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Placements: 08.10.26

Location   Age on AdmissionVacancies
Our School  6-15 yrs4
Springfields   6-10 yrs1
Westfields   6-10 yrs0
Hillfields  12-15 yrs1

We currently have four education placement vacancies at The Lioncare School, one residential placement vacancy at Springfields Therapeutic Children's Home and a second vacancy becoming available in November, and one residential placement vacancy at Hillfields Therapeutic Children's Home. We are happy to consider planned referrals, and offer a placement (with or without specialist SEMH therapeutic education at The Lioncare School) following a thorough matching process. If you wish to contact us regarding referrals we have a dedicated e-mail address for this: referrals@lioncare.co.uk

Alternatively, you can contact us on 01273 720424 if you wish to discuss in more detail a specific referral.

Recruitment: 08.10.26

  • Senior Therapeutic Carer
  • Childcare Worker
  • Therapeutic Carer
  • Waking Night Worker
  • Waking Night Therapeutic Carer

Recruiting for November 2026

If you interested in working with us, please download, complete, and return to recruitment@lioncare.co.uk the application form, which you must download (Note: you cannot complete this form online. Download the form to your devise, complete the form, then send it to us via email) as an editable PDF form by clicking on the link below:

The Lioncare Group Application Form

The Lioncare Group Recruitment Guide 2025-26

Please Note: in line with our safer recruitment practice and policy, there are no circumstances where a CV is an appropriate method of application for employment with The Lioncare Group, and only a fully completed application form will be accepted.

References will always be followed up and any offer of employment is always subject to pre-employment
checks being undertaken; these include confirmation of a satisfactory enhanced DBS and a thorough check for any prohibitions, sanctions and restrictions that might prevent the candidate from taking part in certain activities or working in specific positions.

Childcare Worker

March 19, 2026 Written by Matt Vince

from 8-40 hours per week, shift-working

The Lioncare Group is the operating name for Lioncare Ltd, established in 1991, and primarily concerned with therapeutic residential childcare, therapeutic special education, and therapeutically informed specialist training and learning and consultancy provision.
We currently operate three therapeutic children’s homes (Springfields opened in 1998 for children aged between 6 years and 14 years, Westfields originally opened in 2006 and re-launched in 2018 for children aged between 6 years and 14 years, and Hillfields opened in 2015 for children aged between 12 years and 18 years), The Lioncare School, an independent DfE registered SEMH school opened in 1995 for children aged between 6 years and 16 years, bespoke programmes of supported accommodation for young adult care-leavers aged 18 years and over (as and when required) comprising West House, Hill House, Portland Road and New Church Road), and a specialist training & learning & consultancy service.

The Lioncare Group is now looking for childcare workers to join our teams in our children’s homes

Working in our therapeutic children’s homes and supporting children attending our therapeutic SEMH independent school, your role and duties are similar to those of a therapeutic carer, except that you will also be undertaking our 6-month work-based basic training programme that will equip you with the skills and knowledge and experience and understanding of the therapeutic task to enable you to be considered for automatic promotion to the position of therapeutic carer following relevant assessment and performance review.

As such, you will work alongside and assist your therapeutic carer colleagues and your managers to meet the everyday and complex needs of the children in our care and help them manage their sometimes challenging behaviours, support them in understanding and managing their conflicted emotions and behaviours, work collaboratively with your colleagues based at The Lioncare School and other professionals to achieve the agreed outcomes for each child and within a group-living setting, and offer each child and the group as a whole real and meaningful experience of living, relating, and learning.

Further details about each of our children’s homes can be found in the therapeutic residential care section of this website.

Starting basic annual salary based on a 40-hour working week1  is £26,499.00 (£12.74 p.h.): scale-point CW1 regular similar experience in a similar role.  Increases to £26,681.00 (£12.83 p.h.) after successful completion of the 6-month work-based basic training programme and performance review: scale-point TC1, some direct experience in the same role or was CW1

There is potential for progression to scale-point TC5 earning £27,564.00 (£13.25 p.h.).  All scale-point levels can also earn up to approx £2,400.00 in additional pay through undertaking sleep-in and special bank holiday duties.

In addition to competitive pay with clear salary progression, we also offer:

  • opportunities for additional duties and bonus payments (that can significantly increase your earning potential)
  • company-paid sickness allowance
  • employee group healthcare scheme funded by The Lioncare Group for all employees
  • initial 2-week orientation and a comprehensive 6-month basic training and induction programme
  • a training package worth approx. £4,000.00 – £4,500.00 per employee
  • excellent ongoing training and commitment to investing in your continuous professional development, including therapeutic models and reflective practice, leadership and management, designated safeguarding lead, and further post-graduate opportunities for the right candidate
  • fully funded and supported attendance on our accredited Level 3 diploma in therapeutic childcare and education
  • effective support through regular practice-based and reflective supervision, guidance, ongoing experiential learning, and coaching from both our executive team and external consultancy,
  • working in one of the country’s leading providers of integrated therapeutic childcare and education
  • a supportive, caring, and understanding working environment
  • real job satisfaction
  • a chance to make a real difference in the lives of children

In line with our Safer Recruitment Policy and Safeguarding Practice, we do not accept CVs as a method of application for employment with The Lioncare Group. Only a fully completed Application Form will be accepted.

References will always be followed up, and any offer of employment is always subject to pre-employment checks being undertaken; these include confirmation of a satisfactory Enhanced DBS and a thorough check for any prohibitions, sanctions, and restrictions that might prevent you from taking part in certain activities or working in specific positions

Job Description – Child Care Worker

Application Form 

The Lioncare Group Recruitment Guide and Information 2025-26

1 as per the currently published salary scales effective 12.06.26 to 15.04.27

Uncategorized
Therapeutic Carer
Senior Therapeutic Carer

Latest News

Hillfields Therapeutic Children's Home is Good in All Areas

Following a full inspection by Ofsted on 21st and 22nd July 2026, and the publication of the inspection report, we congratulate the adults and children of Hillfields Therapeutic Children's Home on achieving the Ofsted judgement of Good In All Areas. There were no requirements and one recommendation.

“Children receive good-quality, individualised care from familiar staff, forming warm, nurturing relationships.” “Children have made notable improvements in emotional regulation, independence, self-care, relationship building and engagement with education.” “Children benefit from a caring and supportive home, where they are helped to make progress and enjoy positive childhood experiences.” “Safeguarding arrangements are strong and promote children’s welfare effectively.” “Staff support children’s behaviour calmly, consistently and therapeutically. Relationships are central to practice, and staff focus on understanding the reasons behind behaviours rather than simply responding to presenting incidents.” “Leaders and managers are ambitious for children and are committed to helping them achieve meaningful and sustainable progress.” “Care is individualised, with detailed plans, risk assessments and transition planning that reflect children’s complex needs.” “Staff benefit from a supportive and reflective culture. Regular supervision focuses on wellbeing, safeguarding, reflective practice and professional development.” “Leaders and managers maintain positive and effective relationships with professionals and partner agencies to support children’s development and welfare. Communication across the staff team is strong, and managers actively promote collaborative working.”

Westfields Children's Home is Outstanding

Following a full and thorough inspection by Ofsted on 4th-5th March 2026, and the publication of the inspection report, we are extremely proud and pleased to congratulate the adults and children of Westfields Children's Home on achieving the Ofsted judgement of Outstanding. There were no requirements and one recommendation.

“Children make exceptional progress from their starting points. They benefit from well-planned, conscientious and high-quality care.” “There is a stable and consistent team of staff who are driven and committed to improving outcomes for children.” “Stability for children is prioritised.” “Staff are passionate about helping children to feel loved and develop a sense of belonging.” “Education is a priority.” “Staff are positive role models and support children to develop socially acceptable behaviours.” “The registered manager is knowledgeable and reflective and has high aspirations for children in their care. One professional said, ‘I wouldn’t hesitate to place another child here.’” “There is an open and reflective learning culture.”

Springfields Therapeutic Children's Home is Good in All Areas

Following a full inspection by Ofsted on 2nd and 3rd December 2025, and the publication of the inspection report, we congratulate the adults and children of Springfields Therapeutic Children's Home on achieving the Ofsted judgement of Good in All Areas. There were no requirements and three recommendations.

"Children are making progress and enjoying positive experiences. They have warm and nurturing relationships with staff." "Leaders and managers advocate strongly for children’s educational progress, including ensuring that assessments are in place to secure the right provision for each child." "Moves into and out of the home are planned sensitively." "Staff champion meaningful family time, including for children whose relatives live far away." "The managers and staff understand their safeguarding duties to keep children safe." "The children feel safe in the home and spontaneously seek support and affection from staff and managers." "The manager is aspirational and committed to the children and to maximising their potential now and for their future. Together with the deputy manager, they demonstrate a well-developed and restorative leadership approach."

The Lioncare School is Good in All Areas

Following a full 3-day inspection by Ofsted on 5th to 7th November 2024, and the publication of the inspection report, we congratulate the adults and children of The Lioncare School on achieving the Ofsted judgement of Good In All Areas.

"Kind, nurturing staff quickly forge caring, professional relationships with pupils." "The school works extremely well with parents and carers and professionals. This ensures that pupils receive the specific help and education they need to support their well-being and development." "The school is astutely aware of pupils’ previous educational and life experiences. Staff use this knowledge and pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans and, where applicable, personal education plans (PEP) to design a responsive curriculum. This curriculum positively integrates pupils’ therapeutic needs with their academic education." "Pupil leadership is a real strength of the school. Pupil leaders ensure that pupils have a say when deciding which charities to support or changes to the running of the school day. Consequently, pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain." "Staff feel invested through regular training to help them understand how best to support pupils’ needs. There is a united vision by all to support pupils to achieve their best."

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Recruitment: 08.10.26

  • Senior Therapeutic Carer
  • Childcare Worker
  • Therapeutic Carer
  • Waking Night Worker
  • Waking Night Therapeutic Carer
The Lioncare Group
Lioncare House
58a Livingstone Road
Hove BN3 3WL

E: admin@lioncare.co.uk
T: 01273 720424