Apprenticeship and Graduate Program: Bright Futures Academy – Support Worker

At Bright Futures, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Our mission is to support vulnerable children and young people to overcome adversity, develop confidence, and build successful futures.

We are offering exciting opportunities within our residential children's homes in South-East London through two distinct pathways – an Apprenticeship Programme and a Graduate Development Programme. Whether you are just starting out or already hold a degree, there is a place for you at Bright Futures.

Working in residential childcare provides a unique opportunity to develop expertise in:

• Trauma-informed and therapeutic care
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Behaviour support and de-escalation
• Emotional wellbeing and resilience
• Multi-agency working
• Leadership and management
• Regulatory compliance and quality assurance

• Structured professional development plans
• Industry-recognised qualifications
• Dedicated mentoring and coaching from experienced practitioners
• Hands‑on experience within a residential children's home
• A clear pathway into permanent employment and further career development
• Opportunity for overtime

A paid role working towards a nationally recognised Level 3/4 qualification in Residential Childcare. No degree is required. What matters most is your character, professionalism, emotional intelligence, commitment to safeguarding, and determination to positively impact the lives of young people.

Salary: £18,000–£22,000 per annum

Working hours: Up to 20 hours per week, with opportunity for overtime.

Successful apprentices will be considered for an accelerated pathway into the Graduate Development Programme.

Key Requirements:

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent) — no degree required
• A genuine commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and personal accountability
• Resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence
• Positive energy and a solution-focused mindset
• A commitment to safeguarding and regulatory compliance
• Willingness to work shifts, including evenings and weekends

A structured development opportunity for graduates with a 2:2 degree (or equivalent) or above.

Whether your background is in psychology, therapy, social work, counselling, education, nursing, business, engineering, the arts, or another discipline, we are interested in individuals who are intelligent, resilient, ambitious, and committed to helping others succeed. Whilst previous experience within children’s services is beneficial, it is not essential.

Salary: £20,000–£25,000 per annum

Working hours: 20 to 40 hours per week, with opportunity for overtime.

Exceptional candidates may be invited to join the Bright Futures Leadership Academy — our flagship three-year accelerated development programme combining hands‑on experience, professional qualifications, leadership development, and executive mentoring. Participants will gain exposure to residential care and operations, therapeutic practice, service development and innovation, quality assurance and compliance, workforce leadership, and business operations.

Key Requirements:

• A 2:2 degree or above, or equivalent professional experience
• A genuine commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and personal accountability
• Resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence
• Positive energy and a solution-focused mindset
• A commitment to safeguarding and regulatory compliance
• Willingness to work shifts, including evenings and weekends

Successful candidates across both pathways will be considered for accelerated progression into senior practitioner, team leader, deputy manager, and future leadership opportunities across the Bright Futures group. Many participants may also use the programme as a stepping stone towards careers in children’s social care, residential home leadership, psychology and therapeutic services, social work, education and youth services, family support and safeguarding, and wider leadership and management roles.

Our ambition is simple: to develop outstanding professionals who will become future leaders, advocates, and changemakers for vulnerable children.