Senior Children'S Support Worker

Kent County Council; Aylesford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with enhancements

Pension and generous leave

Structured training and progression

Behaviour specialists support

Job summary

Kent County Council in Ashford, Kent is seeking a Senior Childrens Support Worker to help shape and deliver care at the Athena Childrens Home. This role involves leading shifts, sustaining safe staffing and providing high-quality care within a new, therapeutic environment.

You will promote children’s rights, support assessment and care planning, and work with professionals to ensure safeguarding and regulatory compliance. Experience in residential settings and strong values are essential.

Qualifications

• 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.

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

Caregiving

Safeguarding

Team leadership

Trauma-informed approach

Job description

Role Responsibility

Senior Childrens Support Worker KCC Athena Childrens Home

Ashford, Kent
Kent County Council | Childrens InHouse Residential Services
Position: 2 x 30 hours

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 Ashford.

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

Ashford Athena Childrens Home

Ready to make a real difference?

Closing date: 11th November 2026
Shortlisting Process: 12th to 13th November 2026

Selection process: from 18th - 25th November 2026 - TBC if shortlisted (2 x half days for interview and selection in Ashford)

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.