Secure Residential Support Worker

About the role

Lansdowne Secure Children's Home is one of only 14 secure children's homes in England and Wales. It is a modern, state-of-the-art building with excellent and diverse facilities, based in Hailsham, East Sussex.

You'll work as part of a dedicated, supportive team, responsible for providing the day-to-day safe and secure care of the children at Lansdowne. Keeping the children engaged and occupied is central to the role — you'll encourage and participate in activities with the young people, including sports, cooking, and arts and crafts. The rota includes sleep-in duties at the home on occasion, and the salary reflects two increments for weekend working.

Safeguarding sits at the core of every aspect of this role. All staff are expected to fully understand and undertake their responsibilities with professionalism and in accordance with safeguarding policy and procedures. High standards of vigilance, respect, reporting, and professional curiosity are expected at all times. Extensive training and ongoing support are provided to help you meet these standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing difficult conversations, handling conflict, and holding strong, consistent boundaries with young people.
• Applying an understanding of how trauma affects behaviour in everyday interactions with children.
• Leading from the floor when needed, taking initiative, and knowing when and how to escalate safeguarding concerns.
• Offering clear, assertive direction and support to children to ensure they feel safe.
• Maintaining professionalism and adherence to safeguarding policy and procedures at all times.

To apply, upload your CV and a Supporting Statement via the Apply Now button. Your Supporting Statement will be used for shortlisting, so address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on relevant work or life experience, education, or personal interests. Interviews will take place in person within two weeks of the closing date at Lansdowne Secure Unit in Hailsham. For an informal discussion about the role, contact Hannah Jones at Hannah.jonesCS@eastsussex.gov.uk.

About You

We are looking for people who are confident working in a secure environment and who understand the importance of consistent, boundaried care for children who have often experienced significant adversity. Prior experience in residential childcare is not essential — what matters is the right values, resilience, and commitment to children's safety and wellbeing.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be able to manage difficult conversations, conflict, and challenging behaviour with confidence and consistency.
• Understand how trauma affects behaviour and apply that understanding in everyday interactions with young people.
• Be able to lead from the floor when the situation requires it, take initiative, and know when to escalate concerns in line with safeguarding procedures.
• Communicate clearly and assertively, supporting children to feel safe and understood.
• Demonstrate high professional standards, including vigilance, respect, and professional curiosity in relation to child protection.

East Sussex County Council warmly welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and particularly encourages applications from people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, men, and those who identify as LGBTQ+. The aim is to recruit a workforce that reflects the community it serves, recognising the unique skills, experience, and perspective that each individual brings.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, or an Enhanced check for Regulated Activity. Evidence of an overseas police check will be required if you have lived or worked abroad. Please note that East Sussex County Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

East Sussex's Offer to You

Lansdowne is one of only a small number of secure children's homes in England and Wales, offering a genuinely distinctive working environment with a strong team culture and a clear commitment to the children in its care. Extensive training is provided from the outset, with ongoing support throughout your time in the role.

East Sussex County Council offers a diverse range of benefits to support staff during their employment. As one member of staff put it: "East Sussex is a very good employer. You're able to work flexibly around childcare and caring responsibilities and that's really helpful." Click Apply Now to discover more about the full benefits package available to employees.