Senior Residential Activities and Child Care Officer

Suffolk Jobs Direct; Sudbury; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable educational organization in Sudbury, UK, seeks a Senior Residential Activities and Child Care Officer to lead a dedicated team. This role involves overseeing operations to ensure all students receive exceptional care and support within a nurturing environment. Candidates should have a relevant Level 3 Diploma and experience in residential childcare, especially with children with special educational needs. The position offers a £1,500 joining bonus and various staff benefits including a pension scheme and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Membership into Local Government Pension Scheme

Family friendly policies

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Staff wellbeing initiatives

Free parking

Canteen access

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a residential childcare or SEN environment, specializing in SEMH.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and compliance standards.
• Proactive and resilient professional.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily operations of the residential provision.
• Monitor students’ emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.
• Plan and deliver engaging residential activities.

Skills

Compassion

Team Leadership

Risk Management

Child Protection Knowledge

Organizational Skills

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent

Job description

• Address: Chalk Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2SF
• Salary: £30,024 - £33,699 pro rata (£25,425 - £29,004 per annum)
• Hours: Full Time. 37.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year, 3 shifts 2.30 pm to 10.30 pm, 1 shift 7.30 am to 4 pm and Fridays 7.30 am to 3 pm
• Contract: Permanent. Required as soon as possible
• Reference: 8213

Chalk Hill, Sudbury (Relocation to Bury St Edmunds in September 2026)

This role carries a £1,500 Joining Bonus*

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Senior Residential Activities and Child Care Officer (Senior RACCO) to join our dedicated residential team. You will lead and coordinate the daily operations of the residential provision, ensuring that all students receive exceptional care, support, and opportunities to thrive. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in maintaining outstanding standards of wellbeing, safeguarding, and emotional development within a nurturing educational environment.

As Senior RACCO, you will provide day‑to‑day supervision, guidance, and mentoring to Residential Activities and Child Care Officers, supporting staff development and consistency of care across the setting. You will take the lead in monitoring students’ emotional, physical, and social wellbeing, overseeing care plans, managing risk assessments, and ensuring that safeguarding and compliance standards are met. You will also plan and deliver engaging residential activities that build independence, life skills, and social confidence, while promoting strong communication and teamwork between residential, educational and therapeutic staff.

This role requires a proactive and resilient professional with a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) and proven experience in a residential childcare or SEN environment, specialising in SEMH. A strong understanding of child protection, health and safety, and behaviour management is essential, alongside excellent organisational and leadership skills. In return, you will join a forward‑thinking team within the Eastern Education Group, where professional development is encouraged, and your contribution will make a genuine difference in the lives of young people.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits including:

• Membership into Local Government Pension Scheme
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Free parking
• Canteen
• Company events
• Access to various memberships and discount schemes
• Learning and development opportunities, including staff development days
• Funded subject course development for your role
• Range of staff communities, including EDI and neurodiverse communities
• Career progression opportunities

Eastern Education Group is a dynamic and forward‑thinking education provider committed to delivering high‑quality learning experiences across multiple institutions. Our group encompasses a diverse range of educational settings, including schools, further education colleges and specialist learning provisions, ensuring that learners of all ages and backgrounds receive the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

At the heart of our mission is a dedication to excellence, inclusivity and innovation in education. We strive to create an environment where students can thrive academically, socially and professionally. Through strong partnerships with local communities, businesses and industry leaders, we ensure our curriculum remains relevant, equipping students with the skills and knowledge required for future careers.

Our group also prioritises supporting students with additional learning needs, offering specialist provisions for those with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs) and vocational training to empower every learner. We take a holistic approach to education, combining academic excellence with pastoral care, safeguarding and wellbeing initiatives to foster a safe and supportive learning environment.

As a collective, Eastern Education Group is committed to continuous improvement, innovation and maintaining high standards across all our institutions. We work closely with regulatory bodies, including Ofsted, to ensure compliance and the highest quality of teaching, learning and student support. Our leadership team, educators and support staff are dedicated to shaping the future of education, driving positive change and enabling learners to realise their full potential.

As a group, our Character Strengths and Mission Statement underpin our expectations of all our students and employees. Please familiarise yourself with these and incorporate them into your personal statement; this will be of benefit if you are invited to attend for an interview.

This is an opportunity to join a hugely supportive organisation where we value, support and facilitate your professional development, as well as offering many other benefits including an attractive pension scheme, staff wellbeing initiatives and employee assistance.

How to apply

Please read the Job Description (pdf)

Please feel free to contact the HR team by emailing: [e-mail]

To find out more, please visit our website (Eastern Education Group)

If you have not heard from a member of the HR Team within 14 working days of the closing date, please presume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Closing date: 8 am, 8 January 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

We reserve the right to appoint prior to listed closing date, early applications are encouraged. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender, gender reassignment, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

The group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The group is committed to safeguarding children and safer recruitment practices and will undertake all the required pre‑employment checks on the successful candidate including an enhanced DBS Disclosure.

All data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information about how we access and use your information please visit our website.

*Bonus will be paid as £750 at the end of first month of employment and £750 after six months completed service. The entire sum will be repayable if you leave within the first two years of service. This only applies to direct applicants and not to those staff who come through an agency. Internal college policy applies