Head Of Residential Children's Services

Break; Norwich; On-site; GBP 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's support organization in East Anglia seeks a Head of Service to provide strategic leadership across various services, particularly Disability Services. The role requires a leader deeply committed to relational care, with significant experience in care services. Candidates should inspire and develop managers, ensuring compliance with regulations while driving quality improvements. This permanent full-time position offers a salary between £53,322 and £56,045 per annum, reflecting the organization's commitment to quality outcomes for children and young people.

Qualifications

• A deep commitment to relational and trauma-informed practice.
• Significant experience leading care services.
• Ability to inspire, support and develop managers and teams.
• Confidence in working with regulation and safeguarding systems.
• Strong partnership-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of services.
• Lead, coach and supervise Registered/Service Managers.
• Embed trauma-informed practices across all teams.
• Shape and develop high-quality services.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.
• Work closely with Ofsted and partners for outcomes.

Skills

Relational and trauma-informed practice

Experience leading care services

Inspiring and developing managers

Working with regulation and safeguarding

Strategic thinking

Partnership-building skills

Emotional intelligence

Growth mindset

Education

Management qualification or willingness to obtain

Job description

Head of Service

Residential, Solo and Disability Services ~ Full‑time, 35 hours per week ~ East Anglia ~ Permanent

£53,322 to £56,045 per annum. (Max job rate £60,402 per annum, performance related)

Are you an experienced, values‑led leader who believes relationships change lives?

Do you want to shape services that walk alongside children and young people for as long as they need us – into adulthood and beyond?

If so, this may be the role for you.

About Us

At Break, we are deeply rooted in relationships, connection and lifelong commitment. We support children and young people on the edge of care, in care, and leaving care – not just through short‑term interventions, but through a lifelong offer of support, grounded in consistency, presence and genuine care.

Our values are central to everything we do:

• We are all about relationships – we put connection at the heart of our work.
• We are here when it matters most – we show up, stay present, and offer consistency.
• We are curious about the world around us – we listen deeply, reflect, and seek to understand.
• We challenge to encourage change – we speak up, advocate, and push for better when it’s needed.

These values guide how we work with children, families, carers, professionals — and each other.

The Role

We are looking for a Head of Service to provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of services. Your initial focus will include our Disability Services.

This is a key leadership role where you will:

• Provide strategic direction and day‑to‑day oversight of services across East Anglia.
• Lead, coach and supervise Registered/Service Managers, ensuring they are supported to thrive.
• Embed trauma‑informed, reflective and relationship‑based practice across all teams.
• Shape, develop and grow high‑quality services that meet the needs and ambitions of children and young people.
• Maintain full compliance with all regulatory, legal and contractual requirements.
• Work closely with Ofsted, commissioners and partners to ensure excellent outcomes.
• Act as Responsible Individual for designated services.
• Lead service improvement, quality assurance, safeguarding oversight and workforce development.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, learning and continuous improvement.
• Represent Break within the wider care sector, strengthening partnerships and promoting our work.
• Be an active, constructive member of the Break Leadership Team.

What You’ll Bring

We are looking for someone who brings:

• A deep commitment to relational and trauma‑informed practice.
• Significant experience leading care services (residential, disability, fostering or similar).
• The ability to inspire, support and develop managers and teams both in the day to day as well as through periods of change and growth.
• Confidence in working with regulation (e.g. Ofsted), safeguarding systems and quality assurance.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to turn plans into practice.
• Strong partnership‑building skills and experience working with external agencies.
• Emotional intelligence, resilience and the ability to hold calm in complexity.
• A growth mindset – curious, reflective, open to learning and able to model this for others.

Other Information

You will participate in our on‑call rota (usually one week in seven). You must hold a relevant management qualification or be willing to work towards this. Full driving licence and ability to travel across East Anglia are essential. Access to own vehicle is essential.

If you are motivated by purpose, grounded in strong values and ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and join us in creating outstanding services where children feel safe, heard, valued and supported – for as long as they need us.

Should your application be successful, the first interview will be a Safe Care/Warner style interview, followed by a formal interview. An enhanced DBS check is required for the role. This will be funded by Break. To comply with OFSTED requirements, you will be asked to provide details of your full employment history. All prospective employees must provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. Further details will be provided if you are invited to interview.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during your application or the selection process, please contact [e-mail] to let us know how we can support you. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments to ensure all colleagues can thrive at Break.

About Break

Break is a forward‑thinking non‑profit organisation that’s delivered unique support for young people across East Anglia for over fifty years. Co‑production with staff, young people and families is at the very heart of everything we do. Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved.

We have a range of residential services, a fostering agency, Staying Close, Staying Connected and services for disabled children and their families.

As a trauma‑informed organisation, all our young people and employees are supported by our highly skilled therapeutic team – and our lifelong offer means that even when young people leave our care, we will always be there for them.

We have low staff turnover and vacancy rates. All of our services are rated good or outstanding and deliver great outcomes for our young people. Our ambition is to grow and build even further – creating an environment where people can develop their talent and see the difference they make. You could be part of this.