Shift Leader in Loughton

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can access low‑cost leasing of electric and low‑emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

We’re recruiting a Shift Leader to join our Residential Short Breaks Service at Furze House, where you’ll lead a dedicated team supporting children with complex needs. This is the role for you if you’re ready to take the next step in your career and want to make a meaningful difference every day.

In this rewarding role, you’ll help create a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where children can feel valued, enjoy new experiences and achieve the best possible outcomes. You’ll lead by example, guiding colleagues and ensuring high-quality, person-centred care is delivered on every shift.

This is a Site-Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace. You’ll work a two-week rolling rota, including a mix of early and late shifts, as well as allocated sleep-in duties:

• Early shifts: 7.00am to 2.30pm
• Late shifts: 2.00pm to 9.30pm

Week one: Tuesday (early), Thursday (late), Friday (early)

Week two: Monday (late), Tuesday (late), Thursday (early), Friday (early and late split shift), Saturday (early), Sunday (late)

This shift pattern is currently under review and may change within the next year. This role attracts an Additional Working Patterns (AWP) Level 1 payment of 5% to reflect the shift work and rota requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leading the management of the home during your shift, making decisions to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people.
• Providing advice, guidance and support to children, families and colleagues as part of a twenty‑four‑hour service.
• Managing and responding to challenging behaviour using risk assessment, de‑escalation and approved physical intervention techniques where required.
• Ensuring accurate, timely and high‑quality recording to support handovers, care planning and regulatory compliance.
• Leading the implementation of individual care plans and risk assessments alongside multi‑agency partners.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting colleagues on shift, modelling good practice and promoting a supportive team culture.

Ideal Candidate

• A Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce, or willingness to start this within three months, or at least one year’s experience in residential childcare.
• Experience working with children and young people with learning disabilities and complex communication needs.
• Strong observation skills and the ability to produce clear, accurate and timely written records.
• Confidence in assessing and managing risk, adapting practice to meet changing needs during a shift.
• The ability to mentor and support colleagues, offering guidance and constructive feedback.
• Physical ability to meet the demands of the role, including moving and handling and use of specialist equipment.

As part of the pre‑employment checks, should you be offered the role, we’ll carry out an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service).