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- Tasks: Lead and manage Children's Homes, ensuring high-quality care and support for young people.
- Company: Join Royal Greenwich, dedicated to improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment with opportunities for professional development and impactful work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping innovative services in a nurturing environment.
- Qualifications: Must have relevant qualifications and experience in managing children's care services.
- Other info: Act as the Responsible Individual, ensuring compliance with regulations and quality standards.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Drive the very best outcomes for our Children in Care. Are you an experienced leader in children’s social care, passionate about driving excellence in residential care provision and delivering the best outcomes for young people? Royal Greenwich is looking for a Service Leader to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of our Children’s Homes and Staying Close Pod – ensuring every child receives high-quality care and support through their journey into adulthood.
This is a pivotal leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape and develop innovative, locally-led services that provide stability, safety and nurturing environments for children in care and care leavers. As the Service Leader, you will act as the Responsible Individual, ensuring our homes meet all regulatory and Ofsted requirements and contribute to the council’s Sufficiency Strategy.
About the Role
- Reporting to the Strategic Lead for Children in Care and Care Leavers, you will lead and manage our Children’s Homes and Staying Close Pod, providing expert support and supervision to Registered Managers.
- You will ensure that services are safe, effective, and responsive to the needs of children and young people.
- You’ll also work strategically with colleagues across Commissioning, Children in Care and Care Leaver services to support timely transitions and reduce reliance on out-of-borough or emergency placements.
- Act as the Responsible Individual for the Children’s Home and Staying Close Pod, ensuring full compliance with Ofsted, Children’s Homes Regulations and relevant quality standards.
- Lead the operational management of residential services, embedding a culture of high expectations, accountability, and continuous service improvement.
- Support and develop the workforce, providing direct supervision and leadership to Registered Managers and ensuring consistency in practice, effective safeguarding and high performance.
- Oversee care and transition planning for children from the Homes, ensuring children are placed in suitable, local provision and experience well-supported transitions into adulthood.
- Collaborate across services, building strong partnerships with health, education, leaving care and voluntary sector providers to improve outcomes and ensure wraparound support.
- Contribute to the Sufficiency Strategy, helping shape local provision that meets demand and supports stability, planning and long-term sustainability.
What We’re Looking For
- You will be a confident and resilient leader with a proven track record in managing residential or children’s care services.
- You will combine strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks with the ability to lead complex services and drive cultural and practice change.
- We are looking for:
- An appropriate professional qualification relating to the delivery of support for children and young people with substantial post-qualifying experience.
- A strong understanding of the Children’s Homes Regulations and how they apply in practice.
- Experience in delivery and/or management of children’s homes.
- Familiarity with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and its implications for service delivery.
- A clear understanding of the Responsible Individual’s duties and accountability.
- Proven experience in leading a team, service, or residential home, with a focus on quality and outcomes.
- Excellent partnership working skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
- A genuine commitment to participation, ensuring that the voices of children and young people shape the services they receive.
To apply please click the Apply Now link below.
Service Lead - Children\'s Homes and \'Staying Close\' employer: Royal Borough Of Greenwich
Contact Detail:
Royal Borough Of Greenwich Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Lead - Children\'s Homes and \'Staying Close\'
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest regulations and standards in children's social care, especially the Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted Inspection Framework. This knowledge will not only help you understand the role better but also demonstrate your commitment to compliance and quality during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of children's care services. Attend relevant conferences or workshops where you can meet others who work in similar roles. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and may even lead to recommendations for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experience that showcase your leadership skills and ability to drive positive outcomes for children in care. Think about challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, as this will highlight your problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Royal Greenwich's current initiatives and strategies related to children's care. Understanding their Sufficiency Strategy and how you can contribute to it will show your genuine interest in the role and your readiness to make a meaningful impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Lead - Children\'s Homes and \'Staying Close\'
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in children's social care, particularly in residential settings. Emphasise your leadership roles and any relevant qualifications that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for improving outcomes for children in care. Discuss specific examples of how you've driven change in previous roles and how you plan to apply that experience in this position.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your experience with regulatory frameworks, Ofsted inspections, and managing children's homes. Provide concrete examples of how you've ensured compliance and improved service delivery.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your leadership capabilities by discussing your approach to team management and development. Highlight any successful initiatives you've led that improved service quality or staff performance.
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Borough Of Greenwich
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles in children's social care. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed teams or services, focusing on how you drove positive outcomes for children in care.
✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Regulations
Familiarise yourself with the Children’s Homes Regulations and the Ofsted Inspection Framework. Be ready to explain how these regulations impact service delivery and how you've ensured compliance in your past roles.
✨Emphasise Collaborative Skills
This role requires strong partnership working. Prepare examples of how you've built effective relationships with various stakeholders, such as health and education providers, to improve outcomes for children and young people.
✨Express Commitment to Child Participation
Show your genuine commitment to ensuring that the voices of children and young people shape the services they receive. Share experiences where you involved young people in decision-making processes or service improvements.
