Job Description

We are looking for experienced and dedicated Senior Support Workers to join us at our Ofsted registered residential children's homes in London, Enfield.

About Us

Kennedy Elliott offers therapeutic group living environments grounded in trauma informed care approaches. We focus on how past relationships and experiences impact children's current lives and enable them to address challenges by building safe, new relationships and providing secure environment.

Your role

Reporting to Deputy/Registered Manager, you will be providing high-quality, trauma-informed care while holding specific Key Worker responsibility for one or more children/young people. This role requires strong care expertise, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to mentor and support team members, while working towards ensuring both outstanding outcomes for children and the highest compliance with Ofsted Regulations.

Core Duties

Provide on-shift guidance, support, and constructive feedback to Support Workers, acting as a first point of escalation for day-to-day issues Take responsibility for the smooth running of shifts, ensuring effective communication, adherence to daily shift plans, and continuity in care and containment across the team Actively contribute to positive team dynamics, sharing information effectively and working proactively to understand and manage complex dynamics such as "splitting" Contribute to team meetings and dynamic groups and ensure shared and role specific responsibilities are fulfilled Complete required weekly and monthly reports, ensuring accurate handover and documentation is maintained in line with managerial direction Maintain and promote good relationships with external professional networks, team and management and ensure adherence to all organisational policies, procedures, and instructions Understand the range of challenging behaviours presented by the children and use positive behaviour management approaches to respond. On occasions physical intervention may be required to safeguard the children staff or others Demonstrate clear understanding of personal and professional boundaries and support the young person to develop awareness of personal safety, boundaries, and online behaviour Support children's and young people's relationships with other significant people in their lives by fostering a positive/professional approach Act as the primary keyworker lead for one or more young people, as allocated by the manager, ensuring their care, support, and development are consistently planned, implemented, and reviewed in line with their Care Plan and the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 Build and sustain trusting, professional, and nurturing relationships, providing emotional support using trauma-informed and attachment-aware practice to support children in achieving their potential Lead the planning, delivery, and formal review of the young person's Care Plan, ensuring all planning reflects young person's wishes, aspirations and voice (captured as '[Name] said...', 'They felt...') Deliver structured, purposeful keywork sessions linked to identified outcomes and goals, recording sessions promptly to demonstrate reflection, progress, and next steps Act as the main point of liaison and communication with Social Workers, schools, health professionals (CAMHS), and families, ensuring holistic and coordinated care Positively engage with children in pursuing education, play, hobbies, and interests, actively participating in the development of therapeutic environment Understand and manage challenging behaviours using positive behaviour management approaches and, where necessary, perform safe and authorised physical intervention to safeguard individuals Support young people to manage themselves and their behaviours, enabling them to recognise the impact of their actions on themselves and others using reflection Promote the safety and welfare of the young person at all times, recognise and report safeguarding concerns immediately, and contribute to the completion and regular review of risk assessments Maintain accurate safeguarding records and ensure appropriate escalation where required Provide day-to-day primary care, ensuring that all the children are living in an environment supporting their sense of worth and physical well-being. This will include cooking, cleaning, laundry, helping the children at mealtimes, bed times, bath times and with school activities and other day to day tasks involved in looking after children Engage in supervision, training, reflective practice sessions and demonstrate professional curiosity and continuous learning Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards
Why Join Us

Full time, permanent contracts with consistent shift patterns, supporting your work/life balance Professional Development through fully funded Ofsted-recognised qualifications and continuous training Supportive Culture & Progression Opportunities Company events
What We're Looking For

Essential Experience:

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or commitment to complete within 2 years). Experience of working in residential children's care Ability to connect with and guide the team, demonstrating sound judgment and confidence to take decisive action Strong understanding of safeguarding, care planning, and trauma-informed practice
Desirable Criteria:

Experience of using care recording systems Full UK driving licence Experience supporting young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs Experience in contributing to Ofsted inspections Knowledge of therapeutic approaches such as PACE, attachment theory or trauma-informed models
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This position is subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process, including satisfactory references and an enhanced background checks. We expect all successful candidates to share this commitment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From 14.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

Referral programme
Experience:

Residential Childcare: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

Level 3 in Residential Childcare (preferred)
Work Location: In person