Residential Team Leader in Wickham

At Fair Ways we believe in making a difference through passionate care, support and education. Together we aim to build an institution that makes a difference to society and leaves a legacy greater than ourselves and our contributions. Our values sit at the heart of everything we do; we measure our wealth by the difference we make, rather than the profit we make. Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year.

We are recruiting for a Team Leader across our residential children’s homes on the South Coast. Our homes provide a structured, homely, and nurturing environment for children who benefit from clear boundaries and structure, and we believe this is the starting point to enable the children to achieve their potential supporting our overall aim of a transition into long term foster care. These positions focus on being part of a team supporting the development of independent life skills within a therapeutic caring environment. We believe in the possibility of healing from the effects of adverse childhood experiences and developmental trauma. Our aim is to ignite such healing through building and sustaining meaningful, trusting, and reciprocal relationships.

As a Team Leader, you will be involved in exciting and rewarding activities such as:

• Building respectful impactful relationships: Proactively maintaining safe and respectful relationships with children through effective support, guidance and care ensuring the maintenance of safe professional boundaries in line with best practice.
• Advocating for children in care: Engaging in key work responsibilities for nominated children within the home, providing the children in our care with a consistent adult presence and an identified member of the team linked to their specific support plans.
• Taking an active role in play, activities and confidence building: Being actively involved in the planning and execution of a range of enriching opportunities for the children through different mediums such as crafts, outdoor activities, play and learning to provide an enjoyable, varied and engaged home environment.
• Supporting positive lifestyle choices: Demonstrating the therapeutic importance of maintaining a clean, tidy and homely environment through effective role modelling and education, promoting high standards of physical care, hygiene and safety and demonstrating positive and healthy choices to support children to develop and thrive.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional: Using our industry recognised RiiSE training to deliver trauma informed responses through the individualised use of therapeutic and, where appropriate, physical intervention to ensure our children are supported appropriately during times of crisis.
• Keeping vulnerable children and young people Safe: Managing any child protection issues that may occur through effective reporting in line with the policies and procedures of the residential home in partnership with the senior leadership team and any relevant external agency to keep children safe from harm for the duration of their placement with Fair Ways.
• Building Brighter Futures: Working as part of the Management team to support handovers, shift planning and to have oversight of the shift ensuring that all required daily tasks are completed appropriately and accurately facilitating the smooth running of the home.
• Leading and supporting a fantastic team: Taking an active lead, as part of the Management team of the home alongside any relevant external agency, in the monitoring and assurance of safe working practices within Child Protection, whilst ensuring that all staff on your team engage and build positive working relationships with the young people and have an understanding of group dynamics to keep children safe from harm for the duration of their placement with Fair Ways.
• Ensuring accuracy and detail: Completing formal assessments of the needs of young people, in conjunction with colleagues and other professionals, to promote and safeguard the welfare of the young people in placement.
• Managing performance: Providing high quality supervision to individual members of staff as directed by the Registered Manager and conduct appraisals in line with the Company appraisals process.

This role is offered on a full time/permanent basis, working as part of a rolling rota (Monday – Sunday) following a 2 on/4 off shift pattern to include 1 sleep for every other block worked. Days start at around 07:00 and finish at around 22:30 (depending on the home you work in) and during this time you will have the opportunity to have all meals provided as the nature of your role will include mealtimes with the children and other staff. All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways. Fair Ways are unable to provide VISA sponsorship for this role and all applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of right to work in the UK.

Whilst we value the knowledge and understanding that experience and qualifications can bring, we also know that some of our best people have come to us from unrelated backgrounds. These people already held our core values at heart, and with the dedication of our amazing in‑house training and development team, we have supported the rest!

Let us look after you! At Fair Ways, we care about your well‑being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities: Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers.
• Work‑Life Balance: Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme, an extra day of annual leave as a ‘wellbeing day’ and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days).
• Health and Support: Benefit from Simply Health, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services.
• Growth and Development: Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level.
• Wellbeing Matters: Experience team‑building days, summer festivals, and well‑being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment.
• Recognition and Rewards: Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards.
• Supportive Community: Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities.

Benefits may differ dependant on contract type.