Children's Senior Support Worker

Kent County Council; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Generous leave

Structured training

Behaviour specialists support

Job summary

Kent County Council is recruiting a Senior Children's Support Worker for the Athena home in Sittingbourne. You will lead shifts, ensure safe staffing and continuity of care, and support assessment and care planning for children.

The role emphasizes safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and delivering a nurturing environment. We welcome committed, values-led practitioners with experience in residential care or similar settings.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Experience in residential care or similar settings.
• Knowledge of safeguarding practice and Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed or PBS approaches (training provided).
• Experience leading shifts or supporting others.

Responsibilities

• Lead shifts and support the day-to-day running of the home.
• Provide high-quality care and support to children.
• Role model best practice and support less experienced staff.
• Contribute to a positive, safe and nurturing environment.
• Be a champion for safeguarding and positive outcomes.
• Support assessment, care planning and delivery.
• Promote children's rights, voice and individual needs.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding and regulations.
• Maintain accurate records and work with professionals.

Skills

Experience with children and young ppl

Residential care experience

Children's Homes Regulations 2015

Trauma-informed or PBS approaches

Leading shifts / supporting others

Job description

Children's Senior Support Worker

Role Responsibility

Be part of building something that truly matters.

We are looking for passionate and skilled Senior Children's Support Workers to help shape and deliver care in our new Athena home in Sittingbourne.

This is not a \"business as usual\" role - this is an opportunity to be part of building a home from the beginning and shaping its culture, practice and outcomes.

Why Athena - and why now?

Athena homes provide high-quality, relationship-based care in a therapeutic, trauma-informed environment, supported by Positive Behaviour Support.

As a Senior Children's Support Worker, you will:

• Lead shifts and support the day-to-day running of the home
• Provide high-quality care and support to children
• Role model best practice and support less experienced staff
• Contribute to a positive, safe and nurturing environment
• Be a champion for safeguarding, and positive experiences for children and their outcomes

About the role

You will:

• Lead shifts and support safe staffing and continuity of care
• Support assessment, care planning and delivery
• Promote children's rights, voice and individual needs
• Ensure compliance with Children's Homes Regulations and safeguarding
• Maintain accurate records and work closely with professionals

Who we're looking for

We are looking for committed, values-led practitioners.

You may have:

• Experience working with children and young people
• Experience in residential care or similar settings
• Knowledge of Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and safeguarding practice
• Knowledge of trauma-informed or PBS approaches, (training and ongoing support and development provided)
• Experience leading shifts or supporting others

Equally, we welcome individuals with the right values, resilience and commitment - we will invest in your development.

Why Kent County Council?

• Competitive salary including enhancements (e.g. sleep-ins/on-call where applicable)
• Pension and generous leave
• Structured training and progression opportunities
• Strong professional support, including behaviour specialists

Location

Sittingbourne - Athena Children's Home

Closing Date:

11th November 2026

Shortlisting:

12th and 13th November 2026

Selection process:

week 18th November TBC if shortlisted (2 x half days for interview and selection in Sittingbourne)

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Contact Details

For further information, please contact:

Ousman Tunkara (Manager)

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.