Senior Youth Support Practitioner

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Suffolk County Council - Lowestoft Children's Home - Onsite

£38,370 per annum (pro rata if part time) which includes a salary of £33,366 plus 15% unsociable hours allowance £5,004 (pro rata if part time). You will be required to undertake rostered sleep in duties. Any such duties are an additional requirement, for which you will receive national minimum wage for the hours you are rostered to sleep, on top of your salary £19.88 hourly rate (this includes the hourly rate of £17.29 plus the 15% unsociable hours allowance).

37 hours per week Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we believe that when our people grow, our communities thrive. That’s why we’re looking for passionate Youth Support Practitioners to join our team. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment for vulnerable children and young people. Lowestoft Children’s Home is a solo placement home for a child of either sex aged 11 - 17 years old. We provide support for the children in our care to achieve the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives, including education, health, and social and fun activities, as well as supporting them to build positive and appropriate relationships. If you are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people and can work fixed shifts, we want to hear from you. This rewarding role offers the chance to change futures in a home from home.

Your role and responsibilities

• As a Senior Youth Support Practitioner, you lead a team of Youth Support Practitioners to ensure that the best level of care is offered for the children we care for.
• Seniors act as a link between the staff team and the Manager.
• We can plan and support the day to day running of shifts and making sure the children are happy.
• Our focus is caring for the children and helping them make memories.
• At times it can be challenging but knowing that we are helping improve the children's outcomes makes it worthwhile.

You will:

• Bring personality, life skills, and experience to help our children and young people develop, grow and have fulfilling lives.
• Be an integral part of a team that ensures every child and young person who walks through our doors feel welcome, cared for, safe and happy.
• Listen to children and families and work collaboratively with them.
• Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• Be self-motivated and be able to work without constant supervision.
• Have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

You will need:

• Knowledge and understanding of the role of a Residential Childcare Worker.
• At least 2 years' experience of working in a residential setting for children.
• Experience of being a role model when working with children or young adults.
• The ability to work as part of the management team as well as a staff team.
• Good communication skills and a strong team ethos.
• A willingness to undertake training as required to update knowledge and skills.
• To either hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
• To be able to work fixed shifts.

The home also welcomes applications from candidates who already hold a suitable practitioner level qualification at Level 3 for the Children and Young People's Workforce or equivalent experience in a relevant area.

24/7 Coverage: The home operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Fixed shifts: Shifts are 7am-6pm and 5.30pm-11.30pm with sleep-in duty.

Consistent staffing: Ensures staff are always present during critical times, providing stability for the children.

Meeting individual needs: The rota helps in planning and implementing effective care plans.

Team collaboration: Structured rota allows for effective communication and teamwork.

Flexibility within structure: While the rota is fixed, it strives to offer some flexibility to accommodate staff needs.

Benefits: Suffolk County Council will provide you with a fully funded Level 3 Diploma in residential Child Care, to be completed within 2 years of employment required by Ofsted. You will also have the option to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for residential Child Care to further your career within Social Care. Monthly supervision sessions. Virtual clinical supervision by a seasoned professional. Excellent benefits package.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

At Lowestoft Children’s Home, you’ll join a dedicated team providing round-the-clock care for one child/teenager 11-17. The team collaborates to create a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where young residents can thrive. Each member brings unique skills and experiences, fostering a supportive atmosphere that encourages personal growth. The home focuses on building strong, trusting relationships with the children, addressing their social, emotional, and mental health needs, and helping them overcome past traumas. By working closely with parents, social workers, teachers, and other professionals, the team ensures each child’s needs are met and they receive the best possible care and support.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation.

For more information

For an informal discussion, please contact Jason McMaster, Residential Manager, by calling 07715 201269. You will be required to attend a Warner Interview for this position as part of the recruitment process.

How to apply

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Step 1 - Please read the Job and Person Profile before applying for this job opportunity.

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

• As a Senior Youth Support Practitioner, you will lead a team of Youth Support Practitioners. Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a team in a challenging situation? What strategies did you use to ensure effective teamwork and positive outcomes?
• Safeguarding is a critical aspect of this role. Can you discuss a time when you identified a safeguarding concern and how you handled it?
• Transition periods in solo children's homes can be particularly challenging and may sometimes require physical interventions to ensure a child's safety. Can you describe how you would approach carrying out such interventions, and how you would work to rebuild trust and relationships with the child afterward?
• This role requires working fixed shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Can you provide an example of how you have managed your time effectively while working in a role with similar shift requirements? How do you ensure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance while meeting the demands of fixed shifts?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 23 June 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days.
• Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits.
• Performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase.
• Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge.
• A variety of career development opportunities across our organisation.
• Diverse and active staff networks.
• Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day.

Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website.