Team Leader - Children's Homes

The Witherslack Group; New Gate; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sleep-ins bonus

Attendance allowance

Induction training

7 weeks holiday

Career progression

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing support

Medical cover

Meals provided

Referral bonus

Job summary

The Witherslack Group in Preston, Lancashire is seeking a Team Leader to supervise our Children’s Homes and support the staff team daily. You will deputise for the Registered and Deputy Managers and help ensure the home operates to high standards for the children in our care.

No prior experience is required; we value a can-do attitude, honesty, empathy, resilience, and a full UK driving licence. The Level 3 Children’s Residential Care qualification is preferred and training is provided through

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence held for at least 12 months.
• The Level 3 Children’s Residential Care qualification.
• No experience required; must be a can-do team player.
• Honesty and empathy towards young people.

Responsibilities

• Assist and deputise for Registered and Deputy Managers when needed.
• Ensure staff team is supported and home runs to high standards.
• Build relationships with young people and support their day-to-day needs.
• Help create lasting positive memories for residents.

Skills

Team player

Empathy

Resilience

Can-do attitude

Communication

Education

Level 3 Children’s Residential Care qualification

Job description

Team Leader - Children's Homes

2026-09-11T00:00:00

Preston

Lancashire

GB

PR1 2

Any

2026-12-10T09:09:09.827

£40,848 - £48,352 assuming good attendance and up to 3 sleep ins per month

Those huge small victories

Working in our Children's Homes means being a part of a young person’s day-to-day life. This means being there for the highest highs and lowest lows. Our team leaders enable our young people to get their childhood back and create pathways to become well-rounded adults — an incredibly rewarding role to have. There will be challenges along the way, but there will also be the smallest moments which feel like a huge small victory!

Our homes accommodate young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs, and our aim is to create the best possible outcome for the young people in our care. Our team leaders are fulfilled by the idea of affecting even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things.

Get out what you put in

You’ll be a part of taking care of our young people day to day, making sure things run smoothly and creating lasting memories. As a team leader, you will also make sure that the staff team are supported and that the home is operating at our high standards, ready to deputise for the Registered and Deputy Managers. We are looking for someone able to relate to and build relationships with our young people. Compassionate, emotionally resilient, and supportive, you'll also be able to provide the leadership that inspires your colleagues.

What we do for you

• We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the care sector. With us, you’ll get to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people plus you’ll get:
• Salary: Base salary of £36,568 - £44,072
• Bonuses: In addition to your base salary, you'll do up to 3 sleep ins per month, paid at £80 per sleep (approx. £2,880 per year), and Attendance allowance up to £1,400 per year
• Training: A full 4-week induction on our Care Academy
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with 7 weeks holiday
• Progression: Most of our team leaders and managers have been promoted from within our group. You could also join our Aspire future managers programme
• Flexible benefits package: allowing you to adjust your holiday allowance, pension, and life insurance
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice, including employee assistance
• Medical cover for expenses like opticians or dentist appointments, along with high-street discounts
• Meals provided while you're at work
• Beautiful working environments with the best facilities
• A referral scheme offering a £1,000 bonus every time

Bring your whole-self to work

At Witherslack Group, we celebrate everyone's differences as that’s what makes us the best at what we do. Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds, and with different needs, and our workforce reflects this diversity. We aim to engage, encourage, and inspire our young people to be themselves.

You don't need experience, but requirements include:

• A can-do attitude and being a team player willing to help others
• Honesty and empathy, as we genuinely care about our young people (and each other)
• The resilience to handle challenging situations
• A full UK driving licence held for at least 12 months
• The Level 3 Children’s Residential Care qualification

Start as a Team Leader through our Care Academy — 4 weeks of off-the-job training with experienced WG professionals to help you feel confident in supporting our young people.

Join the UK’s best special education and care provider

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is central to who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and that they truly belong. As a provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we embrace individuality and champion neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths each person brings to our community.

Applications are welcome from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognized as an inclusive employer and are committed to accessible recruitment and workplace practices. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we will support you every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we better support the children, young people, and families we serve, ensuring every team member can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (cost covered) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Keywords: Children’s Support Worker, Residential Support Worker, Care Worker, Career in Care, Working with Children, SEMH