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.

Preparation for Fostering

We have achieved great success over the years in supporting children and young people coping with their mixed emotions when leaving our care and moving to a foster placement.

Over the course of the placement, and through the process of preoccupation, we acquire an enormous amount of information, knowledge, and understanding of the needs and abilities of each child or young person placed with us.   In some cases where social workers, teachers,  and other professionals have frequently come and gone, we represent the most stable and consistent adult figures the child has known.

The expert knowledge and experience we have in assessing the potential ability of  each child or young person to manage and thrive in a foster / family environment, means we can provide foster link workers and placing officers with an informed opinion of the suitability of potential foster placements in meeting the needs of the child or young person.

If and when the time is right for a child or young person to begin considering moving to a foster placement, we support them in preparing for the transition, developing individualised transition plans, monitoring the impact of the process on the child or young person, establishing positive relations with the chosen foster carers, and assisting the child or young person in gradually becoming less dependent on adults in the home and more dependent on their new foster carers.

We ask for a minimum 3 months notice from placing authorities of their intention to move a child or young person to fostering, in order to provide sufficient time to work with the child or young person on those areas needed to facilitate a successful moving process.

The Lioncare Group has good connections and experience of working collaboratively with several independent Fostering Organisations both locally and nationally.

These close working connections, and the shared understanding of the needs of the children and young people living within The Lioncare Group, means that we are excellently placed to help in the process of finding properly matched foster carers for our children and young people.

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