Job Description

Team Leader - Children's Residential Care

Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Salary: £35,000 - £36,000 per annum, depending on experience

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Sector: Children's Residential Care

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and confident Team Leader to join a children's residential home in Cheltenham.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Senior Residential Support Worker or existing Team Leader who enjoys being hands-on with young people but is also ready to take greater responsibility for leading shifts, supporting colleagues and helping maintain consistently high standards within the home.

Working closely with the Deputy Manager and Registered Manager, you will help provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where children and young people feel listened to, valued and able to make positive progress.

This is very much a role for somebody who leads from the front. You will be supporting young people directly while also being someone the wider staff team can turn to for guidance, direction and support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead shifts and provide clear direction and support to the residential care team.
• Ensure children and young people receive high-quality, individualised care in line with their care plans.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Promote safeguarding and ensure the welfare of young people remains at the centre of decision-making.
• Support staff in responding appropriately to challenging situations and behaviours.
• Act as a positive role model for both young people and colleagues.
• Support and mentor Residential Support Workers and contribute to their ongoing development.
• Ensure accurate recording of daily events, incidents, key-work sessions and other relevant information.
• Contribute to care plans, risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.
• Support young people with education, appointments, activities, independence skills and everyday routines.
• Communicate effectively with families, social workers, education professionals and other agencies where required.
• Ensure policies, procedures and safeguarding practices are followed consistently.
• Support the Deputy and Registered Manager with the effective day-to-day running of the home.
• Help create a positive culture where children experience the home as a safe, stable and genuinely caring place to live.

About You

We are looking for someone who understands that good residential childcare is about much more than completing tasks and paperwork. You will be able to build relationships with young people while maintaining appropriate boundaries and providing the consistency and leadership they need.

You should be calm under pressure, approachable, organised and confident making decisions when leading a shift.

Ideally, you will have:

• Previous experience working within a children's residential home.
• Experience as a Senior Residential Support Worker, Team Leader or similar.
• A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, Children and Young People's Workforce or equivalent relevant qualification.
• A good understanding of safeguarding and the responsibilities involved in caring for children in a residential setting.
• Experience leading shifts and supporting other members of staff.
• Strong communication and record-keeping skills.
• The ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in challenging situations.
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
• A full UK driving licence would be advantageous.

Working Pattern

The role will involve working as part of a residential rota and candidates should therefore be comfortable with the flexibility required within children's residential care, including evenings, weekends and, where applicable, sleep-in duties.

Full details of the shift pattern and any additional sleep-in payments will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Please only apply if you already have the right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.

Not for you, but know someone suitable? Ask us about the YourRecruit paid referral scheme.

Due to the number of applications we receive, unfortunately we cannot respond individually to every applicant. Candidates selected for the next stage will be contacted directly.

Interested? Please apply with an up-to-date CV. Due to the regulated nature of Children's Residential Care, successful candidates will be required to complete all relevant safer recruitment and pre-employment checks before starting work.

Right to Work: Please only apply if you already have the right to work in the UK for this position. Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

Safer Recruitment & Safeguarding: YourRecruit is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointments to roles within children's residential services will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, which may include an Enhanced DBS check, verification of employment history, satisfactory references, qualification checks, identity and Right to Work checks, and exploration of any gaps in employment, in line with the requirements of the role and provider.

Know someone suitable? YourRecruit operates a paid referral scheme, so if this role isn't right for you but you know someone who may be interested, please get in touch.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within 7 days, unfortunately you have not been shortlisted for this particular vacancy. We would, however, be pleased to consider you for other suitable opportunities.

YourRecruit Ltd is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate unlawfully on the grounds of any protected characteristic.

Stay safe during your job search: We recommend visiting JobsAware for independent information and advice about avoiding recruitment scams and staying safe when looking for work.