Residential Youth Support Practitioners

- Suffolk County Council
- Address : Bury St Edmunds Children's Home, Suffolk - Onsite working
- Salary: £33,973 per annum (pro rata for part time) which includes a salary of £29,542 plus 15% unsociable hours allowance £4,431 (pro rata for part time)
- You will be required to undertake rostered sleep in duties. Any such duties are a contractual requirement, for which you will receive national minimum wage for the hours you are rostered to sleep, on top of your salary.
- Hours : 37 hours per week, flexible working options may be available
- Contract : Permanent

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

As a Youth Support Practitioner in the Bury St Edmunds home, you’ll work with colleagues, partners, and communities to build trust, share ideas, and deliver services that make a lasting impact.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Bury St Edmunds Children's Home is a mixed-gender residential homes for children and young people aged 8 - 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 , 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.

You can view a full list of requirements in the   Job and Person Profile .   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 homes operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

You will work 37 hours per week on a rolling rota , including a mixture of early, daytime, evening and sleep-in shifts. Typical shifts include 7am–2pm, 7am–7pm, 11am–11pm, 10am–11pm and 5pm–11pm followed by a sleep-in , alongside some shorter shifts such as 10am–2pm .

The rota also includes weekends and bank holidays , providing a varied working pattern rather than a standard Monday-to-Friday week.

This means:

- 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
- Excellent benefits package.
- Salary includes a salary of £29,542 plus 15% unsociable hours allowance £4,431 (pro rata for part time)
- 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

At Bury St Edmunds Children's Home, you'll join a dedicated team providing round-the-clock care for children and teenagers aged 8-17. 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. The home 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.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker , shaped by the voices of young people: find out more .

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re 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 chat, please contact Bob Rigby , Deputy Manager f or Bury St Edmunds , by calling 07355 029374 .

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 a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the   Supporting Statement template (Word) .

- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- Transition periods in 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?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, 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]   or   03456 014412 . You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages .

Closing date : 11.30pm, 18 November 2026

Interview and Warner Interview date: 2 or 3 December 2026

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. #LI-Onsite