Children's Residential Senior Practitioner

Surrey County Council; Pulborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK seeks a Senior Practitioner dedicated to providing specialist care for children and young people requiring short breaks. This role involves leading multi-agency support services, overseeing placements, and engaging directly with children who have complex needs. Prospective candidates should possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare along with strong relationship-building and safeguarding skills. Generous benefits include extensive holidays and a supportive work environment focused on personal development.

Benefits

26-31 days of holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing discounts

Qualifications

• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, and families.
• Knowledge of children’s safeguarding and associated issues.
• Proven experience in multi-agency working.

Responsibilities

• Support smooth running of short breaks.
• Lead and coordinate Solo Placement running.
• Facilitate planned and emergency placements.
• Direct work with children with complex needs.
• Promote positive outcomes for children.

Skills

Establishing positive relationships

Contextual children's safeguarding knowledge

Multi-agency working

Assessment and risk management

Strengths-based care planning

Education

A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Job description

Overview

Our home provides specialist care and support for children and young people who access the home for short breaks. The Senior Practitioner will work with colleagues to deliver a multi‑agency intensive support service for all our children and young people who access short breaks at the home.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the smooth running of short‑breaks
• Leading and co‑ordinating the running of the Solo Placement
• Facilitating the provision of planned and emergency placements, out of hours
• Bespoke placement arrangements
• Direct work with children and young people with complex and demanding needs
• Shift‑leading and promoting positive outcomes for all our children and young people

In all that you do you will ensure our services are compliant with national good practice, guidance, regulations and legislation, including Ofsted frameworks. You will also contribute to regular audits and inspections to ensure that we are effective and delivering key outcomes. In return for your expertise, commitment and experience we will enable your ongoing learning and development through a culture of high support and high challenge, and access to a range of learning and development activities.

Qualifications

• A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent
• Your ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, their families and professionals
• An applied knowledge of contextual children's safeguarding and associated issues
• Proven experience multi‑agency working
• Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths‑based care planning
• Experience of delivering statutory childcare services including the residential care of children and knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards

Offer

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years’ service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

The starting salary for this role is £36,873 per annum for working 36 hours per week plus enhanced rates of pay for weekends, bank holidays and sleep in duties. If you are ready to take the next step in your career in residential children's care, we are excited to be hiring a Senior Practitioner to join our fantastic team in Tadworth. This is a 12‑month secondment opportunity. Please discuss with your current Line Manager before submitting your application.