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, and is a modern, state-of-the-art building with excellent and diverse facilities. As a Secure Residential Support Worker, you will be responsible for the day-to-day safe and secure care of the children placed at Lansdowne.

You'll work as part of a dedicated, supportive team, keeping children engaged and occupied by encouraging and participating in fun, enriching activities such as sports, cooking, and arts and crafts. The role carries real responsibility: you'll be expected to maintain strong, consistent boundaries, lead from the floor when needed, and support young people to feel safe and secure in their daily lives.

The salary of £33,125 to £38,871 per annum includes two weekend working increments, reflecting the rota pattern. As part of that rota, you will be required to do sleep-ins in the home on occasion.

This role includes:

• Providing day-to-day safe and secure care of the children at Lansdowne
• Encouraging and participating in activities with young people to keep them engaged and occupied
• Managing difficult conversations, conflict, and challenging behaviour, holding strong and consistent boundaries
• Leading from the floor when needed, taking initiative, and escalating concerns in line with safeguarding procedures
• Applying an understanding of how trauma affects behaviour in everyday interactions with young people

To apply, upload your CV and a Supporting Statement via the Apply Now button. The Supporting Statement will be used for shortlisting, so please address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any 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 Children's Home in Hailsham.

For an informal discussion about the role, contact Hannah Jones at Hannah.jonesCS@eastsussex.gov.uk.

There are 5 open positions available for this post.

About You

This role is suited to someone who can hold their nerve in challenging situations, build genuine relationships with young people, and contribute to a team that takes its responsibilities seriously. You will need to bring both practical capability and self-awareness to the work.

East Sussex takes safeguarding extremely seriously. All staff are expected to maintain high standards of vigilance, respect, reporting, and professional curiosity at all times. Extensive training and ongoing support are provided to fully equip you for this part of the role, and you will be held to high standards to help keep children safe.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be able to manage difficult conversations, manage conflict, challenge poor behaviour or practice, and hold strong, consistent boundaries with young people without hesitation
• Understand how trauma affects behaviour and apply that understanding in everyday interactions
• Be able to lead from the floor when needed, take initiative, and know when and how to escalate concerns and follow safeguarding procedures
• Have communication skills that enable clear, assertive direction and support to children so they feel safe

East Sussex County Council warmly welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and particularly encourages those from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce: people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, men, and those who identify as LGBTQ+. The council is working towards a workforce that reflects its community, recognising the unique skills, experience, and perspective each individual brings.

Please note that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or 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

Lansdowne is a modern, purpose-built secure home with excellent and diverse facilities, offering a distinctive working environment within a small and specialist sector.

East Sussex County Council offers a diverse range of benefits to support you during your employment. The council also actively supports flexible working arrangements:

• A diverse range of employee benefits (see the benefits page for full details)
• Flexible working options that can be arranged around childcare and caring responsibilities
• Extensive training and ongoing support, particularly around safeguarding responsibilities
• A commitment to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community it serves
• Priority shortlisting for candidates who meet certain criteria