WHO CAN WORK AT WILDERNESS WAY?
Our diverse colleagues, who join us from all backgrounds and careers, use their skills, training and personalities to form the strong bonds with our children that enable them to thrive.
You don’t need any qualifications to apply for a role with Wilderness Way. What we look for in our colleagues is the ability to inspire and engage children, and the passion, patience and commitment needed to guide them towards a successful future.
There has been a great turnaround with this young man. He has had a break from being in a very dangerous situation, and has engaged in activities and rebuilt his character and self-esteem. Although he was only with Wilderness for a short time, it has had a significant impact on his emotional wellbeing, safety and outlook on life.
DAY IN THE LIFE
Residential Support Worker
We asked Michelle, one of our Residential Support Workers, about her experiences of being an RSW and what this involves on a daily basis.
JOIN THE TEAM
ROLES AT WILDERNESS WAY
There are a wide range of opportunities to join the Wilderness team in our care, education, outdoor and support services.
WHAT YOU GET
Work-life balance
Condensed shifts of 2 days on and 4 days off with one additional day per month, on average.
Holiday
5.6 weeks annual leave per annum, with additional leave at 2 years and 5 years’ service.
Benefits
A package of company benefits that work for you.
Learning Academy
An in-depth induction, six-month welcome programme, and fully funded enrolment on our Highfield Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
A CULTURE OF CARE
Alongside being able to look after our fantastic children, working at Wilderness means being part of a community who truly care about each other. Our CARE values – Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy – are lived and breathed by our whole community.
We know that without the hard work and dedication of our colleagues, our children would not be able to achieve the outstanding outcomes that we see every day. We therefore ensure that our colleagues receive the highest quality training, career progression, work-life balance, company benefits and highly competitive salaries.
TRAINING & CAREER PROGRESSION
We value and nurture the talent of our colleagues and ensure they are supported to complete relevant qualifications and progress their careers.
Through our sector-leading Learning and Development Academy, we support all our RSW’s to complete the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, which is delivered in-house. But don’t worry if it’s been a while since you last studied, as our team of learning assessors will support and guide you through the qualification with engaging workshops, online training and ‘on-the-job’ learning.
We also support our existing managers, and colleagues aspiring to management positions, to study for the Level 5 Children, Young People and Families Manager (Residential) Diploma, delivered in partnership with The Childcare Company.
Our support for the career progression of our colleagues means that many of our Residential Support Workers have progressed onto senior roles such as Care Coordinator or Senior RSW. Many RSWs and SRSWs have also progressed to become Assistant Managers, and Assistant Managers have progressed to become Registered Service Managers.
BENEFITS THAT WORK FOR YOU
Our company benefits programme offers our colleagues a wide range of health, wellbeing and financial benefits, including an Employee Assistance Programme, virtual GP and contributions to healthcare costs through Medicash. We hold regular health and wellbeing initiatives, including our recent ‘Menopause Month’ and a session with local charity Andy’s Man Club.
Our ‘Wilderness Heroes’ scheme recognises the outstanding achievements of our colleagues each month with cash prizes for individuals and teams. We ensure that we come together regularly as community to have fun and celebrate each other, taking part in events such as Carlisle Pride and Penrith Winter Droving, and holding family fun days and team building activities. We also take advantage of the great outdoors, offering activities for our colleagues such as ‘pizza and paddleboarding’, mountain biking, bushcraft and climbing. No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a priority, and we promote a positive work-life balance. You will typically work 2 days on, including sleep-ins, and 4 days off, with one additional working day each month.
This means you will effectively work 10-11 days a month and receive a full-time wage. We operate block shift patterns on a rota basis, averaging 39 hours a week. We don’t have rolling rota patterns and have fixed teams around each child. You will be able to have flexible rota patterns that suit your needs.
If you would like to join our dynamic team we would love to hear from you! You can find our latest job vacancies here. Effectively you will work 10-11 days a month and receive a full-time wage, enabling you to pursue your own interests and explore our beautiful outdoor location.
