About Lilly Belle House
Lilly Belle House is a specialist residential parent and child unit based in Birmingham. We provide structured residential parenting capacity assessments for families referred by the family court and local authority children’s services.
Our work is centred on child welfare, professional rigour, fairness, dignity and evidence-based assessment. Families are supported in a safe, structured and respectful residential environment while staff observe, assess and support parenting capacity, safeguarding, routines, attachment, baby care and family functioning.
We are now looking for a motivated, compassionate and professionally mature individual to join our team as a Children, Young People and Families Manager Apprentice.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to build a career in residential family assessment, safeguarding, children’s services and service leadership.
About the Role
As a Children, Young People and Families Manager Apprentice, you will work within Lilly Belle House’s residential parent and child setting while completing the Children, Young People and Families Manager Level 5 Apprenticeship.
You will support parents and babies within the unit, contribute to daily observations, assist with structured parenting support, and develop the skills required to work confidently within a regulated children and families service.
This is not simply a childcare role. It is a specialist residential family support and assessment role, requiring professional curiosity, emotional resilience, accurate recording, safeguarding awareness and the ability to work calmly with families who may be experiencing significant stress, scrutiny or vulnerability.
You will be supported by experienced colleagues while developing your understanding of residential family centre practice, court-directed assessment, local authority partnership working, safeguarding, risk management and professional leadership.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be supported to:
- Work directly with parents, babies and children in a residential family centre environment.
- Promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children at all times.
- Support parents to develop safe, consistent and nurturing care routines.
- Assist with observations of parenting capacity, daily routines, baby care and parent-child interaction.
- Support work around feeding, safe sleeping, hygiene, attachment, stimulation, emotional warmth and child development.
- Contribute to clear, factual and timely records.
- Understand the difference between observation, evidence, professional judgement and inference.
- Support key workers and senior staff with placement plans, reviews and assessment activity.
- Work in a trauma-informed, strengths-based and respectful manner.
- Maintain clear professional boundaries with families.
- Support safeguarding processes in line with policy, procedure and statutory expectations.
- Work collaboratively with social workers, health professionals, placing authorities, solicitors, guardians and other relevant professionals.
- Assist with the daily running of the residential unit.
- Contribute to a calm, safe, clean and structured living environment.
- Take part in supervision, reflective practice and team meetings.
- Support quality assurance, compliance and continuous improvement activity.
- Complete all apprenticeship training, coursework, evidence logs and assessments within required timescales.
- Apply learning from the Level 5 apprenticeship directly into practice.
- Uphold Lilly Belle House’s values, policies and professional standards at all times.
About You
We are looking for someone who is reliable, reflective, emotionally intelligent and committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and families.
You will need to be calm under pressure, able to communicate clearly, and confident working in a setting where accurate recording, safeguarding and professional conduct are essential.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A genuine commitment to safeguarding children and supporting families.
- Experience or strong interest in children’s services, family support, residential care, early years, youth work, social care, health or education.
- Good understanding of professional boundaries.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Good attention to detail.
- The ability to produce clear, factual and timely records.
- A respectful, non-judgemental and trauma-informed approach.
- Emotional resilience when working with complex family circumstances.
- The ability to work as part of a team in a 24-hour residential environment.
- Confidence using IT systems.
- Willingness to learn, reflect and develop into a future leadership role.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
Previous experience in a residential children’s service, parent and child unit, family support service, childcare setting, health setting or social care environment would be desirable.
Apprenticeship Training
As part of this role, you will complete the Children, Young People and Families Manager Level 5 Apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship will support you to develop knowledge and skills in:
- Safeguarding children, young people and families.
- Leadership and management in children and family services.
- Residential family support and assessment practice.
- Child development, attachment and parenting capacity.
- Risk assessment and risk management.
- Working with families with complex needs.
- Partnership working with local authorities and external professionals.
- Equality, diversity and reasonable adjustments.
- Reflective supervision and professional accountability.
- Quality assurance, governance and service improvement.
- Evidence-based practice and professional recording.
You will be expected to engage fully with your apprenticeship provider, attend all required training, complete written work to a high standard, and apply your learning within the workplace.
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
Lilly Belle House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, babies and vulnerable families. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
The successful applicant will be subject to robust safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, right to work checks and an enhanced DBS check. Appointment will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of all required pre-employment checks.
What We Offer
- A meaningful role within a specialist residential parent and child unit.
- Funded Level 5 apprenticeship training.
- Workplace supervision, mentoring and reflective practice.
- Experience within a regulated children and families service.
- Development in safeguarding, assessment, family support and leadership.
- The opportunity to contribute to life-changing work with parents and babies.
- A professional, values-led working environment focused on safety, evidence and high standards.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a short supporting statement explaining why you are interested in this role and how your experience, values and ambitions align with working in a residential parent and child unit.
Pay: From £8.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Health & wellbeing programme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Birmingham, West Midlands: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- A-Level or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Working with children: 1 year (preferred)
Language:
Work Location: In person
