The Lioncare Group
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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.

Outreach & After-Care

The Lioncare Group has one aim: To improve the lives and prospects of the children in our care.

We firmly believe in the importance to children of a sense of continuum in the care and support they receive. Our extensive experience of caring for children has shown us the potential harm that can occur through poor planning and misinformed decision-making around the ending of placements.

The current financial and economic pressures on local authorities to make cost-efficiency savings raise serious implications for the level of consideration that will be given to the benefit of outreach and aftercare support provided by the adults who have been caring for the child and with whom the child has established a trusting working relationship.

The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 Guidance and Regulations states:

“These other agencies will include those who are caring for young people, who might be encouraged to assume responsibility for preparing the young people they are caring for, for the time when they leave care (voluntary organisations and children’s homes do, of course, have a duty to do this). Local authorities will also wish to encourage them to provide aftercare for young people who have left their care.”

We offer every child leaving our care the necessary ongoing support and assistance to enable them to successfully move to their next placement, or leave the care system, and be able to look back and view their stay with us as a positive, rewarding, meaningful, and integrated stage of their journey through childhood to adolescence and into adulthood. We aim to support the child during the transition period between placements and beyond, through close co-operation and liaison between their current carers and their allocated key worker.

Indeed, The Lioncare Group has for many years provided planned and structured programs of outreach and aftercare to many children who have moved on from our care. The program initially allows for twice weekly visits to the child by the registered manager or the child’s casework manager, to assist them through the transition period between placements, maintain the continuity of important attachments the child has formed whilst in our care, and support them in establishing positive relations with their new carers.

Similarly, the registered manager meets with the new carers to offer support, guidance and practical advice where requested on ways to best care for the child, strategies that have previously proven effective, help in gaining an understanding or awareness of the emotional factors underlying aspects of the child’s behaviour or actions, and opportunities for sharing with the new carers aspects of the child’s developmental history and memorable experiences allowing the new carers to take responsibility for ‘keeping these real’ for the child.

The transition program can last for between 6-12 weeks depending on the wishes of the child, the placing authority, the new carers or support provider, and the foster support team or semi-supported care / 18+ team. The frequency of outreach visits decreases in a planned way throughout the programme and often finishes with a celebratory meal or activity for the child that marks the formal ending and ‘handover’ of their outreach care by adults from The Lioncare Group, and celebrates the start of their new life with their foster family or support provider.

Hillfields has developed a comprehensive programme of outreach and aftercare for young people leaving the care system and moving to semi-independent (or rather, Interdependent) living in their community.

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