Head of Care

Join Our Team as 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 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?

We believe in taking care of our team just as much as we take care of our children. Here’s what we offer:

• 30 days of annual leave entitlement
• Company pension scheme
• Employee Discount Scheme with a variety of retail discounts
• Access to wellbeing 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 of all North Lakes Children's Services children's homes.
• Ensure the safeguarding and developmental progress of children and young people.
• Foster positive relationships with parents, professional partners, commissioners, and other agencies.
• Create an environment that encourages children and young people to reach their full potential.
• Support the commercial growth and sustainability of our services.
• Engage strategically and operationally with other departments across the Polaris Community.
• Oversee the smooth management and administration of the home.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the staff team in a supportive culture.
• Represent North Lakes Children's Services professionally in the 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).
• Has a minimum of 2 years' experience in residential care for children, including at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• Is committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people.
• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of Children's Home legislation and Ofsted inspection requirements.
• Possesses 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. We actively encourage applications from qualified candidates and are committed 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.

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact and lead a passionate team, we would love to hear from you!