At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee multiple children's residential homes, ensuring high-quality care and compliance.
- Company: Fast-growing children's residential care provider focused on trauma-informed care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, supportive leadership, and enhanced annual leave.
- Other info: Join at a pivotal growth stage with opportunities for new service development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of children's services and make a lasting impact on young lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's residential care and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 € per year.
We are working with a fast-growing and ambitious children’s residential care provider delivering high-quality, trauma-informed care to children and young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and learning disabilities. Due to continued expansion, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Care to lead and oversee a developing portfolio of 6 children’s homes – including 3 established services and 3 newly opening provisions. This is a key strategic leadership role within a growing organisation, offering genuine influence, autonomy, and progression.
As Head of Care, you will take overall responsibility for the quality, compliance, and operational performance of all residential services within the portfolio. You will work closely with the Responsible Individual, Operations Director, and Registered Managers to ensure all homes deliver outstanding outcomes for children and young people while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and oversight across 6 children’s residential homes
- Support, supervise, and develop Registered Managers and senior leadership teams
- Ensure full compliance with Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted standards
- Lead on service quality, safeguarding, and continuous improvement
- Drive performance across all homes, ensuring consistency of care standards
- Support the mobilisation and opening of new children’s homes
- Work closely with external partners, including Local Authorities and commissioners
- Contribute to strategic growth, service development, and operational planning
- Lead on audits, inspections, and quality assurance processes
- Promote a strong, trauma-informed, child-centred culture across all services
About You
We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong background in children’s residential care. You will ideally have experience as:
- Responsible Individual (RI)
- Operations Manager / Regional Manager
- Head of Care / Senior Leadership within CYP residential services
You will bring:
- Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and safeguarding frameworks
- Proven experience managing multiple children’s homes or services
- Ability to lead and develop Registered Managers effectively
- Experience supporting new home registrations and openings
- A clear commitment to trauma-informed, therapeutic care models
- Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
- A passion for improving outcomes for children and young people
What’s on Offer
- Salary £60,000 – £75,000 (DOE)
- Senior leadership position with real influence and autonomy
- Opportunity to shape and grow a developing provider
- Involvement in new service development and openings
- Career progression within a growing organisation
- Supportive senior leadership team
- Mileage/travel expenses (if applicable)
- Enhanced annual leave & pension scheme
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior strategic role where you will directly shape the quality and future of multiple children’s homes. You will be joining at a pivotal stage of growth, with the chance to make a lasting impact on services and outcomes for children and young people.
If you are a passionate and experienced children’s residential leader looking for your next challenge at Head of Care level, we would love to hear from you.
Head of Care - Childrens Residential in Colchester employer: P+S Care and Support Services
Join a fast-growing children's residential care provider that prioritises high-quality, trauma-informed care for children and young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and learning disabilities. As the Head of Care, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that values your leadership and offers significant opportunities for professional growth and influence in shaping the future of multiple services. With competitive salary packages, enhanced annual leave, and a commitment to employee development, this role provides a meaningful chance to make a lasting impact in the lives of vulnerable children.
Contact Detail:
P+S Care and Support Services Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Care - Childrens Residential in Colchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's residential care sector. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent developments. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams or improved care standards in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and inspire others in a challenging environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our organisation right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Care - Childrens Residential in Colchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of Care role. Highlight your leadership experience in children's residential care and any relevant qualifications to grab our attention!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for trauma-informed care and how your background aligns with our mission. Be genuine and let us know why you’re excited about this opportunity.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved outcomes in previous roles, especially in compliance and quality assurance, to demonstrate your impact.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at P+S Care and Support Services
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarise yourself with Ofsted regulations and the Children’s Homes Regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve ensured compliance in your previous roles, as this will show your understanding of the legal framework that governs children's residential care.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of how you've led teams and developed Registered Managers in the past. Highlight your approach to supervision and support, as well as any successful outcomes from your leadership style.
✨Emphasise Trauma-Informed Care
Be ready to talk about your commitment to trauma-informed, therapeutic care models. Share experiences where you implemented these practices and the positive impact they had on children and young people in your care.
✨Discuss Strategic Growth
Think about how you can contribute to the strategic growth of the organisation. Prepare ideas on service development and how you would approach the opening of new homes, demonstrating your vision for the future of the services.
