Most care jobs ask you to do the work without the authority or support to do it well. This one is different. We are looking for an experienced residential care worker ready to step up into a leadership role where you will actually shape how the team delivers care, develop your staff, and see the direct impact of your leadership on young people with complex needs
You will lead shifts across a residential children's home, working a 2:4 rota with sleep-ins built in so your time actually belongs to you. Every shift, you are the calm voice in the room, the person staff turn to for guidance, the one who makes sure each young person's care plan is followed with consistency and trauma-informed practice. You are not just delivering care yourself; you are building a team that knows how to do it right
This is where your career moves from hands-on work to real leadership. You will supervise and mentor residential care staff, oversee the development and review of care plans, support home operations alongside the management team, and contribute to the systems and records that keep everything running smoothly. You will build relationships with families, professionals, and external agencies. You will champion safeguarding and ensure every procedure is followed. This is the step up that matters
Working with young people with complex needs is demanding work, but it is also the most rewarding. You will see young people stabilise under consistent, skilled care. You will see staff grow when you mentor them properly. You will know, at the end of every shift, that your leadership made a genuine difference to their day
What you will be doing
- Lead shifts and support your team to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed care in line with each young person's individual care plan
- Provide supervision, guidance, and active support to residential care staff, acting as a role model for professional boundaries and safeguarding practice
- Oversee and contribute to the development and review of care plans, ensuring consistency across the team
- Support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager with daily operations, home standards, records, budgets, and reporting systems
- Build and maintain strong relationships with young people's families, professionals, and external agencies
- Support the training, mentoring, and personal development of new and existing staff members
Why you will love working here
- A 40-hour contract with enhanced overtime, built around a 2:4 rota with sleep-ins so you have genuine work-life balance
- The chance to step into a real leadership role where your decisions shape how the team works and how young people are cared for
- Clear support for your development: training, mentoring, and the space to grow into senior residential care practice
- A values-driven organisation that genuinely puts children and young people at the heart of everything, where your work is respected and your impact is visible every day
Is this you?
- You have at least 1 year of experience in residential childcare and understand child development and trauma-informed practice inside out
- You hold a Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People Residential Care (or are working towards completion) and grasp safeguarding procedures and relevant legal frameworks
- You are organised, articulate in writing and conversation, proficient in Microsoft Office, and resilient under pressure
- You have a full UK driving licence, the flexibility to work shifts including weekends and sleep-ins, and the ability to lead by example
- It is a bonus if you already have a Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification or previous supervisory experience, but the right person with the hunger to develop is who we want
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.