Children's Home Support Worker in Lewes

Residential Support Workers & Senior Residential Support Workers

Location: East Sussex

Pay: £14.25–£16.50 per hour (£27,800–£32,200 per annum)

Sleep-ins: £50 per night

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, averaged over the rota

Start dates: December 2026 / January 2027

This role can't offer sponsorship

About the Opportunity

We are recruiting for Residential Support Workers and Senior Residential Support Workers to join the first team at a brand-new therapeutic children's residential home in East Sussex. The home will accommodate up to three children, initially opening with one placement. This is an excellent opportunity to join a new service from the beginning, helping to establish a positive and supportive environment where children feel safe, valued and understood. As a small home, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the children and provide consistent, individualised support. You will also receive specialist training in trauma-informed care, including Proactive Approaches de-escalation training. One of the benefits of this role is the working pattern. Full-time hours are averaged across the rota, with long-day shifts typically meaning just two or three working days per week, giving you more time off between shifts.

The Role

You will support children with their everyday needs, helping them develop confidence, independence and positive relationships.

• Building trusting relationships and providing consistent emotional support.
• Supporting children with education, activities, appointments and daily routines.
• Responding calmly and appropriately to emotional distress and challenging behaviour.
• Maintaining a safe, nurturing and structured environment.
• Supporting individual care plans and promoting positive outcomes.
• Working closely with colleagues to provide consistent care.
• Maintaining accurate records and following safeguarding procedures.
• Senior Residential Support Workers will also help lead shifts, support colleagues and promote high standards of care and practice.

Pay and Benefits

• New to residential childcare: £14.25 per hour.
• Experienced residential childcare workers: £14.75 per hour.
• Level 3 Residential Childcare qualified: £15.50 per hour.
• Senior / Shift Leader: £16.50 per hour.
• £50 per sleep‑in, paid separately.
• Additional hours paid as overtime.
• Paid breaks and meals while on shift.
• DBS check, induction and specialist training paid for.
• Regular supervision and ongoing development.
• Workplace pension.
• 28 days' annual leave, including bank holidays.
• Sleep‑ins can provide additional earnings. For example, five sleep‑ins per month would add £3,000 per year.

Working Pattern

37.5 hours per week, averaged over the rota.

Long‑day shifts typically run from 7:30am to 9:30pm.

Sleep‑ins, weekends and bank holidays shared across the team.

Morning handover following sleep‑in shifts.

About You

We welcome applications from experienced residential childcare professionals, as well as candidates with transferable experience who are keen to develop within children's residential care.

You will ideally have:

• A caring, patient and reliable approach.
• The ability to build positive relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Good communication and written recording skills.
• A willingness to learn, reflect and develop your practice.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Availability to work long days, sleep‑ins, weekends and bank holidays.
• For Senior positions, previous residential childcare experience, sound safeguarding judgement and the ability to guide colleagues and lead shifts are essential.

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