Head of Care

Join Our Team as Head of Care!\n

Company: North Lakes Children's Services

\n

Location: Carlisle

\n

Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent

\n

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 (dependent on experience)

\n

Specific Hours: 40 hours per week

\n

Responsible To: Operations Directors and Responsible Individuals

Who Are We?\n

At North Lakes Children's Services, we are passionate about providing therapeutic residential care and education for boys aged 6-18. Our mission is to enhance the resilience, self-esteem, and life outcomes of the young people we support. We are on the lookout for an experienced Head of Care to lead our dedicated team and oversee all our services.

Why Join Us?\n

We offer a range of fantastic benefits to support your career and well-being:

\n

\n
• 30 days annual leave entitlement
\n
• Company pension scheme
\n
• Employee Discount Scheme with various retail discounts
\n
• Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme
\n
• Enhanced pay for Christmas Day and New Year's Day
\n
• Overtime opportunities
\n
• Clear career progression pathways
\n
• Comprehensive annual training in Child Development, Attachment Theory, PACE Model, Therapeutic Parenting, and Whole-Brain Child Model
\n

Role Details\n

As the Head of Care, you will:

\n

\n
• Provide professional leadership and management of all North Lakes Children's Services children's homes.
\n
• Ensure the safeguarding and developmental progress of children and young people.
\n
• Foster positive relationships with parents, professional partners, commissioners, and other agencies.
\n
• Create an environment that encourages children and young people to reach their full potential.
\n
• Support the commercial growth and sustainability of our services.
\n
• Engage strategically with other departments to continuously develop North Lakes services.
\n
• Oversee the efficient management and administration of the home.
\n
• Lead, motivate, and develop the staff team in a supportive culture.
\n
• Represent North Lakes Children's Services professionally within the community.
\n

About You\n

We are looking for someone who:

\n

\n
• Holds a recognized social work qualification (e.g., QCF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, QCF Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce).
\n
• Has a minimum of 2 years' experience in residential care for children, including at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
\n
• Is committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people.
\n
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of Children's Home legislation and Ofsted inspection requirements.
\n
• Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills.
\n
• Has strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
\n
• Is licensed to drive a manual car and has access to a vehicle with business insurance.
\n

Our Commitment\n

North Lakes Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from qualified candidates. We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All candidates will undergo thorough reference checks, including an enhanced DBS, as safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.

\n

If you are ready to take on this rewarding challenge and make a difference, we would love to hear from you!