Children's Team Leader

TDA Care Solutions; Preston; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

TDA Care Solutions is seeking a Children's Residential Team Leader in Preston to provide day-to-day leadership within a residential care home for children and young people. You will oversee shifts, guide staff, and ensure care plans are followed to keep children safe and supported.

The role requires QCF Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent, with a willingness to achieve required qualifications within regulatory timescales.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children or young people in residential care or similar settings.
• Strong safeguarding commitment and ability to promote welfare.
• Ability to lead and guide staff and make appropriate shift decisions.
• Good written and verbal communication; accurate record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership to Residential Support Workers.
• Support Registered Manager and wider team to maintain high standards of care.
• Ensure compliance with policies, care plans and risk assessments.
• Promote safeguarding and professional practice during shifts.

Skills

Team leadership

Safeguarding

Staff supervision

Communication

Decision making

Education

QCF Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare

Leadership/Management qualification (desirable)

Job description

TDA Care Solutions are recruiting for a Children's Residential Team Leader. We are not looking to onboard anyone for this role who has no previous Team leader experience or does not carry a L3 or L4 qualification (At best we would consider candidates that are at EPA for their qualification)

The Team Leader is a senior member of the residential care team responsible for providing high-quality care to children and young people while providing day-to-day leadership, guidance and oversight to Residential Support Workers. The postholder will take a lead role during allocated shifts, ensuring that children receive safe, consistent, nurturing and child-centred care and that staff work in accordance with their responsibilities, individual children\'s plans, the home\'s Statement of Purpose and procedures. The Team Leader will support the Registered Manager and wider management team in maintaining high standards of care, safeguarding, regulatory compliance and professional practice

QCF Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or recognised equivalent, or willingness and ability to achieve the required qualification within applicable regulatory timescales.

Relevant leadership or management qualification is desirable

Essential:

• Experience of working with children or young people within residential care, social care, education, youth work or a comparable setting.
• A strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• The ability to develop positive and professional relationships with children.
• The ability to provide leadership and direction to staff.
• Confidence in taking responsibility and making appropriate decisions during shifts.
• An understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and behaviour support.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to recognise when matters require escalation to management.
• Ability to follow and promote compliance with policies, procedures, care plans and risk assessments.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate, professional and timely records.
• Ability to provide constructive guidance and challenge poor practice appropriately.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a wider team.
• Reliability, flexibility, integrity and professional accountability.
• Respect for equality, diversity, identity and individual difference.
• Commitment to continued learning and professional development.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to work the shift patterns required within a residential children's home.
• Full UK driving licence where driving is required by the service.

Desirable:

• Previous experience within a senior or shift-leading residential childcare role.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children\'s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
• Experience of leading shifts within a residential care environment.
• Experience of safeguarding and incident management.
• Experience of contributing to risk assessments and care planning.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches.
• Experience of mentoring or supporting staff.
• Experience of quality assurance or auditing care records