At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate care services, ensuring high-quality, person-centred support for individuals.
- Company: Salutem Care and Education, a Top Employer in the UK, committed to empowering lives.
- Benefits: Emotional, medical, and financial support, plus flexible pay and wellness resources.
- Other info: Join a supportive community focused on continuous learning and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in care or education, with a passion for quality service.
About The Company
At Salutem Care and Education, our aim is to empower people to live a life they choose, regardless of the care or support they need. We are proud to provide a range of care and support across our schools, day centres, and residential homes for children and adults. Just like any strong community, we want the very best for the individuals we support. We’re proud to be recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer United Kingdom, reflecting our exceptional culture, care, and commitment to our people. In addition, we’re honoured to be named among the 2025 Top 100 Global Inspiring Workplaces, and to have achieved Top 10 in the 2026 UK & Ireland Inspiring Workplaces Awards. We’re passionate about developing and supporting colleagues for the future. Through a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice, we create opportunities for personal and professional growth — helping our people build meaningful and rewarding careers in care.
About The Role
The Head of Care is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic and operational management of care services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and person-centred care. The post holder will provide direction, leadership, and oversight to care teams, driving continuous improvement and ensuring services meet regulatory standards, organisational values, and the needs of service users. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the Head of Care will lead on service development, quality assurance, workforce planning, and performance management. The role requires a strong focus on governance, compliance, and innovation to enhance outcomes and maintain excellence across all areas of care provision. Key priorities include fostering a positive, inclusive culture; ensuring effective safeguarding practices; managing resources efficiently; and delivering sustainable, high-performing services aligned with organisational objectives.
Job Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership & Service Development
- Develop and implement a care strategy aligned with organisational and educational priorities.
- Lead the integration of care and education to ensure cohesive learner pathways, reflecting the model of close liaison between education and residential services.
- Promote innovation in care delivery, including person-centred approaches and assistive technologies.
- Contribute to executive decision-making and long-term organisational planning.
- Extensive travel nationally supporting both pre-school primary, secondary and P19 provisions within the division.
- Quality, Compliance & Clinical Governance
- Ensure all services meet CQC, Ofsted, and safeguarding standards, always maintaining inspection readiness.
- Establish robust quality assurance frameworks, including audits, service reviews, and continuous improvement cycles.
- Oversee the development and audit of person-centred care plans and clinical protocols, ensuring consistency and quality across services.
- Lead systems that ensure safe practice in areas such as medication, infection control, and delegated healthcare tasks.
- Provide senior oversight of systems supporting learners with complex health needs, ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, assessed as competent and regularly reviewed.
- Work with nursing, therapy and external health professionals to ensure that clinical delegation, competency sign-off, escalation pathways and emergency protocols are robust, current and consistently implemented.
- Lead implementation and optimisation of digital care systems, reporting platforms, and data dashboards.
- Ensure data integrity and real-time oversight of service performance.
- Safeguarding & Risk Management
- Provide executive oversight of safeguarding across the organisation, building on the expectation that care leaders hold DSL/DDSL responsibilities.
- Ensure robust systems for risk assessment, behaviour support, and safe care practices are implemented and monitored.
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture aligned with statutory guidance and best practice.
- Operational Leadership
- Provide oversight and direction to service leads across the portfolio.
- Ensure effective delivery of care services that meet individual learner needs, health requirements, and personal outcomes.
- Lead on admissions, transition, and compatibility decisions, ensuring accurate assessment of needs and provision capacity.
- Act as the senior escalation point for complex care issues, families, and external stakeholders.
- Workforce Leadership & Culture
- Lead the recruitment, development, and retention of a skilled multidisciplinary workforce, including nurses, care staff, and support workers.
- Ensure effective supervision, appraisal, and competency frameworks, reflecting expectations for ongoing training and practice checks.
- Drive a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous professional development.
- Address underperformance and support staff progression through structured HR processes.
- Provide oversight of safe staffing models across complex care provision, ensuring that staffing levels, skill mix, training, supervision and deployment are matched to learner need and risk.
- Integration with Education
- Ensure care provision actively supports learning, communication, and Preparing for Adulthood outcomes.
- Promote approaches that enable student voice, independence, and participation in their own care.
- Work collaboratively with education leaders to align care strategies with EHCP outcomes and curriculum delivery.
- Multi-Disciplinary & Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead effective collaboration with therapy teams, healthcare professionals, commissioners, and families.
- Represent the organisation in external forums, inspections, and partnership meetings.
- Ensure strong communication systems that enable consistent, high-quality service delivery.
- Performance, Reporting & Governance
- Monitor and report on service performance, quality metrics, and learner outcomes.
- Ensure high-quality documentation and reporting for regulators, commissioners, and senior leaders.
- Use insight and data to drive service improvement and innovation.
This job description should not be seen as all encompassing, and the post holder will be expected to undertake any other responsibilities appropriate to the post as identified by the company.
Knowledge, skills and competency
Experience
- Senior leadership experience in education, residential care, or integrated services.
- Proven ability to deliver high-quality, compliant services in complex care environments.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and large-scale service delivery.
Knowledge & Expertise
- Strong understanding of CQC and Ofsted frameworks, safeguarding, and health & social care regulation.
- Expertise in person-centred care planning, clinical governance, and quality assurance.
- Knowledge of Preparing for Adulthood and specialist education settings.
Leadership Capabilities
- Strategic thinking and system leadership.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to drive cultural change and continuous improvement.
Role Impact
This role extends by:
- Providing portfolio-wide leadership and strategic direction.
- Ensuring consistent standards across multiple services.
- Embedding integration between care, health, and education.
- Holding accountability for quality, compliance, safeguarding, and outcomes at scale.
Our Core Values:
- Supportive: Helping everyone reach their full potential.
- Ambitious: Striving for the best outcomes.
- Loyal: Prioritising our staff and the people we support.
- Unique: Innovating without compromising quality.
- Transparent: Fostering openness and mutual respect.
- Engaging: Partnering with everyone involved.
- Meaningful: Offering fulfilling opportunities.
Why Choose Us?
- Emotional Support: 24/7 Employee Assistance, mental health resources, meditation apps, and bereavement support.
- Medical Support: Free Online GP access, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover, and Menopause support.
- Financial Support: Flexible pay with Wagestream, utility bill savings, Money Helper, and Life Assurance.
- Physical Support: Online workouts, Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts, and National Trust activities.
Salutem Care and Education is dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable individuals. As part of our safer recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS and, where applicable, overseas criminal record checks.
Head of Care employer: Salutem LD Bidco Ltd/ Salutem LD Bidco II Ltd/ Sal
At Salutem Care and Education, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where our employees can thrive. As a Team Leader, you will benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, a strong emphasis on employee well-being, and a culture that prioritises compassion and innovation. With access to comprehensive support resources and recognition as a Top Employer in the UK, you will be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.
Contact Details:
Salutem LD Bidco Ltd/ Salutem LD Bidco II Ltd/ Sal Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Care
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
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How to prepare for a job interview at Salutem LD Bidco Ltd/ Salutem LD Bidco II Ltd/ Sal
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