Residential Care Practitioner - Children & Young People

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Job Reference SOL/TP/196/2433

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Full time permanent

Band C2 £27,694 - £30,518 pro rata, per annum. Pay award pending. Incremental progression is subject to performance. This includes 2 atypical payments for the requirement to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.

Working Hours:

Full time and part time

Location:

Closing Date:

20/09/2026

Job Type:

Social Care – Children

Sector:

Local Councils

Business Unit:

Job Introduction

£27,694 - £30,518 pro rata, per annum. Pay award pending. This includes 2 atypicals payments for the requirement to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays for staff working on a rota basis.

This role also includes Sleep ins, for which a separate payment will be made (currently £43.12).

Hours:Full time - 37 hours per week

Whilst this vacancy is full time, requests for working on a part-time basis may also be considered, where business needs can be met.

About Us:

With one of our children’s homes recently rated Good by Ofsted (January 2026), there has never been a better time to join us.

We are opening a new Residential Children’s Home for children aged 8-18 with Emotional and Behavioural difficulties (EBD) and we are looking for a passionate Residential Care Practitioner to join us .

Whether you’re an experienced Care Practitioner, or looking for a change in career, we would love to hear from you.

Our senior leaders bring extensive knowledge and experience in Children’s Residential care and are committed to creating a safe, nurturing environment that enables our children and young people to reach their aspirations, goals and outcomes . We use the PACE model to ensure our support is therapeutic, person-centred, and tailored to each child ’s needs.

We focus on providing exceptional care while fostering an inclusive, positive environment where children can grow emotionally , personally, and educationally .

About the Role

We’ll provide a comprehensive induction and training ahead of the home’s opening, including a funded Level 4 Residential Childcare qualification, where needed.

This highly rewarding role offers the opportunity to make a real difference. By providing a safe, stable, supportive and stimulating environment for our children, young people and their families, you will help to create a strong foundation for a brighter future .

In this dynamic role, no two days will be the same. One day might see you doing the school run and a food shop, followed by a movie night. The next might be contributing towards a care plan or attending a meeting with other professionals. And while some days may have their challenges, every day brings the opportunities for hugs, laughter, reassurance and learning.

You’ll be a positive role model, building positive and meaningful relationships with our children and young people, and enabling them to address challenges and build resilience. You won’t think twice about going above and beyond to enable our children and young people to achieve their full potential on their journey to adulthood.

Our Offer to You

• A funded Level 4 qualification in Residential Care, where required (please see further information below regarding eligibility criteria for completing an apprenticeship).




• Competitive pay




• High quality training and coaching via our Children's Social Care Academy to support your continuous professional development




• A clear career pathway




• Access to our Local government pension




• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days after 5 years of service, and the opportunity to buy up to 10 days of additional leave per year




• Shift patterns that allow our staff to maintain a good work life balance.




• Our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24 hour independent , free and confidential advice and support service




• Family and carer friendly policies




• Staff discounts, subsidised travel passes and Cycle 2 Work Scheme

About You

You will hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent, OR you will have GSCE Maths and English grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) and will be willing to work towards and successfully complete a Level 4 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 (full time) years of your appointment, as funded by us.

You will also have:

• Experience (paid or voluntary) working in a health, social care or educational setting, having also previously dealt with challenging behaviours.




• A strong commitment to making a difference to our vulnerable children and young people to achieve their full potential .




• An understanding of Safeguarding, and an appreciation of its importance




• Great self-awareness, excellent communication skills, and the ability to build strong relationships with our children and young people.




• A passion for learning, self-reflection, and growth within this role; striving to deliver a high-quality service.

Contact Us

Jaqueline Starah, Registered Manager, at jaqueline.starah@solihull.gov.uk or Cam Bradley-King, Residential Operations Manager, at cameron.bradley-king@solihull.gov.uk

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 30 September 2026

Please note that we are currently unable to offer visa sponsorship. If you require sponsorship to work in the UK, we regret that we won’t be able to progress your application.

Further Information

Please note, we are not accepting CVs for this opportunity.

This post also carries essential car user status, therefore you must be able to drive, have a driving licence and have access to a car, however for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required.

Whilst you will be based at one of our three children’s residential homes, on occasions you will be required to provide cover across all three homes, to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our children and young people.

Assessment for these opportunities will consist of a two stage process;

Stage one: A pre-screening phone call

Stage two: Candidates who are successful at stage one will be invited to interview.

This post is subject to compliance checks in line with Schedule 2 requirements for working in a children’s home, including a pre-employment medical check.

This post will also be subject to require a DBS check.

For candidates who will be required to complete an apprenticeship (Level 4 Diploma in Residential Childcare, as outlined in the person specification), in order to comply with apprenticeship government funding rules and entry requirements, candidates must meet all the following criteria:

• Possess a GCSE Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths (or equivalent)




• Have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years;




• Have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the apprenticeship (2 years for full time employees, this will be longer for part time employees);




• Be contracted to work at least 16 hours per week

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers

For alternative working patterns, where atypicals don't apply, salary band C will apply; £26,824 - £29,540 pro rata, per annum.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit .

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment .