Working life at The Shires

Working at The Shires is challenging, but very rewarding. All the staff whatever their role is get involved with the students' lives. Although the staff team is large, there is a family atmosphere, and everyone's efforts are directed to one end. The students are at the heart of what everyone does, whether the job role is in HR, or in a front line role on the care or teaching teams.

Most staff work regular hours from Monday to Friday, but care and ancillary staff work according to a rota. Care staff work 14 hours per day in a two on- two off pattern, because this suits the students better as it means the same person helps them get up in the morning, goes to school with them and gets them ready for bed at night.

School operates for 51 weeks a year, again because this suits the students' needs best, which means teaching staff work a 46 week year and take their holidays whenever they want to.

What the staff say...

As care workers the two days on and two days off works very well, as although the shifts are quite long, we get 3 days off one week and 4 days off the next throughout the year. Also we always know when we'll be working so we can plan days off well in advance.