Most team leader roles in children's services ask you to manage upwards and sideways, caught between box-ticking and real impact. This one is different: you'll lead a small team of support workers delivering hands-on care to children and young people who genuinely need you, with the autonomy to shape how they're supported and the credibility to make your voice heard in case conferences and multi-agency meetings
You'll be the anchor for a team of support workers, setting the standard for how children and young people are cared for every single day. That means hands-on supervision, spotting where someone needs a bit more confidence, and knowing that when you guide your team well, the young people in the home feel it. You're not stuck in an office: you're leading by example, doing direct care alongside your team, helping with daily living, offering emotional support when things get hard, and stepping in when behaviour management needs a steady hand
Every child and young person here gets an individualised care plan, and you'll be the one making sure it stays current and meaningful. You'll document their progress, flag concerns early, and sit at the table with social workers, psychologists, and educators to advocate fiercely for what each young person actually needs. That's real influence. That's how you know your day matters
Your team will look to you to help them grow. You'll be training them, coaching them through tricky situations, and modelling what good trauma-informed care looks like. The service provides First Aid and CPR training if you don't already have it, so you're never blocked by a qualification gap. You'll work in a setting designed to be nurturing and positive, where resilience and independence aren't buzzwords but the actual goal for every young person you support
What you will be doing
- Lead and supervise a team of support workers, setting the standard for high-quality care delivery and ensuring they're supported to do their best work
- Assess the needs of each child and young person, develop their individualised care plans, and review progress regularly, flagging any concerns early
- Provide direct care and support yourself: help with daily living, offer emotional support, and manage behaviour with confidence and compassion
- Work alongside other professionals - social workers, psychologists, educators - in case conferences and team meetings to coordinate the best possible care
- Guide and train your team on policies, procedures, and trauma-informed practice, helping them develop professionally and stay compliant
- Advocate for the safety, dignity, rights and inclusion of every child and young person, and maintain thorough, accurate records that meet legal and regulatory requirements
Why you will love working here
- A leadership role where you're trusted to lead your team and influence how young people are supported - not a box-ticking management post
- Hands-on involvement: you're not managing from a distance, you're delivering direct care and modelling the standard you expect
- Training and development provided, including First Aid and CPR if needed, so you can grow in the role and stay current
- The chance to work in a setting deliberately designed to foster growth, resilience and independence in the young people you support
- A role grounded in real impact: case conferences, multi-agency working, advocacy, and knowing that your leadership directly shapes outcomes for children and young people
Is this you?
- You have at least one year of experience working in children's services - residential, supported living, or similar settings where you've been hands-on with young people
- You hold a Diploma or equivalent qualification in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Psychology, Education, or a related field
- You're a natural leader who can motivate and support a team, communicate clearly with children, young people, families and professionals, and actually enjoy developing people
- You understand child development and trauma-informed care, know the legislation that governs this work, and can assess and respond to individual needs flexibly
- You have empathy and genuine care for children and young people's wellbeing - not as an aspiration, but as who you actually are
- First Aid and CPR certification is preferred, but the service will train you if you don't have it
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.