Reports to: Registered Manager
Location: Leatherhead
Salary: £38,840 - £42,500
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm; flexibility required, including on-call duties
Responsible For:
- Supervision and support of Residential Support Workers and Team Leaders
- Deputising in the absence of the Registered Manager
- Supporting the overall operational delivery of high-quality care and support to children and young people
Main Purpose of the Role
❖ To assist the Registered Manager in delivering an efficient, effective, and professional service in line with the Children’s Homes’ values, policies, and procedures.
❖ To promote and maintain a culture that is child-centred, inclusive, and compliant with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
❖ To support the day-to-day running of the home and ensure the well-being, safety, and developmental progress of all children in the home.
❖ To supervise and support staff, ensuring that all care practices are of a high standard, trauma-informed, and in line with individual care plans.
❖ To promote safeguarding and ensure robust processes for protecting children are in place and followed.
❖ To support the Registered Manager in developing the service, maintaining 100% occupancy, and ensuring excellent relationships with commissioners, families, and regulatory bodies such as Ofsted.
Main Areas of Responsibility
* Ensure all practice reflects person-centred principles and complies with the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, Care Act 2014, and relevant safeguarding legislation.
* Support the Registered Manager in the operational and administrative management of the home, ensuring all legal and organisational standards are met.
* Ensure high standards of care planning, key working, record-keeping, and daily routines are maintained.
* Supervise and mentor staff through formal supervision, team meetings, and daily support, ensuring professional development is supported.
* Assist with recruitment, induction, and probation processes for new staff in line with safer recruitment practices.
* Lead by example in managing and responding to safeguarding concerns, risk assessments, and behavioural support interventions.
* Participate in the on-call rota and respond effectively to emergencies and critical incidents.
* Liaise with internal teams and external professionals including local authorities, therapists, schools, and healthcare professionals to ensure holistic support for children.
* Participate in inspections and internal audits; contribute to service development and continuous improvement plans.
* Support therapeutic practice in the home in collaboration with the in-house psychologist and other mental health professionals.
* Promote a homely, safe, and nurturing environment that meets the developmental needs of children aged 8–17 with complex trauma histories.
* Deputise in the Registered Manager’s absence and ensure continuity of service delivery and leadership.
* Contribute to maintaining the home’s occupancy and quality by representing the home positively with placing authorities and stakeholders.
* Ensure all policies and procedures of the Children’s Homes are upheld, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Confidentiality, and Equal Opportunities.
Special Requirements
- This post is service-based but may require occasional travel across boroughs or regions for training, multi-agency meetings, or to assess new referrals.
- Participation in the on-call rota is a requirement.
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
Person Specification
A. Education, Training & Qualifications
- NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (essential)
- Working towards or willingness to complete Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (desirable)
- Full UK driving licence (essential)
B. Experience
- Minimum of 1 year in a supervisory or senior role within a children’s residential setting
- Experience supporting young people with emotional, behavioural, or complex trauma needs
- Proven experience of working in compliance with Ofsted standards
- Experience contributing to inspections and/or internal audits
- Experience working within diverse communities and a multi-agency framework
C. Skills & Abilities
* Ability to lead, motivate and support a team effectively
* High level of emotional intelligence, patience, and resilience
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal, written, and electronic)
* Ability to manage conflict and challenging behaviour constructively
* Sound judgment and decision-making, particularly in crisis situations
* Ability to support children’s emotional regulation using trauma-informed approaches
* Strong administrative and organisational skills
D. Knowledge & Understanding
* In-depth knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
* Understanding of safeguarding procedures and LADO protocols
* Understanding of trauma, attachment theory, and therapeutic care
* Knowledge of the statutory and regulatory framework within which children’s homes operate
* Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
* Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and data protection in children’s services
* Familiarity with risk assessments, health and safety, and medication management within residential settings
NS18887
***For your information:
*Interested? Please send your CV in as a Word format only
**Please only apply if you are already eligible to work in the UK (indefinitely & without sponsorship),
***Not for you but you know someone suitable? Take advantage of the YourRecruit paid referral fee***
Due to the large numbers of responses we receive, despite our best efforts it is not possible to respond to every application. Therefore, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for this particular role and if you haven't heard from us within 7 days please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please feel free however to apply for further roles and we will certainly keep your details on file and contact you with suitable vacancies.
YourRecruit Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender or disability and complies with all relevant UK legislation. To stay safe in your job search we recommend that you visit JobsAware, a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation working to combat job scams. Visit the JobsAware website for information on common scams and to get free, expert advice for a safer job search
Salary description
£55000.00 - £65000.00 per year