At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee specialist care services, ensuring high-quality, person-centred support.
- Company: Join a values-led organisation committed to inclusivity and meaningful impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy 24/7 wellbeing support, career progression, and lifestyle benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional development and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in complex care environments while driving excellence.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in health and social care with strong compliance knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Remote (Regular travel across services required) We are recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced and strategic Head of Care to provide senior leadership and operational oversight across a portfolio of specialist care and education services.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Head of Care who has experience leading complex care environments and is passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centred support.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring services achieve excellent outcomes through strong governance, quality assurance, safeguarding, and continuous improvement.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, operational leaders, education teams, healthcare professionals, and external partners, the Head of Care will ensure care services remain safe, compliant, innovative, and aligned with organisational values.
About the Role As Head of Care, you will provide strategic direction and operational leadership across specialist care services, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and person-centred support.
You will oversee quality, compliance, safeguarding, workforce development, and service improvement, ensuring services consistently meet regulatory standards and the needs of the individuals supported.
This role requires a confident leader who can influence change, support service leaders, and drive excellence across a complex care and education environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and direction across a portfolio of specialist care services, Support the development and implementation of care strategies aligned with organisational objectives
- Ensure services consistently deliver safe, effective, and person-centred care
- Maintain compliance with CQC, Ofsted, safeguarding requirements, and relevant legislation
- Lead quality assurance frameworks, audits, service reviews, and continuous improvement plans
- Oversee care planning, risk management, and clinical governance processes, Provide senior oversight of complex healthcare needs, including delegated clinical tasks and specialist support requirements
- Work collaboratively with nursing teams, therapists, healthcare professionals, and external providers, Promote strong safeguarding practices and ensure effective risk management systems are embedded
- Provide leadership and support to service managers and operational teams
- Act as a senior escalation point for complex care matters, safeguarding concerns, and stakeholder queries
- Support admissions, transitions, and placement decisions across services
- Lead workforce planning, ensuring staffing levels, skill mix, training, and competency requirements meet service needs
- Support recruitment, retention, supervision, and professional development of care teams
- Promote a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement
- Build effective relationships with commissioners, families, education teams, and external partners
- Monitor service performance, quality indicators, and outcomes using data and reporting tools
- Support the implementation and optimisation of digital care systems and reporting platforms
- Represent the organisation during inspections, reviews, and external meetings About You
- Significant senior leadership experience within health and social care, residential care, education, or integrated specialist services.
- Proven experience delivering high-quality, compliant services within complex care environments.
- Strong knowledge of CQC, Ofsted, safeguarding frameworks, and regulatory requirements.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and supporting services across multiple locations.
- Strong understanding of person-centred care planning, clinical governance, and quality assurance.
- Experience supporting individuals with complex health needs and ensuring safe clinical practices.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using performance data to improve service outcomes.
Strategic thinker with resilience, professionalism, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
Benefits
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing resources, and mental health support.
- Access to online GP services, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover, and Menopause support.
- Financial wellbeing support, including Wagestream, utility savings, and Life Assurance.
- Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts, online wellbeing resources, and lifestyle benefits.
- Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
- Inclusive and values-led working environment where your contribution creates meaningful impact.
At Olive Recruit, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that embraces diversity and promotes inclusivity.
Our core values, Integrity, Impact, Inclusivity, and Innovation, guide our efforts to create an environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to excel.
As a recruitment agency, we prioritise sourcing and placing diverse candidates with our clients, recognising that diverse perspectives are essential for business success and inclusive work environments.
We take great pride in celebrating the unique backgrounds and experiences of our team members and candidates.
By embracing these different perspectives, we not only create a great place to work but also better serve our clients.
Your individuality is what makes our team strong.
Join us in championing our values and building a workplace where everyone can thrive.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
All colleagues are expected to share this commitment and participate fully in safeguarding training and processes.
The successful applicant will undergo a free enhanced disclosure from the disclosure barring service & other compliance checks required
Head of Care employer: Olive Recruit
At Olive Recruit, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment for our Community Support Workers in Radstock, Chippenham, and Bristol. With competitive pay, continuous training opportunities, and a collaborative leadership team, we empower our employees to grow and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they support. Join us in a culture that values diversity, inclusivity, and personal development, ensuring every team member feels valued and respected.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of 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 Olive Recruit.
✨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 Olive Recruit!
✨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 Olive Recruit, 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 Olive Recruit 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 Head of 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 Olive Recruit:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Olive Recruit! 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 Olive Recruit
✨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.
