Leaving Care Worker - Staying Put and Supported Lodgings

Derbyshire Leaving Care Service is seeking a Part-Time Leaving Care Worker to join our passionate, nurturing, inclusive, and dynamic Staying Put and Supported Lodgings team, based in one of our nationally recognised young people's hubs.

Are you passionate about supporting hosts who provide safe, nurturing homes for young people aged 16-21 as they prepare for independence?

Do you want to be part of a small, dedicated, values-led, relationship-focused team with a culture of not giving up on a young person" embedded across the service?

This is an exciting time for Supported Lodgings and Staying Put in Derbyshire, as we continue to develop these services-bringing new opportunities to strengthen quality, consistency and outcomes for young people.

If you are enthusiastic about developing Supported Lodgings and Staying Put arrangements, promoting safe and supportive homes and helping shape the future of this growing service, then this role could be the perfect fit for you.

You will be committed to corporate parenting and relationship-based practice as drivers of positive outcomes and transitions. Social pedagogy and trauma-informed approaches will be at the heart of your practice, along with the ability to challenge and inspire colleagues and partners to ensure a genuine parenting approach and high-quality accommodation options for older children in care and care leavers.

You will be joining an established, high-performing service with excellent strategic arrangements, including a comprehensive Local Offer for Care Leavers, strong education, employment and training (EET) opportunities, discounted water bills, council tax reductions and thriving support groups.

We are ambitious to further improve following our 2021 Ofsted Leaving Care Visit. Inspectors noted:

• A passionate and skilled workforce enabling care leavers to progress and benefit from positive experiences
• Ambitious plans that reflect a determination for care leavers to succeed
• Effective transitions for young people aged 16-18, supporting independence and life skills
• Care leavers value the service and feel supported and able to contact their workers
• Accommodation needs are carefully considered, respecting young people's wishes and relationships
• A strong focus on education, employment and training opportunities

About the Role

We are looking to recruit a Leaving Care Worker to join our Supported Lodgings and Staying Put Team. The focus is on supporting hosts who provide safe and stable homes for young people aged 16-21, helping them develop the practical and emotional skills needed for independent living.

You will work closely with Supported Lodgings and Staying Put hosts, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to support young people who have experienced trauma. We encourage all hosts to work in a trauma-informed and therapeutic way, so you will support both your own development and that of hosts in embedding these principles.

Your role will include involvement from initial enquiry and referral stage through to ongoing support. Responsibilities include:

• Undertaking initial visits and competing Supported Lodgings and Staying Put assessments. This will involve gathering relevant information, evaluating suitability, and ensuring that prospective hosts can provide a safe, stable, and supportive environment for young people.
• Supporting hosts through the panel process
• Providing regular supervision and completing annual reviews to both Supported Lodgings & Staying Put Hosts
• Collaborating with professionals to ensure stability and quality of home
• Attending team meetings, and multi-agency meetings such as LAC reviews, stability meetings and planning discussions
• Ensuring under 18's approved hosts meet the key principles and quality standards of Supported Lodgings, in line with Ofsted Supported Accommodation Regulations, including the Quality Standards, maintaining compliance and promoting continuous improvement in service delivery.

What We Offer

• Manageable workloads
• A thriving office and young people's hub environment
• Visible, supportive, and committed management
• A diverse and rewarding caseload
• Excellent supervision and peer support
• Access to high-quality training and development opportunities
• Opportunities for formal qualifications and career progression

Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Guaranteed annual incremental pay increases
• Generous annual leave, sick pay, and flexible working
• Discounts on leisure centre memberships
• Free car parking at most sites
• In-house counselling service
• Occupational health service
• Access to physiotherapy sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Provisional Interview Date: 18th May 2026

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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We welcome applications from individuals who share our values - being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.