Permanent Relief Senior Children'S Support Worker - Kcc Athena Children'S Home

Kent County Council; Swanley; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sleep-ins/on-call

Pension and generous leave

Structured training and progression

Behaviour specialists support

Job summary

Kent County Council, Sittingbourne Athena Childrens Home, is seeking passionate Permanent Relief Senior Children’s Support Workers to shape and deliver care from the ground up. You will lead shifts, ensure safe staffing, and provide high-quality care to children in a new home, while modelling best practice and supporting less experienced staff.

Join a trauma-informed, relationship-based care environment focused on safeguarding and positive outcomes for children, with opportunities for training,

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Experience in residential care or similar settings.
• Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015 and safeguarding practice.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed or PBS approaches; training and ongoing support 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 experiences for children and their outcomes

Skills

Experience with children and young ppl

Leadership of shifts

Safeguarding

Trauma-informed approaches

Education

Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015

Knowledge of safeguarding practice

Job description

Role Responsibility

Be part of building something that truly matters

We are looking for passionate and skilled Permanent Relief Senior Childrens Support Workers to help shape and deliver care in our new Athena home in Sittingbourne. You will be required to work on an as and when required basis, dependent on the needs of the home.

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 Permanent Relief 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:

• Be able to work flexibly and support the services needs with relief shifts on an as and when basis.
• 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 settingsKnowledge 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

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.

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

Location

Sittingbourne Athena Childrens Home

Ready to make a real difference?

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)