Job Introduction
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
About the Role
Senior Residential Practitioner
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager take a lead role in the provision of a care service for children and young people that meets the Children’s Homes Regulations, Children’s Homes Quality Standards and BCFT and the homes’ internal policies, procedures and guidance.
To provide and ensure staff in the home provide appropriate day-to-day care to a group of children and young people who have suffered significant trauma, neglect or abuse and who are likely to display difficult and challenging behaviours – including those who may have a number of complex issues including learning difficulties, mental health issues, been criminally and or sexually exploited, sexually abused, neglected.
Ensuring that a psychologically secure and stable family type environment is provided that will enable children and young people to develop to their full potential.
This could include working in a variety of settings
Lead by example and enable staff to support children and young people by embracing Bradford’s ‘Model of Care’ and by using these principles to improve the outcomes of children and young people to enable them to reach their full potential.
Our strategic vision and values https://www.bradfordcft.org.uk/about-us/our-vision-and-values/ are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.
Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.
Key Responsibilities
- To take overall management responsibility for the home in the absence of the Registered Manager and Assistant Manager.
- Support the Registered Manager and Assistant Manager in maintaining and where necessary assist in the development of robust quality assurance, audit systems, policy, procedure and guidance.
- To audit and ensure that all children and young people’s files are kept up to date and any remedial action is taken promptly. To ensure information held on children and young people is accurate. To ensure confidentiality of information and ensure the staff act in accordance with the GDPR Requirements, when obtaining, transmitting and recording information verbally, in writing and electronically.
- Provide formal and informal supervision to staff and undertake appraisals. Be involved in the development of Apprentice and unqualified Residential Practitioners. Sharing knowledge and experience with new starters. Monitor and ensure that all mandatory training is undertaken and kept up to date, as well as delivering training when required.
- The post holder will contribute towards the probationary period of new starters.
- Oversee, supervise and be actively involved in the key working and case management of children and young people which addresses risk factors, enhances protective factors and promotes good quality care leading to improved outcomes.
- Take an active role in the risk assessment and risk management of children and young people ensuring risk assessments and risk management plans are implemented effectively, regularly reviewed and updated.
- To adhere to and ensure all the requirements in relation to the Safe Handling of Medication and follow all relevant procedures in line with Departmental Policy. You must make sure children receive any medicines at the right dosage and at the prescribed times.
- To take all reasonable steps and support staff in the home to locate and ensure the safe return of any young people who are missing from the home.
- Remain up to date and compliant with all relevant legislation, organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best practice. In practice, you will be required to utilise these skills and knowledge, to interpret, assess and evaluate the potential consequences to decisions you make.
- The children/young people we look after having experienced significant trauma, which requires high levels of compassion, empathy, resilience and understanding. Due to this trauma, they can present challenging behaviour, including self-harm, physical outbursts, and risk taking behaviour, where we have a responsibility to make them feel safe and cared for. Staff are likely to be exposed to substantial risk of challenging behaviour by the children using the service and will be involved with the management of this.
- Be physically fit enough to carry out ALL requirements of the post including the use of the physical interventions as part of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) to manage challenging behaviour as required
- Senior Residential Practitioners are expected to work directly with the young person using theoretical approaches and models of working to enable them to understand their past to manage their feelings frustrations and behaviours and to enable them to make positive life choices. To record all work and to reflect and analyse outcomes and identify future work required.
- To be able to work in a variety of Children’s Homes settings across the city. This could include working in the locality but may also involve travelling long distances to participate in overnight stays and holidays. You will be expected to work positively with a range of children and young people, their families, professionals and partners, ensuring effective lines of communication are established and maintained. You will be expected to attend Care Planning Meetings, Statutory Reviews and Strategy Meetings as required.
- To be prepared to work flexibly, including unsociable hours and shifts on a rota basis, including weekend and bank holiday working. You will also be required to undertake sleep in duties, again this will be on a rota and could be at short notice.
- To positively and proactively contribute to the Regulation 44 monitoring visits and regulatory inspections from Ofsted to ensure the Children’s Home meets its Regulatory Compliance in all areas as set out in the Children’s Home Regulations.
Main Duties and Responsibilities and Experience
To be successful in this role you will need:
Essential Skills and Attributes
A minimum of 3 years working as a qualified Residential Practitioner in a Children’s Home
Supervision of staff (including deployment, allocation of tasks and professional development)
Experience of working in a challenging and changing environment being adaptable and resilient.
Experience of completing risk assessments and risk analysis of vulnerable young people to ensure appropriate and safe risk management plans are in place
- Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, child development, and children’s home regulations.
- Ability to remain calm, emotionally available, and consistent in high-pressure situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to maintain accurate records and lead professional discussions.
- Proficient in using computer systems for documentation, monitoring, and communication.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including lone working during night shifts.
- Leadership skills to inspire, guide, and develop colleagues.
- Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care.
- Physical and emotional resilience to meet the demands of the role, including the use of TCI techniques when required.
Qualifications and Experience
- GCSE Grade A – C in Maths and English or a qualification that is equivalent or higher
- The minimum qualification for this post is the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Child Care or the equivalent. Equivalent NVQs are defined in the Children’s Homes Standards 2015 as:
- Level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma with social care pathway
- NVQ 3 caring for children & young people
- NVQ 3 health & social care
Working Conditions
Must be able to perform all duties and tasks with reasonable adjustment, where appropriate, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to Disability Provisions.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
- Generous annual leave
- Excellent Local Government pension
- Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
- Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
- Professional development and career progression opportunities
- we are a National Living Wage employer
For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.
Bradford Children and Families Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Stuart Firth, Meadowlea Manager, 07846132032
Closing Date: 19th April 2026
Interviews: 28th April 2026
