Senior Care Lead in Saint Leonards-on-Sea

Full Time – Permanent

Rate of pay - £14 - £15 p/h

Hours: 42 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the needs of the service, including participation in the on-call duty arrangement.

Are you an experienced senior care professional who can confidently lead a team whilst remaining hands-on in delivering outstanding care? Derwent Care Home is seeking a dedicated and motivated Senior Lead to join our leadership team. This is a key role within the Home, working closely with the Home Manager to maintain high standards of care, compliance, resident wellbeing and staff performance.

We are looking for someone who leads by example, enjoys working alongside their team, and has strong experience in care planning, safeguarding, incident management and electronic care systems. This is a predominantly floor-based role. The successful candidate will spend the majority of their time supporting residents and leading staff in practice, whilst also undertaking quality, compliance and leadership responsibilities.

About the Role

As Senior Lead, you will support the day-to-day operation of the Home, oversee care delivery, maintain compliance, mentor staff and ensure residents receive safe, kind, responsive and person-centred care. You will play an active role in maintaining high standards across the Home, supporting staff development, promoting meaningful resident engagement and ensuring care records and documentation are accurate and up to date.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• NVQ/QCF Level 3 in Health & Social Care desirable.
• Applications from candidates without a formal Level 3 qualification will be considered where they can demonstrate substantial experience in a senior care role.
• Proven experience creating and reviewing person-centred care plans.
• Proven experience completing DoLS applications and associated documentation.
• Proven experience completing safeguarding referrals and accident and incident reporting.
• Experience using PCS or a similar electronic care planning system.
• Strong understanding of CQC standards, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supervising and supporting care staff.
• Confident leading a care team whilst remaining hands-on in delivering person-centred care.
• Strong understanding of MCA, DoLS, safeguarding and person-centred care principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and support care staff during shifts.
• Maintain high standards of person-centred care and resident wellbeing.
• Support the development, review and auditing of care plans and risk assessments.
• Complete and oversee safeguarding, accident and incident documentation.
• Ensure accurate and timely electronic care records are maintained.
• Monitor residents' physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
• Promote meaningful engagement and activity throughout the day.
• Liaise professionally with relatives, GPs, community nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals.
• Support staff inductions, mentoring, supervisions and ongoing development.
• Undertake quality checks, audits and compliance monitoring.
• Assist with pre-admission assessments and resident reviews.
• Support the Home Manager in maintaining compliance with CQC regulations and best practice.
• Act as a positive role model, promoting a culture of dignity, compassion, inclusion and respect.

Working Pattern & Flexibility

Due to the nature of the role, flexibility is essential. The successful candidate will be expected to work a mixture of shifts to meet the needs of the service, including early shifts, late shifts, weekends and bank holidays. The role includes shared responsibility for on-call duty alongside the Home Manager. Flexibility to provide additional support during periods of staff absence, emergencies, inspections or operational need is expected.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who:

• Leads by example and is visible within the Home.
• Is approachable, professional and organised.
• Can confidently make decisions and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Has a positive, proactive and compassionate approach.
• Can motivate, mentor and support others to achieve high standards.
• Understands that leadership is about being present, involved and engaged with residents and staff.

Why Join Derwent Care Home?

At Derwent Care Home, we are committed to providing safe, kind and responsive care for every resident. We believe great care comes from strong leadership on the floor, meaningful resident engagement and a team that works together to make a difference every day. If you have the experience, confidence and passion to lead a team whilst remaining actively involved in resident care, we would love to hear from you.