At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to provide high-quality care for young people with complex needs.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a leading provider of specialist residential care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and professional training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to creating positive outcomes for young people.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: SVQ4 Leadership & Management or willingness to work towards it; experience with young people.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 34500 £ per year.
Salary: £30,000 - £34,500 per annum + on call allowances
Location: Penicuik, Midlothian
Contract/Hours: Permanent / Full Time – 37 hours per week;
- Early shifts: 7:00am – 2:30pm
- Late shifts: 2:00pm – 9:30pm
- Double shifts
Closing date for applications is midnight of Sunday 2nd August
Benefits:
- Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave
- Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
- Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
- Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
Action for Children isn’t just about fostering and employment — we’re a leading provider of specialist residential care for young people with complex needs, including intellectual disabilities. Our teams work in highly tailored environments where every young person receives individualised support that meets their social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive needs.
A bit about the role:
As a Team Leader, you’ll play a key part in shaping their day to day experiences. You’ll lead by example, offering guidance, encouragement and support to your team as they deliver high quality, person centred care. Your leadership will help create a safe, nurturing environment where children and young people can grow in confidence, build independence and develop resilience. Day to day, you’ll be supporting with the activities they enjoy, encouraging their independence, assisting with personal care and helping to maintain a calm, consistent atmosphere that helps them feel secure. The role can be fast paced and challenging at times, but it’s incredibly rewarding and we make sure to celebrate every achievement, big or small.
You’ll also take responsibility for the smooth running of the service, ensuring staff feel supported, valued and motivated to deliver the best possible care. Working closely with families, colleagues and external partners, you’ll help create joined up support tailored to each young person’s needs. By fostering a culture of teamwork, learning and continuous improvement, you’ll help your team grow while maintaining the highest standards of care and safeguarding.
About the Service:
Pentland Way is a well-established, specialist residential service in Penicuik, Midlothian, currently operating on behalf of Midlothian Council. From October 2026, the service will become part of Action for Children, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both the young people we support and our dedicated team. Providing a warm and welcoming home for up to three young people aged 16–21 with learning disabilities and autism, Pentland Way focuses on supporting young people through the important transition from children's services into adulthood. Our aim is to ensure every young person experiences a meaningful, positive, and empowering journey towards greater independence. With a small, highly personalised setting, we’re able to build strong, trusting relationships and deliver tailored support that reflects each young person's unique needs and goals. By working closely with families and professional partners, we create individualised support plans that promote stability, routine, personal growth, and life opportunities.
Joining Pentland Way at this exciting time means becoming part of a team that is committed to maintaining continuity, providing exceptional care, and helping shape the future of a service where young people can feel safe, supported, and optimistic about what lies ahead.
What you do could make a difference:
Some key responsibilities for the Team Leader Residential role are:
- Providing direct line management to a team of residential staff to deliver high standards of care.
- Supporting staff team development through training opportunities, staff supervision, and multidisciplinary working.
- Leading shifts and working with the Registered Manager to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and organisational policy and procedure.
- Working to achieve positive outcomes for individual children and young people and contributing to the achievement of an outstanding, good or equivalent rating in external inspection including deputising in the absence of the Registered Manager.
- Taking part in on-call support for a cluster of services in accordance with a rolling rota.
Let's talk about you:
- Must possess SVQ4 Leadership & Management or willing to work towards within 2 years of taking up post.
- Experience of managing staff, also providing visible and effective leadership and management by example.
- SSSC registered.
- Significant experience of working with children and young people with Learning Disabilities.
- Demonstrate informed decision making and judgement, utilising these skills to anticipate and identify problems and find solutions.
- Good knowledge of Safeguarding, and keeping young people safe.
Why Action for Children?
Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters. We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here. Will you join us?
Contact: Please submit an application via our careers page. If you have any further questions, you can contact Laura McCarthy at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13420.
Diversity, equality and inclusion:
We work hard to create an inclusive environment. One where individuality is celebrated and where everyone feels valued and supported. Because when we come together, with skills like yours, we’re capable of amazing things. We actively encourage applications from people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with a disability, as these groups are under-represented within Action for Children.
Want to get to know Action for Children better?
Team Leader Residential in Penicuik employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Wirral. With flexible part-time hours, employees benefit from a strong emphasis on professional development and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people. Our collaborative culture encourages innovation and personal growth, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about emotional wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Leader Residential in Penicuik
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action for Children.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action for Children!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action for Children, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action for Children or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Leader Residential in Penicuik
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action for Children! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
