Head of Care

Join Our Team as the Head of Care!

Company: North Lakes Children's Services
Location: Carlisle
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 (dependent on experience)
Specific Hours: 40 hours per week
Responsible To: Operations Directors and Responsible Individuals

Who Are We?

At North Lakes Children's Services, we pride ourselves on being a leading provider of 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 oversee our services and make a meaningful impact!

Why Join Us?

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

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

Your Role

As the Head of Care, you will:

• Provide professional leadership and management for all North Lakes Children's Services homes, ensuring the safety and developmental progress of our children and young people.
• Create an environment that encourages children to reach their full potential through comprehensive care planning and support from our dedicated teams.
• Support the commercial growth and sustainability of our services, collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure high standards of care.
• Foster a culture of aspiration and support within your team, promoting constructive supervision and leadership.
• Engage strategically with other departments to continuously develop North Lakes services.
• Oversee the efficient management and administration of the home, ensuring all plans and reports are produced and monitored effectively.
• Lead, motivate, and develop your staff team in an open and enthusiastic culture, including delivering training.
• Represent North Lakes Children's Services professionally to external agencies and within the local community.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a recognised social work qualification (e.g., QCF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Children and Young People, QCF Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce, or equivalent).
• Has a minimum of 2 years' experience in a relevant position within the last 5 years, including at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• Is committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people, with a positive, non-judgmental attitude.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of Children's Home legislation, Ofsted inspection requirements, and child protection/safeguarding procedures.
• Possesses a person-centred approach to care and leadership.
• Has experience in strategic and operational leadership of children's residential care services in the UK.
• Exhibits excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Has strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Is licensed to drive a manual car and has access to a vehicle with business insurance.

Our Commitment

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, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All candidates will undergo thorough reference checks, including an enhanced DBS, as safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.

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