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- Tasks: Support children and young people with complex needs through relationship-led care.
- Company: Freedom Care, a compassionate organisation focused on community and outreach.
- Benefits: Full training, flexible hours, ongoing support, and clear career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with neurodivergent youth and a Level 3 qualification in relevant fields.
- Other info: Join a supportive team that values wellbeing and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Freedom, we support children and young people aged 0–25 who experience the world differently — including those with autism, ADHD, trauma histories, attachment differences, and complex emotional or behavioural needs. We are developing a specialist team of highly skilled practitioners to deliver meaningful, relationship-led support across family homes, education settings and community spaces. This is not task-based care. This is work rooted in connection, emotional safety, and understanding behaviour as communication.
We are looking for people who are curious, reflective, and compassionate — whether your background is in SEN education, residential children’s care, youth work, mentoring, behaviour support, or therapeutic roles.
The Role
As a Specialist Support Practitioner, you will work closely with children and young people to help them feel safe, understood, and supported to engage with their world. Your role will involve:
- Providing person-centred, relationship-led support tailored to each child or young person
- Creating calm, predictable, emotionally safe environments
- Supporting emotional regulation before expectation or demand
- Building consistent, trusting relationships over time
- Using reflective practice to understand the meaning behind behaviour
- Supporting development, confidence, independence, and participation
- Working flexibly across home, education, residential, and community settings
- Recording and reflecting on practice professionally and thoughtfully
This is skilled, emotionally intelligent work. It requires patience, presence, boundaries, and the ability to remain steady in complex moments. You are someone who asks: “What is this behaviour telling me?” rather than “How do I stop it?”
Who This Role Is For
We welcome applications from people with experience supporting children and young people with additional or complex needs, including those from backgrounds such as:
- SEN or alternative education
- Residential children’s care
- Youth work or mentoring
- Behaviour support or pastoral roles
- Therapeutic or psychology-informed settings
You may have:
- A Level 3 qualification in Childcare, Health & Social Care (or equivalent experience)
- Experience supporting neurodivergent children or young people
- An understanding of trauma, attachment, or emotional regulation
- A calm, reflective, and emotionally regulated approach
- Confidence working independently while being part of a wider team
Most importantly, you share our values and believe that relationships create change.
What We Offer
- Full specialist training in trauma-informed and autism-informed practice
- Ongoing supervision, mentoring, and reflective practice
- Flexible working patterns to support work-life balance
- Clear development and progression opportunities
- A supportive, values-led leadership team
- The opportunity to help shape a specialist, growing service
- A culture that prioritises staff wellbeing, learning, and quality
We invest in our people — because our people are the service. This is currently a zero hour role, but will lead to contracted work once we have the team up and running. If you are interested and your experience/qualification parallels the above descriptions please apply and let us know your current availability.
Specialist Children & Young People Support Practitioners (Ages 0–25) Freedom Care in Southampton employer: Freedomcaregroup
Contact Detail:
Freedomcaregroup Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialist Children & Young People Support Practitioners (Ages 0–25) Freedom Care in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out Freedom's website and social media. Understanding their values and mission will help you connect your experiences to what they’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! Think of specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to support children and young people. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to ask questions! Show your curiosity by preparing thoughtful questions about the role and the team. This not only demonstrates your interest but also helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows appreciation and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Specialist Children & Young People Support Practitioners (Ages 0–25) Freedom Care in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your passion for supporting children and young people, so share your personal experiences and insights that connect with our values.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the role. Highlight any relevant background in SEN education, youth work, or therapeutic settings to show us why you’re a great fit.
Showcase Your Reflective Practice: We love candidates who are curious and reflective! Include examples of how you've used reflective practice in your previous roles to understand behaviour and support emotional regulation. This will demonstrate your alignment with our approach.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Freedomcaregroup
✨Understand the Role Deeply
Before your interview, take the time to really understand what it means to be a Specialist Support Practitioner. Familiarise yourself with trauma-informed care and neurodiversity-affirming practices. This will help you articulate how your experiences align with the role and demonstrate your genuine interest in supporting children and young people.
✨Showcase Your Reflective Practice
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used reflective practice in your previous roles. Think about times when you've had to understand behaviour as communication and how you've built trusting relationships. This will highlight your emotional intelligence and ability to connect with the children and young people you'll be supporting.
✨Emphasise Your Compassionate Approach
During the interview, convey your compassionate nature and curiosity about the children and young people you’ll work with. Share stories that illustrate your patience and presence in challenging situations, showing that you prioritise emotional safety and understanding over simply managing behaviour.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask your interviewers about their approach to support and the team culture. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the organisation's values align with yours. Questions about training opportunities or how they support staff wellbeing can also demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.