Support Worker - Buntingford
Keys Group
From £62.64 per hour
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Respectful managers
- Proper training
About Keys Group
Keys Group provides care and support to children.
Job description from Keys Group
Children's Residential Support Worker
Buntingford
£14.05 - £14.75 Plus Sleep ins paid at £62.64 working out to an extra £3000-£6000 per annum From April 1st 2026
Hours: 39 Including Weekends and Sleeps
Driving Requirement: Full UK Driving Licence is required
Keys Group provide innovative care and education services for children and young people with emotional and behavioural needs. Our mission is to make every day extraordinary by believing in their potential and helping them achieve it.
We're looking for full-time Children's Residential Support Workers to join our EPIC team in Buntingford. You'll play a vital role in helping children and young people live happy, fulfilling lives in a safe and loving home environment.
No Experience Needed
Experience is not required as we provide full training, funded qualifications, coaching, and development alongside a full induction program to ensure your set up for success at Keys Group. Whether you're starting out or switching careers, we'll give you the tools to thrive.
Many of our managers started as support workers-now they lead teams. With training, support, and real opportunities to grow, you can build a career with Keys Group too.
Key Responsibilities:
- Create a safe, loving and supportive home environment
- Be a positive role model, and support with everyday living needs
- Join in on fun activities-football, gaming, bowling, and more
- Encourage and share hobbies and interests
- Assist with household tasks to maintain a clean home environment
- Build friendships and trusting relationships
- Promote independence and confidence
Requirements:
- Full UK Driving Licence
- A caring, flexible, and resilient attitude
- Excellent communication skills and a positive, energetic approach
- Willingness to work shifts and sleep-ins
- Ability to build strong, supportive relationships with young people
Keys Group is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including veterans and military families through our Armed Forces Covenant commitment.
Keys Group proudly supports the Armed Forces Covenant, welcoming service personnel, veterans, and military families. We offer veteran-friendly policies, a peer support network, and military awareness training. Eligible current or former service personnel will receive a guaranteed interview-just ensure your military experience is detailed on your CV.
KGL
Job insights from Breakroom
Support workers
Support workers help vulnerable people to live independently
What you’ll do as a support worker:
- Check the needs and progress of the individuals you are supporting
- Help with daily tasks like budgeting, shopping and claiming benefits
- Provide physical care and support including, bathing, dressing, cooking and feeding
- Check and monitor health and help with medication
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Heavy lifting
- Helping with personal care
- Physical activity
- Emotionally demanding duties
- Wearing a uniform
- Night work
- Long hours
- Anti-social hours
- Cleaning
- Working alone
What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Keys Group pay support workers enough to live on?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
84% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £13.45 per hour, and £14.80 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Keys Group pay support workers market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
80% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Okay
-
Only some people get paid breaks
Do support workers at Keys Group get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
60% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Keys Group pay support workers sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
100% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
At a minimum, everyone is entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the government. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Needs improving
-
The job often spills into unpaid time
Do support workers jobs at Keys Group spill into time they aren’t paid for?
Yes. The job often spills into unpaid time.
How we know this
69% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Okay
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do support workers get of their shift pattern at Keys Group?
Only some people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 24% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 18% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 24% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 35% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do support workers at Keys Group worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
68% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do support workers at Keys Group get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
63% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Needs improving
-
Hard to change shifts
How easy is it for support workers at Keys Group to change shifts?
Most people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
80% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Okay
-
Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it for support workers to book a holiday at Keys Group?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
53% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
-
Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Keys Group managers change support workers shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
52% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Needs improving
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Most people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it for support workers to take sick leave at Keys Group?
Most people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
69% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Needs improving
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Most parents say it’s bad
Is working as support workers at Keys Group good if you have caring responsibilities?
Most parents and carer say this is a bad place to work.
How we know this
83% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 6 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do support workers at Keys Group feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
76% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do support workers at Keys Group get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
82% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
-
Most people are stressed
Is it stressful for support workers to work at Keys Group?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
83% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
-
Most people enjoy their job
Do support workers at Keys Group enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
79% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do support workers at Keys Group recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
55% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
-
Most people get enough training
Do support workers get enough training when they start at Keys Group?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
89% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are support workers given support to progress at Keys Group?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 45% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do support workers think Keys Group head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
84% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do support workers feel well informed about how Keys Group is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
57% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and February 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Keys Group employees say about their job
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Best thing
The connections you make with the children
Worst thing
You may not get a break even on a shift, shifts can be up to 15hrs
Report this reviewResidential support worker at Keys Group, February 2026
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Best thing
The children I care for
Worst thing
It's stressful
Lots of paper work
Expectations are highReport this reviewResidential support worker at Keys Group, October 2025
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