Job Description

Job Title: Children's Residential Care Practitioner ➔ Education Inclusion & SEMH Mentor

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire (FY postcodes)

Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary-to-Permanent

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Term-time only | No night shifts, no weekends, no sleep-ins)

Swap 12-Hour Shifts and Sleep-Ins for Term-Time School Hours

Are you currently working as a Children's Residential Support Worker (RSW), Residential Care Officer, or Youth Care Worker in Blackpool, feeling burned out by erratic shift patterns, 24-hour rotas, and waking nights?

Your crisis de-escalation skills, trauma-informed instincts, and ability to build trust with vulnerable teenagers are in high demand in educational settings.

We are recruiting experienced residential care staff looking to transition their skill set into a structured, daytime role within an Alternative Provision (AP) and SEMH School in Blackpool. You will support Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students (ages 11-16) who face complex social, emotional, mental health, or trauma-related barriers to education.

Why Transfer from Residential Care to Alternative Provision?

  • Balanced Working Lifestyle: Standard school hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM). Every evening, weekend, and school holiday off.

  • Direct Application of Skills: You already understand PACE principles, trauma-informed care, and non-confrontational boundary setting-the exact pillars of alternative education.

  • Micro-Ratios & Supportive Teams: Work 1:1 or within small group rooms (3 to 6 pupils) alongside dedicated class teachers and pastoral leads.

  • Clear Career Pathway: Structured temp-to-perm transition offering immediate placement security with a smooth route onto a permanent school contract.

Key Responsibilities

  • 1:1 and Small-Group Mentoring: Provide emotional regulation and behavioural support to pupils who have experienced trauma, school breakdown, or placement instability.

  • De-Escalation & Crisis Prevention: Intervene early using low-arousal, therapeutic techniques to defuse frustration and support co-regulation.

  • Re-Engagement with Learning: Guide learners through functional academic tasks, life skills, vocational workshops, and outdoor activities.

  • Multi-Agency & Safeguarding Alignment: Maintain clear CPOMS/pastoral notes, tracking emotional baselines and working closely with the DSL, SENCo, and external social work teams.

Requirements

  • Experience: Minimum 6+ months experience as a Residential Support Worker (RSW), Children's Care Practitioner, Youth Worker, or Family Support Worker supporting vulnerable children or adolescents.

  • Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or Children and Young People's Workforce) is advantageous, but practical trauma-informed experience is the priority.

  • Mindset: High emotional resilience, patience, firm and consistent boundaries, and genuine empathy.

  • Vetting: Must hold or be willing to process an Enhanced DBS on the DBS Update Service.

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