Why Work With Us
The Amegreen Way
Since 2013, Amegreen Children’s Services has been a home away from home for some of the most vulnerable children in society. We provide specialist therapeutic residential care and education for young people aged 5 to 18, in beautiful, rural settings across West Berkshire and Hampshire that are calm, grounding and unlike anywhere else you could work in residential care.
The children who come to us have often faced more in their short lives than most people face in a lifetime. Through the PACE model, Developmental Trauma and Attachment Theory, we walk alongside them as they rebuild their experience of the world. Through our alternative provision, Stable Futures, we also deliver therapeutic, animal-assisted and outdoor education that supports engagement, confidence and meaningful progress.
Our homes are consistently rated Outstanding and Good by Ofsted, something we are incredibly proud of. We also run three specialist schools, Haywards Farm School, Juniper House School and Northcroft School, so that learning and home life work truly hand in hand.
Everything You Need to Thrive
At Amegreen, we believe that when you feel valued, supported and inspired, the children in your care feel it too. What we offer goes far beyond a salary or a job title. It is a promise, from us to you, that you will find meaning in your work, belonging in your team, and a career that genuinely grows as you do.
Everything we offer is built around four things: the difference you make, the community you belong to, the growth we invest in, and the reward you receive. Together, they reflect what it truly means to work at Amegreen.
Purpose & Impact
Every child who comes to Amegreen has a story. Many have faced things no child should ever have to face – young people aged 5 to 18 living with social, emotional and mental health needs, learning disabilities and histories of trauma. Every single person who works here, whether in our homes, our schools or our alternative provision, plays a part in helping them write a better one.
Everything we do is guided by the PACE model – Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy. It is not just a framework; it is the way we speak, the way we listen and the way we show up for children every single day.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple but powerful belief: that every child deserves a safe environment where they can rebuild their experience of the world, find trust, form relationships and discover a genuine sense of belonging. That is why we are here. If you join us, it will be why you are here too.
Culture & Belonging
At Amegreen, you will never feel like you are going it alone. From the moment you join us, you become part of a values-driven team where consistency, reliability and genuine care for one another are celebrated every day, because these are the very qualities that make children feel safe, and they matter just as much within our teams.
Every member of staff is trained in PACE from day one, so you will always share the same language, understand the why behind what you are seeing, and know that the person beside you sees the world the same way you do.
Our settings are beautiful, rural and genuinely warm, places that feel like home because that is exactly what they are meant to be. The people leading our organisation are not distant figures behind a desk. They are registered social workers with decades of frontline experience, visible, accessible and deeply invested in your growth and your wellbeing.
We also believe that loyalty deserves to be recognised. At Amegreen, long service and consistent commitment do not go unnoticed. They are celebrated, rewarded and genuinely appreciated, because the people who show up for our children every day deserve to feel that someone is showing up for them too.
Career Growth & Learning
At Amegreen, your growth matters to us as much as the children’s. From the moment you walk through the door, you will be supported by experienced practitioners who genuinely want to see you thrive, whether you are completely new to residential care or already on your way to a leadership role.
We offer a clear and supported path from Therapeutic Residential Worker all the way through to Team Leader, Deputy Manager and Registered Manager, with funded qualifications along the way, including the Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce and the Level 4 Children, Young People and Families Practitioner.
In your first 12 months alone you will receive over 100 hours of structured training and CPD, covering everything from PACE and trauma-informed care to substance misuse and equine therapy, it does not stop there. Regular reflective supervision and monthly one-to-ones make sure your wellbeing and your development are always front and centre, not just your performance.
We are growing, with new homes and opportunities opening all the time, which means that for the right people, stepping into a leadership role is not a distant dream. At Amegreen, it is something that happens here every single day.
Compensation & Benefits
We believe that looking after you goes far beyond your working hours. That is why we offer life insurance worth four times your basic annual salary, giving you and your family genuine peace of mind. Our health cash plan through Health Shield helps you cover everyday healthcare costs, and our free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme is there for you any time of the day or night, whenever life gets tough.
We also want to make sure your future is taken care of, which is why we offer an award-winning pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions that truly invests in your long-term wellbeing.
Because we know that rest and time away from work matter too, our staff have access to a free holiday home on the south coast. A little thank you for everything you give to the children and families in our care.
Life at Amegreen
Working at Amegreen is unlike any other residential care role. Our small, homely settings mean you truly get to know each child and see the tangible difference your work makes day by day. You are not one of hundreds – you are a known, valued, and integral part of our community.
From day one, you will be trained in PACE alongside your whole team, so you are never guessing, never working alone, and never without a shared language for what you are experiencing. Every member of staff works from the same therapeutic foundation, which means the care is consistent, the team is united, and the children feel safe.
We know this work is demanding, but we also know it is extraordinary. Seeing a child who has experienced trauma begin to trust, to smile, to build an attachment — these are the moments our staff describe as the most meaningful of their careers.
1.
No two days are the same
Working in our small, homely settings means you are fully immersed in each child’s journey, witnessing progress up close and feeling the real weight of the difference you make.
2.
You are seen, you are valued
Unlike larger organisations where you can feel invisible, at Amegreen every member of staff is a known and integral part of the community, not just a name on a rota.
3.
From your very first day, you are never alone
PACE training brings the whole team together with a shared language and therapeutic understanding, so you always know you have the knowledge and the people around you to draw on.
4.
Consistency is at the heart of everything we do
When every staff member works from the same therapeutic foundation, the children feel it. They feel safe, they feel held, and that is when real progress begins.
5.
This work will challenge you — and it will change you
The moment a child who has known only trauma begins to trust, to smile, to reach out, is something our staff carry with them for the rest of their careers.
What We Look for in Our People
We believe the best people are defined by who they are, not just what they have done.
More than anything, we are looking for people who genuinely care. People who are warm, patient and empathetic, who listen as much as they speak, and who bring a calm, steady presence to everything they do. The children we support have often had very little consistency in their lives, and what they need more than anything is adults who show up, keep their word and are the same person every single day. That kind of reliability is not just a nice quality to have at Amegreen; it is at the very heart of the work we do.
We also value people who communicate well and work openly with colleagues, families and external partners, because great care is never delivered alone. It takes a whole team, pulling in the same direction, with the same values and the same commitment to the children at the centre of it all.
If you have never worked in residential care before, please do not let that stop you from applying. Experience is valuable, but it is not everything. If you have the right values, the right attitude and a genuine desire to make a difference, we will give you all the training, mentoring and support you need to build a career you are truly proud of.
What It’s Like to Work Here
Ready to grow with Amegreen?
If you care deeply about making a difference in children’s lives, we want to hear from you. Explore our current vacancies and take the first step in a truly meaningful career.