Senior Team Leader

Role Responsibility

We are seeking a dedicated and professional individual to assist the Registered Manager in The Lodge discharging their duties under the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 Regulations.  

The Lodge has successfully been established as a Children’s Home for children 11-18 years who have learning disabilities and/or autism, who may also have emotional support needs. Children and Young People stay at The Lodge as part of a planned intervention to avoid a potential tier 4 admission or following a hospital admission as a step down ready to either return home or to their longer-term placement. We work with families and professionals to offer individualised care where children are listened to, valued as individuals, and helped to make meaningful and positive changes that build on their strengths and resilience and empower them now and for the future. 

We are seeking a dedicated and professional individual to assist the Registered Manager in The Lodge discharging their duties under the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 Regulations.  

Key Responsibilities include 

• Assist in managing budgets within cash limits and in accordance with financial procedures to ensure compliance with legislative requirements 
• Support the planned maintenance and development of the living environment to meet the Children’s Homes ( England ) Regulations 2015
• Manage and supervise a team of staff to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to professional standards and codes of conduct 
• Work on shifts as needed to monitor, feedback, and ensure ongoing effective implementation of best practice by the team 
• Oversee day-to-day operations within the Unit, including responding to safeguarding concerns and following up actions as required 
• Assist in providing individual care/support plans 
• Establish professional working relationships with Ofsted officers and Independent Visitors to ensure full cooperation with regulation and inspection processes 
• Deputize for the Registered Manager as needed, including monitoring and quality assurance, attending leadership meetings, and covering shifts 
• Ensure the needs of the young people are always paramount and highlight any safeguarding concerns promptly 
• Maintain professional conduct at all times in accordance with the Kent Code of Practice

If you are passionate about making a positive difference in supporting children and young people, we would love to hear from you. 

You will need to hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent and be willing to work towards the Diploma Level 5.

Interviews will be conducted under the ‘Choosing with Care’ assessment process. 

The Choosing with Care Process 

The Choosing with Care process was established following an enquiry into staff management and selection in children’s homes after serious offenses were uncovered. It aims to ensure safer recruitment practices in children’s services by thoroughly assessing candidates’ suitability to work with vulnerable groups.

Origins of Choosing with Care: The process was developed after the 1991 enquiry led by Norman Warner into staff conduct in children’s homes, resulting in recommendations for improved recruitment methods.

Pre-visit Candidates visit the unit to understand the service prior to the interview day.

Personal Profile: All candidates complete a personal profile that explores their motivations, emotional awareness, professional boundaries, and safeguarding abilities, helping to screen out unsuitable applicants.

Written Exercise and Group Discussion: Applicants complete two timed written exercises on work-related scenarios and participate in group discussions to demonstrate knowledge, communication skills, and teamwork, which are scored by the panel.

Formal Interview: A panel conducts structured interviews with set questions to evaluate each candidate’s knowledge, experience, and capability to fulfil the role.

This post involves working closely with children and is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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

For further information on this role please contact:

Alice Scott 

Alice.scott@kent.gov.uk

01233 621803

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 soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.