Organisation: United Children Ltd
Location: Werrington, Stoke on Trent
Salary: £34,000 – £35,900 per annum
Job Type: Full-time (shift-based)
Reports to: Registered Manager / Deputy Manager
The Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner plays a pivotal leadership role within United Children Ltd, supporting the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, therapeutic care for children and young people aged 5–16 with emotional and behavioural difficulties, trauma histories, attachment disruption, and learning needs.
This role combines hands-on care, shift leadership, and practice oversight, ensuring that United Children’s ethos, Statement of Purpose, and therapeutic framework are embedded consistently into day-to-day practice. The Senior Practitioner acts as a role model for staff, promotes positive parenting, and supports children to feel safe, understood, and empowered to thrive.
United Children Ltd provides nurturing, relationship-based residential care grounded in:
- PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy)
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Restorative Practice
We understand that behaviour is communication. Our homes prioritise emotional safety, predictable routines, relational repair, and child participation. All practice aligns with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Ofsted Quality Standards.
As a Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner, you will take operational leadership of the home during your allocated shifts, ensuring that United Children Ltd therapeutic ethos, safeguarding responsibilities, and regulatory requirements are consistently upheld.
You will be responsible for:
- Planning, coordinating, and leading shifts to ensure safe staffing levels and high-quality care delivery at all times.
- Allocating roles and responsibilities based on staff experience, children’s needs, and risk profiles.
- Providing clear direction, coaching, and on-the-spot guidance to Residential Childcare Practitioners.
- Monitoring practice in real time, addressing concerns immediately and constructively.
- Leading shift handovers, ensuring all relevant information regarding children’s wellbeing, risks, behaviours, education, and health is communicated clearly and accurately.
- Acting as the senior decision-maker on shift, demonstrating sound professional judgement and confidence when responding to incidents, safeguarding concerns, or unexpected events.
- Supporting consistency of care by ensuring routines, boundaries, and expectations are predictable and developmentally appropriate.
- Escalating concerns to the Registered Manager or Deputy Manager in a timely and professional manner.
This role requires strong organisational skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to maintain calm, reflective leadership in emotionally demanding situations.
Safeguarding is central to all aspects of this role. The Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner is expected to model exemplary safeguarding practice and promote a culture where children’s safety and welfare are paramount.
Key responsibilities include:
- Implementing and monitoring individual risk assessments, behaviour support plans, and safeguarding strategies for each child.
- Conducting dynamic risk assessments throughout shifts, particularly during activities, transitions, and periods of heightened emotional distress.
- Recognising early indicators of harm, exploitation, self-injury, missing-from-care risk, or emotional deterioration.
- Responding promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns in line with Safe Haven’s policies, local safeguarding procedures, and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
- Ensuring that all safeguarding concerns, disclosures, and incidents are recorded accurately and reported without delay.
- Supporting staff to understand and manage risk safely, confidently, and therapeutically.
- Ensuring that physical intervention is used only as a last resort, is proportionate, and fully compliant with training, policy, and legislation.
- Contributing to post-incident reviews and learning to reduce future risk and improve outcomes.
You will actively contribute to maintaining a transparent, vigilant, and child-centred safeguarding culture within the home.
United Children’s care model is grounded in trauma-informed and attachment-aware practice. As a Senior Practitioner, you will ensure these principles are consistently translated into everyday care.
You will:
- Deliver emotionally attuned care that recognises behaviour as communication and responds with curiosity rather than punishment.
- Model the PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) in all interactions with children and colleagues.
- Support children to regulate emotions through co-regulation, validation, and relational safety.
- Promote restorative approaches following conflict or incidents, focusing on repair, learning, and emotional growth.
- Contribute to therapeutic formulations and support the implementation of therapeutic care plans developed in consultation with clinical professionals.
- Support staff to reflect on their practice, understand trauma responses, and develop emotionally intelligent approaches to care.
- Maintain consistency and predictability in routines, boundaries, and expectations to promote emotional safety.
Your role is pivotal in embedding United Children Ltd therapeutic culture across every shift and interaction
The Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner plays a key role in ensuring that care planning is meaningful, dynamic, and outcome-focused.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading and contributing to the regular review and updating of care plans, placement plans, and behaviour support plans.
- Ensuring care plans reflect children’s views, wishes, feelings, strengths, identity, and aspirations.
- Supporting key working sessions that promote emotional insight, goal setting, and resilience.
- Monitoring progress against identified outcomes in education, emotional well-being, behaviour, and independence.
- Supporting children to develop life skills in line with their developmental stage, including self-care, routines, communication, and decision-making.
- Working collaboratively with education providers, social workers, health professionals, and families to ensure coordinated, holistic care.
- Supporting transitions, including admissions, school changes, and long-term planning, in a sensitive and child-centred manner.
Care planning at United Children Ltd is viewed as a living process that evolves alongside the child’s development and recovery.
High-quality recording underpins safe care and regulatory compliance. As a Senior Practitioner, you are responsible for maintaining and promoting excellent documentation standards.
You will:
- Ensure all daily records, incident reports, safeguarding logs, and health documentation are completed accurately, clearly, and within required timescales.
- Use United Children’s paperless recording systems confidently and support staff in doing so effectively.
- Review records for quality, consistency, and compliance, addressing any shortfalls promptly.
- Ensure records reflect trauma-informed language, professional judgement, and child-centred practice.
- Support audits, inspections, and Regulation 44/45 requirements by maintaining clear and accessible documentation.
- Share relevant information appropriately with professionals while maintaining confidentiality and data protection standards.
Your leadership in recording practice supports transparency, accountability, and positive inspection outcomes.
The Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner supports children’s holistic development by promoting enrichment, identity, and enjoyment.
You will:
- Support the planning and delivery of activities that promote cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development.
- Encourage participation in hobbies, education, community activities, and positive peer interactions.
- Ensure activities are risk-assessed, inclusive, and tailored to individual interests and abilities.
- Promote cultural, religious, and identity-based inclusion, supporting children to explore and celebrate who they are.
- Encourage creativity, curiosity, and confidence through play, learning, and exploration.
- Support children to recognise and build upon their strengths, fostering a sense of achievement and self-worth.
These experiences are central to helping children build resilience, confidence, and hope for the future.
As a Senior Practitioner, you play a key role in shaping team culture, practice standards, and professional development.
You will:
- Act as a positive role model, demonstrating United Children Ltd values in all aspects of your work.
- Support the induction, mentoring, and ongoing development of Residential Childcare Practitioners.
- Promote reflective practice, encouraging staff to learn from experiences and challenges.
- Support staff wellbeing by fostering a culture of openness, mutual respect, and psychological safety.
- Engage fully in supervision, training, and continuing professional development.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, and best practice.
- Contribute to quality assurance, audits, and service improvement initiatives.
Your leadership directly influences staff confidence, retention, and the quality of care provided to children.
- NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Residential Childcare (Level 4 desirable; seniors working towards Level 4 considered).
- Minimum 1 year’s experience working in a children’s residential setting.
- Age 21 or over.
- Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
- Ability to lead shifts and support staff confidently.
- Excellent communication, recording, and organisational skills.
- Full UK driving licence or willingness to obtain one within 12 months.
- Legal right to work in the UK.
- Experience working with trauma, EBD, or neurodiversity.
- Training in therapeutic approaches, PBS, or restorative practice.
- Experience supporting inspections, audits, or quality assurance processes.
- Calm, reflective, and resilient leadership style.
- Competitive salary: £34,000 – £35,900 per year
- Comprehensive induction and specialist trauma-informed training
- Ongoing reflective supervision and therapeutic consultation
- Clear progression pathways and career development opportunities
- Supportive, values-led leadership and team culture
- Healthy work-life balance
- Additional benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension scheme
- Free on-site parking
- Shift-based role including:
- Day shifts
- Night shifts
- Weekends
- Overtime as required
- In-person role based in Werrington, Stoke on Trent
United Children Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, and safer recruitment procedures. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Pay: £34,000.00-£35,900.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Flexible schedule
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Paid training
Work Location: In person
