Night-time Support Practitioner

Purpose of the role

You will provide calm, consistent night-time support to a seven-year-old child who experiences significant fear overnight. Your role is not supervision or control. It is about being emotionally available, physically present and gently reassuring so he can feel safe enough to sleep. This is relational work. Your presence helps settle his nervous system, reduce distress and prevent escalation. This role sits within a therapeutic, trauma-informed home, embodying [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s values of generosity, curiosity and courage grounded in compassion, empowerment and relational practice.

Key responsibilities

• Overnight care and support: Sleep in a single room next to the child’s room with the door open; respond when he wakes; gently guide him back to bed with calm reassurance; use simple, grounding language; provide appropriate physical reassurance.
• Creating a sense of safety: Maintain a predictable, soothing response; support use of comfort tools like sound machine and weighted blanket; keep doors open.
• Early morning care: Support return to bed before 7:00am if needed; after 7:00am follow his lead in a calm, low-demand morning routine; spend time together.
• Team working: Receive handover; share key information; work alongside wider team.
• Recording and communication: Share brief summary of significant events; escalate concerns appropriately.

Person specification

Essential: Naturally calm, patient and emotionally attuned; comfortable offering reassurance; able to remain steady when a child is distressed; open to learning trauma-informed approaches; reliable and consistent.

Desirable: Experience with children who have experienced trauma; understanding of attachment and nervous system regulation; experience in residential care.

Safeguarding statement

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Children's Social Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, safer recruitment processes and satisfactory references.

Non-smoking and non-vaping environment

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s homes are entirely non-smoking and non-vaping environments. Staff must not smoke or vape while on duty, during sleep-ins or anywhere on the premises.