Most residential care jobs leave you exhausted, undervalued and wondering if you're making any real difference. This one is different. We're looking for an experienced practitioner ready to step up into genuine leadership - someone who can shape culture, mentor staff and transform outcomes for the young people in our care
You'll lead a team through real situations that matter. When incidents happen, you're the one staff turn to for steady guidance. When young people need advocating for, you're their voice. When therapy blocks run, you work alongside the therapist to embed change that actually sticks. This is leadership with purpose, not paperwork theatre
The home runs at 40 hours a week plus one sleep-in - so you get rhythm and recovery, not burnout. You'll attend young people's holidays, run their meetings, sit in weekly supervision and training, and genuinely shape how this service evolves. You'll read the handover book each shift, know each young person's story, and hand over to the next team knowing nothing's fallen through the cracks
You'll mentor staff one-to-one, give constructive feedback that lands, and make sure communication flows so everyone knows what's changed and why. You'll keep young people safe in the community, manage petty cash on sleep-ins with full accountability, and build a culture where people actually want to come to work. This is the role where your experience translates into real authority and real impact
What you will be doing
- Lead shifts with full accountability for young people and staff safety, stepping in to guide staff through incidents and difficult moments with calm and clarity
- Work alongside therapists during 4 to 5 week therapy blocks, reinforcing therapeutic practice and helping young people embed real change
- Chair young people's meetings, encourage their participation in planning, and ensure their voices genuinely shape decisions about their own care
- Mentor and support staff on shift, give constructive feedback, escalate disputes promptly to the manager, and keep everyone aligned on procedure changes
- Attend weekly supervision and training (1 hour 30 minutes) even on your days off, plus participate in house and outdoor activities with the young people
- Manage petty cash and keyworking money during sleep-ins, complete room checks each morning, and hand over shift with full handover notes so the next team steps in seamlessly
Why you will love working here
- 40 hours a week plus one sleep-in - genuine work-life balance in a role that trusts you with real leadership
- Weekly supervision and structured training so you keep developing your practice and your team's
- The chance to shape culture, mentor staff, and be the steady presence young people and staff actually trust
- One month's notice for holiday, managed so the service keeps going and you actually get proper time away
Is this you?
- You've worked in residential care and you know how to lead staff through crisis without losing your head or the young person's dignity
- You understand the Children Act 1989 framework and you're genuinely committed to promoting young people's welfare and equal opportunities in everything you do
- You're someone who thrives on professional development, keep up with childcare policy, and want to shape your own practice and your team's
- You're organised enough to manage handovers, money, rotas and a sleep-in rota where two seniors never take leave at the same time, and reliable enough that the manager can depend on you
- You want to be in the same room with your team and young people, day after day, building real relationships and real change - not watching from the sidelines
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.