Children's Residential Break Leader (Fixed Term Summer Role)

Location: Cardfields Centre, Chelmsford, Essex

About the Role

As a Break Leader, you will be part of an inspirational team delivering residential breaks for children aged 8–13 who are facing challenges in their lives. Our breaks offer children the opportunity to step away from day-to-day pressures, build confidence, form positive relationships and enjoy safe, joyful experiences in the outdoors.

This fixed-term summer role will begin with a training and induction week, followed by four weeks of residential delivery. The role includes evening work and overnight residential duties on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting Children and Young People

• Help create a safe, nurturing and positive environment for children throughout the residential break.
• Support children’s emotional and social wellbeing, including managing transitions, friendships, homesickness and behaviour.
• Act as a positive and responsible role model at all times.
• Work collaboratively with the wider team to ensure the health, safety and welfare of children is never compromised.

Delivery of Breaks

• Support the smooth day-to-day running of residential breaks.
• Help facilitate a varied and engaging programme of activities and games, sometimes leading activities and at other times supporting children’s participation in activities delivered by Cardfields staff and external providers.
• Assist with preparation and set-up for activities and group sessions.
• Create end-of-week materials such as certificates, diaries and photo compilations for children.
• Maintain responsibility for petty cash floats where required and complete associated records accurately.

Team Working

• Work positively and collaboratively with other staff members, volunteers and external partners.
• Attend staff meetings, debriefs and handovers as required.
• Support and guide volunteers to help them contribute positively to the break experience.
• Undertake additional reasonable tasks required for the safe and effective running of the residential programme.

Commitment to Safeguarding Children

Everyone who works at Go Beyond shares responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicant will be required to:

• Comply with all safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Attend mandatory safeguarding training.
• Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with our policies and procedures.
• Complete behavioural, safeguarding and incident reports where required.
• Safely and accurately manage and log children’s medication and support them to take it.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Experience of working with children aged 8–13, preferably within a residential, youth work, education, play or pastoral setting, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Ability to build positive relationships with children while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Emotional maturity and the ability to apply sound judgement in sensitive or challenging situations.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work positively as part of a team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to complete written records accurately.
• Good IT skills, including the use of standard Microsoft Office software.
• Availability and willingness to work in a residential setting, including evenings and overnight duties.
• Ability and willingness to drive 9-seater vehicles carrying children, young people and staff. (Please note: you must be aged 21 or over and have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of one year in order to meet our insurance requirements).
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the values and ethos of Go Beyond.

Desirable

• Current First Aid qualification.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and best practice.
• Experience of working alongside volunteers.
• Experience of report writing and incident recording.
• Experience of contributing to risk assessments or safe working practices.
• Experience of residential childcare, youth work or outdoor learning environments.

Working Pattern

The role will begin with a training and induction week commencing 27 July 2026. Training is expected to be primarily online, although some in-person training or meetings may take place. Residential delivery will run from 3 August to 28 August 2026. During this period, the Employee will work shifts averaging 38 hours per week across the duration of the contract. Working days will fall between Monday and Friday.

The role includes evening work and overnight residential duties on a rota basis. Break Leaders will typically undertake two sleep-ins per week, although there may sometimes be a requirement for additional overnight duties.

Accommodation and food throughout residential delivery weeks can be provided at no cost to the Employee. On evenings where the Employee is not rota’d to work overnight, they may either remain onsite or leave site entirely and will not be considered on duty.

How to Apply:

To apply, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Break Leader – South East and attaching:

• A CV of no more than 2 pages
• A short cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and suitability to the role

Applications must reach us by 9am on Monday 15th June 2026.

Interviews will take place in person in Central London on Wednesday 24th June 2026.

Go Beyond is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We warmly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and those with lived experience of the issues facing the children we support.

As part of our safer recruitment requirements, shortlisted candidates will also be asked to complete a brief application form providing full employment history before interview. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as part of Go Beyond’s commitment to safeguarding children. This will be organised and funded by Go Beyond.

If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to get in touch.

We look forward to hearing from you.