Children’s Residential Practitioner
Working Pattern: Full time, permanent, rota-based shifts including sleeping-in duties
Location: Riverhead House, Louth
Salary: £31,015 – £33,673 plus a sleeping-in payment
Closing Date: 15th November 2026
About the Role
As a Children’s Residential Practitioner (known locally as a Residential Care Officer Level 1) no two days are the same and you will have the pleasure of working with children and young people to prepare them for an independent life.
This role also includes:
- Holistic Approach: You’ll work within multidisciplinary teams to meet the needs of children.
Salary: £31,015 – £33,673 plus a sleeping-in payment of £44.54 and mileage reimbursed at 45p per mile. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half.
Shift Pattern: Full time, permanent, you will have a good work/life balance with a rota split between different shifts, some will include sleeping at the home. Rota’s are given in advance to ensure this balance is met.
Our Home
We are proud to offer a rewarding Children’s Residential Practitioner opportunity at Riverhead House in Louth, a therapeutic reunification home dedicated to helping children rebuild and strengthen family relationships in a safe, supportive environment. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, we provide a nurturing, homely setting where children feel valued, cared for, and empowered to achieve positive outcomes.
Our team is passionate, dedicated, and supportive, working together to create a warm and inclusive home where both children and staff can thrive. As a Children’s Residential Practitioner, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, child-centred care, supporting children through their reunification journeys.
At Riverhead House, we take pride in providing therapeutic care that focuses on building trusting relationships, promoting emotional wellbeing, and helping children develop resilience. We are committed to creating a family-style environment where children experience stability, nurture, and a true sense of belonging. Equally, we invest in the development of our staff, offering opportunities for learning, progression, and professional growth within a supportive team culture.
As a Children’s Residential Practitioner, you will work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to provide the wraparound support children need to thrive. Every day brings new opportunities to make a meaningful difference, whether supporting a child through challenges, celebrating achievements, or helping families build stronger connections for the future.
If you are looking for a role where you can combine compassion, and therapeutic practice within an Ofsted Outstanding home, we would love to welcome you to Riverhead House, where care, nurture, and dedication are at the heart of everything we do.
About you
No prior professional care experience is required for this position, as we offer comprehensive training.
- Caring and Playful Demeanour: Children are full of energy and love to explore and play
- Kindness and Compassion: Essential for creating a secure, nurturing environment
- Passion for welfare: An advocate for children’s wellbeing
- Boundary Settings: Establishing boundaries gently but firmly
Qualifications and Skills:
Basic IT skills and knowledge / experience of the caring profession, along with a willingness to obtain a QCF qualification in working with children.
A driving licence is desirable but is negotiable, for some of the homes.
Our offer
At Lincolnshire County Council, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a rewarding package designed to support your work-life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and career growth.
Find out more about our offer to you in the attached brochure.
Benefits
- High quality induction
- Training and professional development
- Trauma training
- Therapeutic support enabling children to feel safe
- A strong leadership team to support you in your new role
Lincolnshire County Council Children’s Services are one of the best in the country and have an overall Outstanding rating from Ofsted. Lincolnshire has been chosen by the Department of Education as one of the three national Families First for Children Pathfinders which will run between September 2023 and 2025. This is an exciting time to join Children’s Residential Services and help us shape the future of Social Care.
We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.
Lincolnshire County Council are committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we encourage a supportive and inclusive culture and have been accredited as a Disability Confident Employer.
It is current policy to not shortlist candidates more than once within a 4 month period who have previously applied for a Residential Care post of the same grade within that time period.
Lincolnshire County Council 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.
Fluency Duty
In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.
Please be advised that this position is subject to a criminal record check.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…