Location	Age on Admission	Vacancies
Our School	6-15 yrs	4
Springfields	6-10 yrs	1
Westfields	6-10 yrs	0
Hillfields	12-15 yrs	1

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.

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.

Hillfields Therapeutic Children’s Home

Hillfields Therapeutic Children’s Home was opened in April 2015 and is designed to provide secondary care provision through comprehensive individual assessments of needs, emotional treatment programmes, and pathway plans leading to independent living.

Like its sister home Westfields, Hillfields is available for those young people who have experienced break down in their own family, considerable disruptions to their lives, whose needs have not been met in alternative care settings. It is specifically geared to young people who require a slightly less structured and ordered home environment than that of Springfields, who benefit from living with an older peer group, but need ongoing therapeutic support and practical ‘firm but fair’ guidance to move towards adulthood and independent living (or fostering where this is achievable and appropriate).

Hillfields is located on the northern side of the city centre in a popular district of the city. The locality comprises predominantly larger and high value houses set within good sized plots. This is one of the most high value residential districts in the city. A popular shopping and cultural district lies just over half a mile to the south, and the city centre and seafront are 1.25 miles south. A mainline railway station is conveniently accessible and the A27 and A23 are also easily accessible by road. Hillfields is located within the catchment areas of several secondary main-stream schools, colleges, and the nearby Universities of Sussex and Brighton.

The house presents as a good sized semi-detached Edwardian house dating from around 1910 and of traditional appearance and construction methods for the period. The front elevation is rendered at first floor level. The roof space has been converted into living accommodation through timber framed dormers in the front and rear roof slopes. PVCU double glazed replacement windows are in place and there are 2 pairs of PVCU double glazed patio doors to the rear. Theses lead on to a moderately sized walled rear garden which is predominantly laid to lawn, with a patio area.

There is a semi-detached single garage accessed from the adjacent road, and a front parking area with an in/out driveway and parking for 2–3 cars surrounded by boarders filled with mature shrubs and trees.

It has five single bedrooms of varying sizes to suit the individual needs of the five young people living at Hillfields. There is also a large and spacious entrance hall that is used as a relaxed area for those living anmd working in the home to meet, sleeping-in room for the adults, managers’ office, an adult’s study / work area, a main lounge, a very large kitchen with laundry facilities and that also includes the main dining area, a modern bathroom, a modern shower room, storage areas, meetings room / dedicated study area for the young people, and off course numerous communal toilets!

We believe Hillfields offers young people an exceptional quality of care and provides them with the type of experience every young person deserves.

What we offer….

Therapeutic Residential Care

A comfortable & welcoming ‘family-like’ home
A positive and rewarding and ‘good-enough’ care experience where children can make real progress towards achieving their goals
Psychodynamic Practice
A Therapeutic Community Approach
A strong commitment to Safeguarding and protecting the welfare and well-being of the child
A commitment to providing each child with their own Independent Advocate
Collaborative working partnership between the child, their placing authority, and The Lioncare Group, ensures the child remains at the center of all we do.
Regular Permanency Planning meetings to ensure the child’s Care Plan is realised

Commitment to Education, Training, Employment & Life Long Learning

A positive and rewarding education, training and learning experience
Special SEBD / SEMH provision
Through The Lioncare School, a skills-based curriculum that defines the core skills we feel will best advantage our children when they move on from us. Curriculum 2020 has been designed to acknowledge the unique profiles of the children placed at the Lioncare School, characterised by;
- disrupted early learning experiences
- interrupted formal schooling
- disengagement from formal settings
- distrust of adult and professional input
- continuous high levels of anxiety and emotional arousal due to trauma
- the resultant cognitive, sensory and social impairment.
Supported reintegration to a mainstream school or college where appropriate
Supported transition to college and further education / training / employment
Collaborative working partnership between the child, their education authority, and The Lioncare School and/or the College Placement that delivers progress and supports achievement.
ASDAN courses at all levels.
New Horizons and Transition Challenge are available in all key stages
Short Courses are offered as pre-GCSE programmes as appropriate in key stages 3 and 4.
Functional Skills at Entry Level, Level One and Two are offered via NCFE, either as an alternative to GCSE or as stepping stones toward it.
A GCSE curriculum is available in English and Mathematics with other subjects on offer where appropriate. The Lioncare School facilitates this with partner schools and the Cambridge Examinations Board.

Preparation for Fostering or Interdependent Living

Laying the foundations for sustainable foster placements where this is the permanency plan set out in the child’s Care Plan.
Working closely with the child’s placing authority and social worker and other professionals through regular Permanency Planning meetings (scheduled for every 2 months) for the purpose of monitoring and promoting progress towards a positive transition from Hillfields (either to a foster placement or interdependent living).
Assisting and supporting the child, their social worker, and their placing authority in determining the right foster carers able to meet the child’s needs, or the right semi-independence accommodation and provision that allows the young adult to continue to grow and flourish and achieve.
Pathway planning
Unique “Learning to Look After Me” practical training programme
Employment guidance and support
Laying the foundations for successful & effective interdependence

Outreach & After-Care Support Package

Planned & effective support through transitions and beyond, including the provision of an 18+ Supported Accommodation programme through The Lioncare Group.
Being and remaining a ‘Secure Base’ for the child / young adult long after they have left Hillfields, for those times when they might be in need of a little support, advice, or simply need the comfort and reassurance of a familiar and friendly face.

Statement of Purpose:

Statement of Purpose Hillfields v17 (13.07.26)

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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Placements: 08.10.26

Recruitment: 08.10.26

Recruiting for November 2026

Hillfields Therapeutic Children’s Home

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Recruitment: 08.10.26