Team Leader - Childrens Residential

Vetro Recruitment; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Vetro Recruitment seeks an experienced Team Leader to oversee a therapeutic children’s home in Southend-on-Sea. You will lead a dedicated team delivering trauma-informed, child-centred care to children with complex needs, ensuring safety and emotional wellbeing.

You will manage shift patterns, supervise staff, contribute to care planning and audits, and model best practice while safeguarding compliance and regulatory standards in a supportive, values-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in children’s services or residential care.
• Proven ability to work trauma-informed with children with complex needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with staff and families.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Thorough safeguarding knowledge and regulatory awareness.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the team in Southend-on-Sea.
• Ensure trauma-informed, child-centred practice promoting safety and wellbeing.
• Oversee daily routines, shift planning, and task delegation.
• Support staff through reflective supervision and coaching.
• Contribute to care planning, risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.
• Maintain safeguarding standards and regulatory compliance.
• Build trusting relationships with children and act as a positive role model.
• Assist with audits, reporting and continuous improvement alongside management.

Skills

Leadership

Trauma-informed practice

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Staff development

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare

Job description

Team Leader - Therapeutic Children's Home - Southend-on-Sea

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for making a difference in children’s lives? We are seeking a dedicated and resilient Team Leader to join a residential children’s home in Southend-on-Sea. This role offers an opportunity to support children with complex needs through trauma-informed care, providing stability, safety, and emotional wellbeing for the children in your care.

Based in Southend-on-Sea, the successful candidate will lead a committed team, ensuring high standards of care and compliance with safeguarding and regulatory frameworks. The role involves shift work including evenings, weekends, sleep-ins, and nights, offering a dynamic and rewarding work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing day-to-day leadership, guidance, and support to the team in Southend-on-Sea.
• Ensuring trauma-informed, child-centred practice that promotes safety, stability, and emotional wellbeing.
• Overseeing daily routines, shift planning, and delegation of tasks.
• Supporting staff through reflective supervision, coaching, and modelling best practice.
• Contributing to care planning, risk assessments, and behaviour support strategies.
• Maintaining compliance with safeguarding standards, regulatory requirements, and organisational policies.
• Building strong, trusting relationships with children and acting as a positive role model.
• Assisting with audits, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives alongside the Registered Manager.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience of working in a children’s home, ideally with children requiring therapeutic support.
• A calm, confident, and reflective leadership style.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to motivate and support others.
• A commitment to trauma-informed, child-centred practice.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, sleep-ins, and nights.
• A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent), with willingness to work towards Level 4.

What We Offer:

• A supportive, values-driven team culture.
• Extensive training programmes, including trauma-informed practice and leadership development.
• Regular reflective supervision and professional growth opportunities.
• The chance to shape an empowering environment for children.
• A role where your leadership directly contributes to positive outcomes for children in Southend-on-Sea.

Vetro is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merit alone.