and person specification.
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and youll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A Competitive Salary Alongside a Range Of Benefits Including
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
- Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years service)
- Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Season train ticket loans
- Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
- A range of local shopping discounts
For more information and a confidential discussion, please contact Helena Baptista, Registered Manager on 0118 937 2993 or email at
Inclusion and Diversity
We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.
Asking for Adjustments
Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.
If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.
Please note we have the right to close the advert early upon receipt of sufficient applications.
Closing date: 26th August 2025
Interview date: W/C 1st September 2025
Interview Type
- First interview will include written task and verbal interview.
- Second Interview will include a 3-hour trial shift to meet the children.
We look forward to hearing from you!
In January 2025 the decision was made to bring Childrens Services (currently operating as Brighter Futures for Children Ltd (BFfC)) back in-house to Reading Borough Council (RBC).
All staff employed by BFfC on 30 September 2025 will transfer, via the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), to the Council on 1 October 2025.
For new starters who BFfC confirms before 27 September 2025 their pre-employment checks are completed and a start date agreed will be issued with a BFfC contact and will transfer to RBC.
For new starters whose pre-employment checks have not been completed and / or a start date has not been agreed before 27 September, you will be issued with an RBC contract and your start date will not be before 6 October 2025.
LNKD1_UKTJ
