Role Responsibility
Kent County Council | Children’s In‑House Residential Services
Number of Positions 5:
2 x 28 hours per week, Permanent Part Time
3 x 26 hours per week, Permanent Part Time
Be part of something that truly matters.
Kent County Council is opening a brand-new, small, high-quality children’s home in Sittingbourne as part of Project Athena – a flagship programme designed to transform how we support children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and/or neurodiverse needs.
We are looking for caring, committed Children’s Support Workers to help build and deliver high-quality care from the very beginning.
This is your opportunity to be part of something new, meaningful, and genuinely impactful.
Why Athena – and why now?
Our Athena homes are small (up to 2 children in each home), allowing for consistent, relationship‑based care built around understanding each child as an individual.
We focus on trauma‑informed practice and Positive Behaviour Support – and we invest in our staff to develop these skills.
As a Children’s Support Worker, you will:
- Build meaningful, trusting relationships with children and young people
- Provide day‑to‑day care and support in a safe and nurturing environment
- Support children to develop skills, confidence and independence
- Be part of a team that values kindness, consistency and reflection
- Be a champion for safeguarding, and positive experiences for children and their outcomes
About the role
This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same.
You will:
- Support children with daily routines, activities and experiences
- Promote emotional wellbeing, stability and positive behaviour
- Contribute to care plans and support individual goals
- Work as part of a team to maintain a safe and supportive home
- Record and share information to support high-quality care
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for people with the right values, attitude and passion to make a difference.
You may have:
- Experience working with children, young people or vulnerable people
- Experience in care, education, youth work or similar environments
- Knowledge of Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and safeguarding practice
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Patience, resilience and a calm, consistent approach
- An interest in Positive Behaviour Support (training and ongoing support and development provided)
However, experience is not everything — we are equally interested in people who bring compassion, commitment and a willingness to learn. We will provide training and ongoing support to help you succeed.
Why Kent County Council?
- Competitive salary with enhancements where applicable (e.g. sleep‑ins)
- Pension and generous annual leave
- Full training and development pathway
- Support from experienced leaders and behaviour specialists
- A genuinely supportive, values‑led working environment
This post is considered by KCC to be a customer‑facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Location
Athena Children’s Home, 75 Homewood Avenue, Sittingbourne, United Kingdom
Closing date: 26th July 2026Selection process: w/c 10th August or 17th August 2026 TBC if shortlisted (2 x half days for interview and selection in Sittingbourne)
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