At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage children's homes, ensuring high-quality care and positive outcomes for young people.
- Company: North Lakes Children's Services, a leader in therapeutic residential care for children.
- Benefits: 30 days leave, pension scheme, employee discounts, and comprehensive training.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification and 2 years' experience in children's residential care.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
North Lakes Children's Services is a well-established provider of therapeutic residential care and education for boys aged 6-18, dedicated to improving the resilience, self-esteem and life outcomes of the young people we support. We are currently seeking an experienced Head of Care to join North Lakes Children's Services in overseeing all our services.
Benefits:
- 30 days annual leave entitlement
- Company pension scheme
- Employee Discount Scheme, including a range of retail discounts
- Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced pay for Christmas Day and New Year's Day
- Overtime opportunities
- Clear career progression pathways
- Comprehensive annual training, including Child Development, Attachment Theory, PACE Model, Therapeutic Parenting and Whole-Brain Child Model
Role Details:
The Head of Care will provide overall professional leadership and management of all North Lakes Children's Services children's homes. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that children and young people continue to be safeguarded, make good developmental progress and for ensuring that our relationships with parents, professional partners, commissioners and other agencies are positive and strong. This must all work in the best interests of children and young people.
Provide an environment in which children and young people in our care are encouraged and supported to reach their full potential. Through comprehensive care planning processes and the support of our nurturing and ambitious care teams, our children and young people make excellent progress in all areas of their development. The role will also entail supporting the commercial growth and sustainability of the services. You will work with key stakeholders and central functions internally to ensure that the services are well resourced and equipped to provide a high standard of care.
The post holder should promote a culture of high aspiration and challenge, but with a constructive and supportive approach to supervision and leadership of the team. The Head of Care should engage strategically and operationally with other departments across the Polaris Community and deliver to deadlines and demonstrate an organised, efficient and flexible approach to managerial duties. Must be able to lead, motivate, manage and develop all members of the staff team within an open and enthusiastic culture, which includes the delivery of training. Must ensure that North Lakes Children's Services is represented professionally to outside agencies and within the local community and contribute towards the development of the company.
About You:
- You must have a recognised social work qualification, i.e. QCF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (Children and Young People) and QCF Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce or equivalent
- A minimum of 2 years' previous experience within the last 5 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children and, for at least 1 year, requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role
- You must be committed to making a real difference to the lives of the young people in our care and to working to a high standard of professional practice with a non-judgmental and positive attitude, taking into account the young people's views, wishes and feelings
- Be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Children's Home legislation and inspection requirements for Ofsted and a thorough knowledge of child protection/safeguarding procedures and protocols
- A person-centred approach to both care and leadership and management practice
- Experience of strategic and operational leadership of children's residential care services in the UK
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Stakeholder influence and leadership experience in children's residential care
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
- Experience and knowledge of legislation and practice relating to children's residential care
- Understanding of the external social care and education sector legislative and policy environment
- Must be licensed to drive a manual car and have use of own car with business insurance, proof of which will need to be supplied as part of onboarding
North Lakes Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. All candidates will be subject to thorough reference checks, including an enhanced DBS, as safeguarding young people is at the heart of everything we do.
Work in Social Care employer: North Lakes
North Lakes Children's Services is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and nurturing work environment in Carlisle, where you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people. With a strong focus on employee development through comprehensive training programmes and clear career progression pathways, we ensure our staff are well-equipped to provide high-quality care. Our commitment to wellbeing is reflected in generous benefits such as 30 days of annual leave, a company pension scheme, and enhanced pay for holidays, making us a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Work in Social Care
✨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 North Lakes.
✨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 North Lakes!
✨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 North Lakes, 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 North Lakes 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 Work in Social Care
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 North Lakes:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North Lakes! 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 North Lakes
✨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.
