Reception Centre Manager - Cypress House (UASC)

Role Responsibility

Please note that shortlisting decisions will be based on the whole application, including the ‘Reason for Application’ section. Within this section, please demonstrate how you meet the criteria within the person specification attached to the Job Description and why you would like to work with UAS children.

Kent County Council’s Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Children’s Service provides accommodation and support to newly arrived UAS children in Kent. The Service is developing as a centre of excellence for social work practice nationally and we are seeking passionate individuals to join our service.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Service’s Reception Centre team. The Reception and Safe Care Services are Kent County Council owned, Ofsted regulated, children’s homes and supported accommodation, collectively termed Reception Centres. The Reception Centres, and the services they provide to children, are run by a diverse team of managers and workers, who are all committed to ensuring children are protected and supported to take the first steps in their journey to a more permanent home elsewhere in the UK.

This role is for Cypress House Reception Centre. Cypress House is based in Gravesham, Kent and is named after the Mediterranean Cypress Trees of Persian Iran. Cypress House provides supported accommodation for UAS children aged 16-17 years old, with a capacity of up to 36 children. Cypress House is one of Kent’s newly established Reception Centres, opening in October 2024. Based in a residential area within the diverse district of Gravesham, Cypress House is well-located for children to be able to access a variety of activities and experiences in the local community. Ahead of opening, the centre is already establishing links with local organisations to offer a variety of opportunities for children.

This Reception Centre is subject to Ofsted regulations for Support Accommodation 2023.

We are seeking Reception Centre Managers who can support the day-to-day running of the reception centre, ensuring that all UAS children begin their resettlement journey with the support they need.  The manager needs to be able to role model good practice and organise staff to support all UAS children during their stay from practical objectives and learning, through to emotional support. 

We are looking for managers who have worked with UAS children previously and who have the energy and drive to strive for the best.  If you are passionate about UAS children, enthusiastic and can lead by example, please apply.

This post will be required to work across a rolling shift pattern, with weekly alternating shifts, and regular cover over weekends.

KCC’s employment offer for this role includes:

• Full induction
• Training and development opportunities
• Basic salary of between £32,933 and £37,188
• Annual leave allowance of 29 days (increasing to to 30 days with 5 years' service)
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Opportunities to develop in your career
• The opportunity to expand and develop your knowledge and skills of working with children seeking asylum

Please Read:

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Contact Details

If you have queries regarding this role, please contact the Team on uascsrecruitment@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.