• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Lowestoft Children’s Home (Onsite)
• Salary: £32,887 per annum (pro rata), plus additional payment for rostered sleep in duties (see benefits), £17.04 hourly rate (this includes the hourly rate of £14.82 plus the 15% unsociable hours allowance)
• Hours: 22 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we believe that when our people grow, our communities thrive. That’s why we are looking for passionate Youth Support Practitioners to join our team. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment for vulnerable children and young people.

Lowestoft Children’s Home is a solo placement home for a child of either sex aged 11 – 17 years old. We provide support for the children in our care to achieve the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives, including education, health, and social and fun activities, as well as supporting them to build positive and appropriate relationships. We believe every child deserves a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive.

If you are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people and can work fixed shifts (Rota chart for 22 hours per week), we want to hear from you. This rewarding role offers the chance to change futures in a home from home.

Your role and responsibilities

You will work as part of a dedicated team to provide day-to-day support for some of the most vulnerable children in the county. You will help children who may experience social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, including those who have experienced trauma and display high-level challenging behaviours. Your role will involve building strong, trusting relationships with young residents, monitoring their wellbeing, and encouraging their personal growth and independence.

You will:

• promote the development of children and young people within the environment
• safeguard all children from threats to their health and welfare
• maintain a safe and sensitive atmosphere that meets the needs of the children
• develop and maintain good relationships with parents, social workers, teachers, and other professionals
• maintain accurate and detailed records
• deliver effective communications within the Home and with outside agencies and the community
• assist in planning and implementing care plans for children in collaboration with other professionals
• administer children’s medication in accordance with procedures
• attend and participate in team meetings and supervisions.

You will need:

• a willingness to undertake training as required to update knowledge and skills
• to either hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means
• to be able to work fixed shifts to provide 24/7 coverage.

The home operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which means:

• Fixed shifts: Shifts are 7am – 6pm and 5.30pm -11.30pm with sleep-in duty
• Consistent staffing: Ensures staff are always present during critical times, providing stability for the children
• Meeting individual needs: The rota helps in planning and implementing effective care plans
• Team collaboration: Structured rota allows for effective communication and teamwork
• Flexibility within structure: While the rota is fixed, it strives to offer some flexibility to accommodate staff needs.

Benefits

• Funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
• Monthly supervision sessions
• Excellent benefits package.
• Salary includes a salary of £28,598 plus 15% unsociable hours allowance £4,289 (pro rata for part time).
• Sleep in duties are an additional requirement, for which you will receive national minimum wage for the hours you are rostered to sleep, on top of your salary.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

At Lowestoft Children’s Home, you will join a dedicated team providing round-the-clock care. The team collaborates to create a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where young residents can thrive. Each member brings unique skills and experiences, fostering a supportive atmosphere that encourages personal growth. The home, a large, detached house with a spacious garden in a pleasant residential area, focuses on building strong, trusting relationships with the children, addressing their social, emotional, and mental health needs, and helping them overcome past traumas. By working closely with parents, social workers, teachers, and other professionals, the team ensures each child’s needs are met and they receive the best possible care and support.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

For an informal discussion, please contact either Jason McMaster, Manager, by calling 07715201269 or Kelly Ward, Deputy Manager, by calling either 01502 674803 or 07732603804.

How to apply

Step 1 – Please read the Job and Person Profile (Word) before applying for this job opportunity.

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a Supporting Statement template (Word) that has answered the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question):

1. Explain a situation where you had to ensure the safety and well-being of a child or young person. What actions did you take, and how did you ensure that the child’s needs were met?
2. This role requires working fixed shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Can you provide an example of how you have managed your time effectively while working in a role with similar shift requirements? How do you ensure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance while meeting the demands of fixed shifts?
3. Give an example of a situation where you had to communicate effectively with a young person who was experiencing emotional distress. How did you handle the situation, and what was the outcome?
4. Transition periods in solo children’s homes can be particularly challenging and may sometimes require physical interventions to ensure a child’s safety. Can you describe how you would approach carrying out such interventions, and how you would work to rebuild trust and relationships with the child afterward?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or: recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 15 February 2026.

You will be required to attend a Warner Interview for this position as part of the recruitment process.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).