Team Leader (Mental Health) Supported Living

Unique Care Network Ltd; West Bromwich; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Unique Care Network Ltd in Smethwick is seeking a proactive Team Leader to guide local support teams across West Midlands. You will supervise staff, oversee care plans, manage rosters, and ensure medication safety in line with policies under the Registered Manager's guidance.

You'll champion person-centred care, conduct regular audits, and support recruitment and supervisions. A Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care and a year+ supervisory experience are required; driving licence and access to

Qualifications

• Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care is required or in progress with a completion plan.
• Minimum 12 months' supervisory or Team Leader experience in domiciliary care or similar.
• Experience with audits/compliance checks or quality assurance activities.
• Knowledge of CQC fundamental standards and current assessment framework.
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS and safeguarding procedures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and audit support plans, records and medication records per policy.
• Plan staff rotas and manage coverage, travel and shortages.
• Support recruitment, induction, supervisions and appraisals for staff.
• Carry out spot checks to ensure person-centred, high-quality care.
• Administer medication in line with policy and assess competencies.
• Ensure staff are trained and introduced before care starts.
• Inform families of changes, concerns or incidents.
• Collaborate with external professionals and represent service in MDT meetings.
• Apply Mental Capacity Act principles in day-to-day practice.
• Respond to incidents and safeguarding concerns with clear reports.

Skills

Team leadership

Audits & compliance

Care quality

Incident reporting

Safeguarding

Travel between locations

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care

Job description

About the Role

As Team Leader, you'll provide clear, structured leadership to our local support teams in and around Smethwick, West Midlands. You'll work under the guidance of the Registered Manager to make sure care is delivered safely and to a consistently high standard across your locations. This is a hands-on leadership role covering staff supervision, compliance, recruitment support and day-to-day service delivery for the people we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and audit support plans, support records, medication records and financial records for your locations in line with company policy. Escalate and resolve any gaps within agreed timescales.
• Plan and manage staff rotas so shifts are fully covered, including managing staff shortages and travel disruption to minimise the impact on service users.
• Support recruitment in line with Unique Care Network's recruitment policy, induct new staff, and organise ongoing supervisions and appraisals for support workers.
• Carry out regular spot checks to confirm support workers are delivering person-centred, high-quality care.
• Administer medication in line with company policy and complete medication competency assessments for support workers.
• Confirm that staff allocated to a service user are trained, competent and formally introduced before support starts.
• Keep service users' families informed of any changes, concerns or incidents.
• Work collaboratively with external professionals, and represent the service at professional and MDT meetings when the Registered Manager is absent.
• Apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Best Interests decision-making in day-to-day practice.
• Respond promptly to incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns, including writing clear, accurate incident reports and safeguarding referrals.

Essential Criteria

• Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care (or working towards, with a clear completion plan).
• At least 12 months' experience in a supervisory or Team Leader role within domiciliary care, supported living or a similar setting.
• Demonstrable experience of audits, compliance checks or quality assurance, such as medication audits, care plan reviews or spot checks.
• Working knowledge of CQC's fundamental standards and current assessment framework.
• Practical understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, DoLS and adult safeguarding procedures.
• Enhanced DBS check (on the Update Service, or willingness to apply).
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, with willingness to travel between locations.
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

It would be an advantage if you hold or are working towards a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care. Experience signing off medication competencies for a staff team, or recruiting and inducting care staff, would also be valued.

What You'll Need to Succeed

You'll take a genuinely person-centred approach, treating the people we support as individuals with choices rather than tasks to complete. You'll write clearly, particularly when completing incident reports and safeguarding referrals. You'll stay calm and adapt quickly when plans change. You'll be confident raising concerns when something isn't right, whether with families, staff or external agencies. And you'll be open to feedback and committed to your own development.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent | Location: Smethwick, West Midlands (in person, travel between locations required)