Children's Home Team Leader

Purosearch; Preston; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Mileage support

Pension

Health & wellbeing programme

Career development

Staff welfare raffle

Discounts

Job summary

Purosearch Ltd. is seeking an experienced Senior Residential Care Worker to lead shifts and oversee the day-to-day operation of a children’s home near Preston.

You will provide high-quality, child-centred care and supervise Residential Support Workers, ensuring staffing matches identified needs and risk levels. The role requires experience in residential childcare, a commitment to safeguarding and strong leadership, communication and record-keeping skills.

Qualifications

• QCF Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or recognised equivalent, or willing to achieve within regulatory timescales.
• Experience with children or young people in residential care, social care, education, youth work or similar setting.
• Previous senior or shift-leading residential childcare experience is desirable.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
• Ability to lead, direct and support staff.
• Confidence in decision making during shifts and accountability.
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and behaviour support.
• Strong communication and record-keeping skills.
• Emotional resilience and calm under pressure.
• Ability to escalate concerns and challenge unsafe practice.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead allocated shifts and support safe, day-to-day operation of the home.
• Provide high-quality, child-centred care and support to children and young people.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and direction to Residential Support Workers.
• Coordinate shifts, allocate duties and ensure staffing aligns with needs and risks.
• Ensure care is delivered per individual care plans, risk assessments and identified needs.
• Support routines, appointments, education, activities and positive opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding, risk and behaviour across shifts.
• Guide staff in incident responses and changes in circumstances.
• Monitor records, incident reports and required documentation.
• Conduct effective shift handovers and communication of key information.
• Promote positive behaviour, independence, confidence and emotional wellbeing.
• Build trusting, professional relationships with children and ensure their views are heard.
• Mentor and support new and less experienced staff.
• Work with managers, families, social workers and professionals.

Education

QCF Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Leadership and staff supervision

Safeguarding and risk assessment

Communication and record-keeping

Emotional resilience under pressure

Job description

Location: Chipping, near Preston, PR3

Home Size:2 Bed EBD

Salary & Benefits

• Support towards Level 4 qualification
• Company vehicle available for work purposes
• Mileage support, with the first 30 miles of the home-to-work round trip covered by the employee and subsequent miles paid at 55p per mile
• Employee benefits, including retail discounts, salary sacrifice, financial advice, GP and counselling support
• Quarterly employee welfare raffle with a minimum £3,000 prize pool
• Company pension
• Health and wellbeing programme
• Structured working pattern and opportunities for career development

What We're Looking For

• QCF Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or recognised equivalent, or willingness to achieve the qualification within regulatory timescales
• Experience working with children or young people in residential care, social care, education, youth work or a comparable setting
• Previous senior or shift-leading residential childcare experience is desirable
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare
• Ability to provide leadership, direction and support to staff
• Confidence making appropriate decisions and taking responsibility during shifts
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and behaviour support
• Strong communication and record-keeping skills
• Emotional resilience and ability to remain calm under pressure
• Ability to recognise and escal
• Ability to challenge poor or unsafe practice
• Reliable, flexible, professional and accountable approach
• Commitment to continued learning and professional development
• Understanding of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards is desirable
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches is desirable
• Full UK driving licence where required by the service
• Lead allocated shifts and support the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the home
• Provide high-quality, child-centred care and support to children and young people
• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and direction to Residential Support Workers
• Coordinate shifts, allocate duties and ensure staffing is deployed according to children's needs and identified risks
• Ensure care is delivered in line with individual care plans, risk assessments and assessed needs
• Support routines, appointments, education, activities and positive opportunities
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding, risk and behaviour throughout each shift
• Guide staff in responding to incidents, challenging situations and changes in circumstances
• Monitor the quality and completion of records, incident reports and required documentation
• Conduct effective shift handovers and ensure key information is communicated
• Promote positive behaviour, independence, confidence and emotional wellbeing
• Build trusting and professionally appropriate relationships with children and ensure their wishes and feelings are heard
• Support staff to follow care plans, risk assessments, policies and behaviour support strategies
• Challenge poor or unsafe practice and escal
• Support audits, quality assurance and continuous improvement
• Mentor and support new and less experienced staff
• Work collaboratively with managers, families, social workers, education providers and other professionals
• Ensure the home remains safe, clean, welcoming and appropriately maintained
• Undertake delegated responsibilities, including key-working
• Promote a positive culture of professional practice, safeguarding, accountability and continuous learning