Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner

About the role

This is a Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner role based at East Sussex County Council's residential home in Eastbourne, supporting children and young people with a range of disabilities and additional needs. The home is a safe, welcoming space where children and young people can feel valued, understood, and supported to be themselves.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will lead by example, support colleagues, and ensure every child has their needs met with care tailored to who they are. The young people in the home may need support with communication, mobility or personal care, help managing their emotions, building confidence, or developing everyday life skills. Many have faced challenges in their early lives and need reliable, consistent adults around them.

This role includes:

• Leading and mentoring colleagues to maintain consistent, high-quality care across the home
• Producing and reviewing detailed care plans and risk assessments for individual young people
• Building supportive and meaningful relationships with adolescent children and young people
• Working as part of a multi-agency care team to meet each young person's needs
• Contributing to an environment where children can reach their full potential

The post is worked on a rota basis, including shift work, weekend working, and sleep-in duties. The stated salary includes two weekend working increments.

To apply, follow the Apply Now button and upload your CV along with a supporting statement. The supporting statement will be used for shortlisting, so address how you meet each criterion in the person specification, drawing on relevant work or life experience, education, or personal interests. Interviews will take place face to face in Eastbourne within two weeks of the closing date.

For an informal discussion about the role, contact Emma Quicke, Registered Homes Manager, at Emma.quicke@eastsussex.gov.uk.

About You

We are looking for someone who is committed to working with adolescent children and young people, and who understands the value of showing up consistently for those in their care. You will bring genuine care alongside the skills and knowledge needed to lead a team in a residential setting.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience working with children and young people in a residential or similar care setting
• Be able to demonstrate knowledge of childcare and child development
• Have the ability to produce and review detailed care plans and risk assessments
• Be able to demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills with colleagues
• Have the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-agency care team
• Have an understanding of the current Children's Homes Regulations

East Sussex County Council is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process — contact the hiring manager on the details above to discuss your requirements.

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. East Sussex County Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

East Sussex's Offer to You

Every person who works for East Sussex County Council cares about residents and wants to achieve the best outcomes for them. As Casey, a Project Officer at the council, puts it: 'The best thing about working for East Sussex is knowing every person who works here cares about our residents and wants to achieve the best outcomes for them.'

A diverse range of benefits is available to support you during your employment. Click Apply Now to discover more about what's on offer.