Youth Support Practitioner

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Ipswich Children's Home - On-site
• Salary: £15.31 per hour
• Hours: Casual hours: No guaranteed hours. As and when required
• Contract: Casual basis

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

At Ipswich Children's Home, you'll join a dedicated team providing round-the-clock care for up to 3 children and teenagers aged 11-17. 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.

If you are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people and can work fixed shifts, 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.

We welcome applications from candidates from all types of work and life experiences. Including individuals who have experience in:  

• Residential Care 
• Youth Work 
• Learning Support 
• Health Care 
• Education 
• Family Support​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile below.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. 

If you believe you can succeed in this role, even if you don't meet all requirements, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. 

24/7 Coverage: 

• The homes operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Fixed shifts with sleep-in duty – Typical shifts are 7 am-6 pm, 11 am - 11 pm, 5 am - 11 pm and sleep in’s 11 pm - 7.30 am although this can vary.
• 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:

• Suffolk County Council will provide you with a fully funded Level 3 Diploma in residential Child Care, to be completed within 2 years of employment required by Ofsted. You will also have the option to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for residential Child Care to further your career within Social Care
• Monthly supervision sessions
• Sleep-in duties are an additional contractual requirement. For these duties, you will receive National Minimum Wage for the hours you are rostered to sleep, in addition to your salary.

The team 

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 

Please contact Suzanne Austin, Registered Homes Manager, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07889 913957.

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

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

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

Step 3 -Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use theSupporting Statement template (Word). 

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?

Please note: Without the requested supporting documents, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. 

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at:[email protected]or03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. 

Closing date:11.30 pm, 15 November 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct. 
 

Please note: If you are successful in securing a position, you will be required to provide a full 10-year employment and activity history as part of our pre-employment checks. This includes details of all employment, periods of education, and any gaps, along with referee contact details for each role where applicable. To help avoid delays in the recruitment and onboarding process, we recommend gathering this information in advance.

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.