Residential Children's Services Team Leader

Polaris Inc.; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's service provider in the UK is seeking a dedicated individual to manage and lead Residential Support Workers. The role involves ensuring high-quality childcare and compliance with safeguarding policies. Candidates should have a Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and experience with young people with challenging behavior. This position offers numerous benefits including a pension scheme, bonuses, and an employee assistance program.

Benefits

Holiday Allowance

Pension Scheme (3% Employer contribution)

Ofsted Bonus for performance

Employee Discount Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Sleep-in allowance of £46 per night

Qualifications

• Working towards or hold Level 3 Diploma in Child Care.
• Up to date knowledge of Child Care legislation.
• Previous experience with young people with challenging behavior.
• Good report writing and numeracy skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the needs of young people are met.
• Manage and lead Residential Support Workers.
• Comply with company policies and safeguarding procedures.
• Support effective multi-agency working.

Skills

Empathy

Leadership

Report writing

Numeracy

Organization

IT Skills

Education

Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce

Job description

Responsibilities

• To ensure that the needs of young people in Headway's care are met and to provide a positive and safe living experience for these young people.
• To manage and lead Residential Support Workers in order to provide a high quality of childcare, work on shift to ensure that the Home runs efficiently and effectively to a high standard and young people are safeguarded at all times, creating a homely environment for the young people in our care, taking into account their views, wishes and feelings.
• To manage Residential Support Workers within their team, delivering supervision in accordance with company policy.
• To comply with the Company's Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
• To comply with and to have an up to date knowledge of the Home's Statement of Purpose, Policy and Procedures, all relevant legislation and be able to impart this knowledge to their staff and promote best practice and maintain confidentiality.
• To support effective multi agency working and positive relationships with all staff, the local community, local authorities, other professional agencies and significant others who are part of a young person's life.
• To comply with and apply company guidelines on Codes of Conduct and to set an acceptable role model standard within the home, acting as a mentor to staff.
• To assist in the development and delivery of the objectives identified in the young person's Plans.
• To support and compliment the reviewing and monitoring process in the development of Care Planning.
• To play an active part, promote and encourage the participation of young people in the decision-making process of the home and wider community and to provide and/or help them seek information and advice from appropriate sources.
• To promote anti-discriminatory and equal opportunity practices in line with Company Policy.
• To comply with legislation and company policies on Health & Safety, Fire and Data Protection.
• To attend all required training and, when required, to support QCF learners.

Qualifications

• Working towards or hold Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce or equivalent.
• Up to date knowledge of Child Care legislation, children's home regulations and quality standards.
• Previous experience of working directly with young people with challenging behaviour.
• Good report writing and numeracy skills. Well organised with good administration skills. IT literate.
• Able to relate to young people with empathy and committed to a high standard of child care and to achieve the best outcomes for young people in their care.
• Strong motivational, management and leadership potential. Able to supervise, support and develop Residential Support Workers to create a cohesive team.
• Good knowledge of relevant Children's Home legislation and local & national child protection procedures and protocols.

Benefits

• Holiday Allowance
• Pension Scheme (3% Employer contribution)
• Ofsted Bonus of £200 for a Good report, £500 for an Outstanding report.
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• A sleep in allowance of £46 per night as and when the business needs.

About Polaris

Polaris: Achieving Extraordinary Things

Welcome to Polaris, one of the UK's largest children's service providers. With over 37 years of experience, we are passionate about improving the lives of children, young people, and their families. From fostering and adoption to residential care, education, and bespoke services, we offer a comprehensive range of support that transforms lives and strengthens communities. At Polaris, our mission is simple yet powerful: to enable every child and young person in our care to reach their full potential.

As a team, we are driven by ambition-not just for the children and families we support, but also for our staff. We believe in the power of people working together to achieve extraordinary outcomes. A Legacy of Care and Innovation Our journey began in 1987 as a small fostering agency with a big dream: to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Since then, we have grown into a community of 19 specialist companies and schools, employing over 1,000 dedicated professionals. Today, Polaris provides extensive services across the UK, ensuring local, family-focused care supported by the resources of a national organisation. Our culture is one of teamwork, determination, and integrity. Every member of our team shares a commitment to quality and a passion for making a lasting impact. This dedication is reflected in the fact that 100% of our regulated services are rated Good or Outstanding, a testament to the transformative work we do.

Why Work with Polaris? At Polaris, a career is more than just a job—it's an opportunity to make a real difference every day. We are proud to have over 1,000 talented and ambitious individuals on our team, all working to support the 3,500 vulnerable young people in our care. We know that achieving big change requires a strong, passionate team who share a common vision. Our Vision Polaris is driven by a bold ambition: to transform the lives of children and young people and lead the way in revolutionising children's services. We aim to be the number one provider in the UK, delivering care and support that empowers children to follow their dreams. A Word from Our CEO "At the very heart of our Polaris Community is a shared commitment to enabling every child and young person to achieve their full potential. I am exceptionally proud to work alongside an inspirational team of staff and families who are dedicated to making a difference and achieving the best outcomes for children across the UK."