Children'S Senior Support Worker

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + enhancements

Pension scheme

Structured training and progression

Job summary

Kent County Council is recruiting a Senior Children's Support Worker for the Athena Children’s Home in Sittingbourne. You will lead shifts, support high-quality care, and model best practice to build a safe, nurturing home from the ground up.

Excellent safeguarding focus, trauma-informed or PBS knowledge, and experience in residential settings are valued. Join a values-led team and contribute to positive outcomes for children in our care.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Lead shifts

Child care

Safeguarding

Trauma-informed

Positive Behaviour Support

Residential care

Job description

Role Responsibility

Be part of building something that truly matters.

We are looking for passionate and skilled Senior Childrens 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 Childrens 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 childrens rights, voice and individual needs
• Ensure compliance with Childrens Homes Regulations and safeguarding
• Maintain accurate records and work closely with professionals

Who were 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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 sufficiently for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.