Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner

East Sussex County Council; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

East Sussex County Council is seeking a Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner for a residential home in Eastbourne. You will lead by example, support colleagues, and ensure that each child’s needs are met with tailored care plans.

The role involves rota-based shifts, weekend work, and sleep‑in duties with additional payments. DBS checks are required, and the starting gross salary is accompanied by a weekend allowance.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Knowledge of childcare and child development.
• Produce and review detailed care plans and risk assessments.
• Demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills.
• Work as part of a multi‑agency care team.
• Understanding of current Children’s homes regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example and support colleagues to meet each child’s needs.
• Ensure care is tailored to individual children.
• Create a safe, welcoming home environment for residents.
• Manage shift patterns on a rota, including weekend work.
• Support sleep‑in duties where required and understand associated payments.

Skills

Childcare experience

Child development

Care plans

Risk assessments

Leadership

Multi-agency team

Job description

Job Description

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of young people? Do you have experience working in a residential care setting? Then we are looking for a Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner to join our residential home in Eastbourne.

As a senior practitioner, you’ll help create that environment every day. You’ll lead by example, support colleagues and make sure every child has their needs met and that their care needs are tailored to who they are.

The children and young people who live with us have a range of disabilities and additional needs. Some need support with communication, mobility or personal care. Others need help to manage their emotions, build confidence or develop everyday life skills. Many have faced challenges in their early lives, so what they need most are patient, caring adults who show up, are reliable and who genuinely care.

Our home is more than just a place to live. It’s a safe and welcoming space where children and young people can feel valued and understood and be supported to be themselves.

If you are passionate and committed to working with adolescent children, are able to build supportive and meaningful relationships, want to help them reach their full potential and develop and maximise their opportunities, then we would like to hear from you.

The successful candidates will work on a rota basis. The post includes shift work, weekend working and sleep-in duties (additional payments for sleep‑ins will apply). Please note the basic salary is inclusive of a weekend working allowance.

Discover more about our roles, teams, and children's homes by visiting- Jobs in Children's Homes — Home

We Are Looking For Candidates Who

• Have experience working with children and young people.
• Can demonstrate knowledge of childcare and child development.
• Can produce and review detailed care plans and risk assessments.
• Can demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills.
• Have the ability to work as part of a multi‑agency care team.
• Have an understanding of the current Children’s homes regulations

We regret that we are unable to offer sponsorship of visas for these positions.

Interviews will take place in person in Eastbourne within two weeks of the closing date.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion about these roles please contact: Amy Martin Registered Homes Manager at [e-mail].

‘The best thing about working for East Sussex is knowing every person who works here cares about our residents and wants to achieve the best outcomes for them.’ - Casey, Project Officer

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!

About Us

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record . Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.