Team Leader - Residential Children's Home

North Lakes Children's Services; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's support organization in Carlisle is seeking a Team Leader to contribute to a caring, therapeutic environment for young people. The role involves supervising a small team, managing daily operations, and developing care plans tailored to individual needs. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and experience in youth work, along with excellent communication skills. Competitive benefits include a sleep-in allowance and opportunities for progression.

Benefits

Sleep-in allowance

6 weeks annual leave

Company pension

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience as a key worker in a similar setting.
• Able to lead shifts and make decisions based on care plans.
• Willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the team.
• Support and supervise staff.
• Develop individualized care plans for young people.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Therapeutic interventions knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Decision making

Teamwork

Education

Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma

NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

Job description

Overview

The role of a Team Leader is to contribute to a purposeful, caring, therapeutic, learning environment for young people by upholding high professional standards of care and support for their social, emotional and/or behavioural needs, mental health, and learning difficulties.

Responsibilities

• To provide support/advice for staff as required and manage the daily running of the team.
• To support and deputise for deputy manager as and when required.
• To carry out supervisions of individuals and support for key workers.
• To manage monies for activities.
• To manage the daily needs of the children.
• To monitor and check staff they carry out their duties.
• To take part in rostered sleep-in duties, as required.
• To develop programmes that will improve children's progress and interaction.
• To link programmes of study with national recognised vocational qualifications.
• To work with the young people in a caring and nurturing manner developing relationships based on trust, confidence and understanding.
• To assist in sustaining peer relationships within the home as well as promoting aspects of a young person\'s individual programme through growing personal resilience and empathy.
• To plan with, join in with and encourage all young people in educational, recreational, occupational and social activities.
• To work as a team and provide support and encouragement for colleagues as well as the young people and help build a strong child-focused team.
• To work from your own initiative, in line with risk assessments, care plans and emotional and behavioural plans to progress the therapeutic goals of a child.
• To help young people to develop their independent living/life skills.
• To prepare, implement and review programmes designed to aid a child\'s development and personalise their care plans.
• To induct newly admitted young people, making them feel welcome and validated as important members of their new home.
• To help plan and prepare young people when moving on from the home, balancing risk with opportunity.
• To enable young people to recognise a wide range of emotions, to help them name how they feel, notice where it manifests in their body and how they experience specific emotions.
• To use interventions aimed at a child\'s presenting stage of development to create a plan to aid emotional regulation; be aware of the age of initial trauma and nurture the younger child within.
• To recognise vulnerability and see through presenting behavioural choices.
• To liaise effectively with outside partners (parents, placing agencies, other professionals, etc.) as necessary, including attendance at reviews and home visits where appropriate.
• To be aware and adhere to current Health & Safety regulations in relation to use of machinery, equipment and substances, and in keeping the house a home.
• To be a keyworker to some of the young people, monitoring, supporting, developing and implementing the young person\'s individual placement plan, encouraging and advising on relationships and emotional health and well-being.

Requirements and Qualities

• Ready to supervise and support the continued professional development of a small team of staff.
• Willing and competent to lead a shift, making well-judged decisions in line with care plans.
• Knowledgeable in therapeutic interventions and an experienced key worker.
• Able to deputise for the Registered Manager in holiday periods; have an understanding of the issues that face young people in care.
• Hold Residential Childcare/Families Practitioner Diploma/Children and Young People\'s Workforce/NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Be willing to learn and work well as part of a small team.
• Be willing to undertake a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position. DBS check may be paid for by the employer.
• Experience with Emotional Behavioural Disorder, Social/Residential Work or Youth Work would be advantageous.
• Have a full, clean UK driving licence and be able to cover at other Residential Homes as and when needed.

Benefits and Additional Information

• Sleep-in allowance of £62.64 per night; potential extra earnings up to £3,257.28.
• Shift Rotation: 2 days on, 2 days off, with staggered start times (8am, 12noon, or 2pm).
• 6 weeks annual leave entitlement.
• Company pension.
• Progression opportunities (e.g., through an HABC Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Residential Care).
• Employee Discount Scheme and wellbeing supports via Employee Assistance Programme.
• Monthly clinical and professional supervisions and access to therapeutic support.
• Overtime and additional holiday pay at Christmas Day and New Year\'s Day.
• Career progression opportunities and comprehensive annual training (Child Development, Attachment Theory, PACE Model, Therapeutic Parenting, The Whole Brain Child Model).

"Staff follow a research-based therapeutic approach to parenting. Staff use their sensitivity and empathy to successfully help children validate their feelings, feel accepted and well cared for." - Ofsted Outstanding 2018