Job Description:

TEAM LEADER – CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL HOME 1. Position Details

Service: Children’s Home
Location: Merstham, Surrey
Job Title: Team Leader
Grade: 7.3 – 8.2
Progression: Advancement to Level 8.0+ is available subject to satisfactory performance appraisal and/or successful completion of advanced training.
Responsible To: Registered Manager

 Main Purpose of the Role

The Team Leader will support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager in the effective day-to-day management of the children’s home, providing leadership, supervision and guidance to the residential childcare team.

The postholder will oversee delegated areas of the home's daily operations and lead shifts to ensure children and young people receive safe, consistent, and high-quality care.

This role is pivotal in care planning, key-working, and direct engagement with children and young people who may have complex needs resulting from trauma, adverse childhood experiences, or emotional, behavioural, or psychological challenges.

The successful candidate will champion positive outcomes for young people while ensuring safeguarding, therapeutic care, and exemplary standards of practise are upheld at all times.

Key Responsibilities Leadership and Management

• Support the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager in the efficient running of the home.
• Deputise for the Deputy Manager as required.
• Provide strong leadership, direction, and support to the residential childcare team.
• Supervise, induct, support, and develop staff in line with organisational policies.
• Allocate duties effectively to ensure smooth operation of each shift.
• Lead shifts to guarantee delivery of safe, consistent, and high-quality care.
• Foster positive working relationships, teamwork, and clear communication.
• Ensure staff comply with relevant legislation, safeguarding protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Participate in the management on-call rota and provide support outside of normal hours when necessary.

Staffing and Rotas

• Assist in managing the staff rota.
• Arrange appropriate staffing cover during emergencies, weekends, and out-of-hours periods.
• Ensure staffing levels meet the home’s needs and remain within budget.
• Participate in the flexible working rota.
• Undertake sleeping-in duties as required.

Safeguarding and Welfare

• Take an active role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure all practise aligns with safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and organisational procedures.
• Promote positive outcomes for young people in areas including:
  • Physical and mental health
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Social development
  • Independence
  • Transition to adulthood
• Identify, report, and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure risks are identified, recorded, and managed effectively.
• Contribute to the completion and review of risk assessments and management plans.

Incident Management

• Lead the management of incidents during shifts.
• Provide support and guidance to staff when handling incidents or challenging situations.
• Liaise with the Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, and relevant external agencies as necessary.
• Collaborate with agencies such as the police and Emergency Duty Service when appropriate.
• Ensure incidents are accurately recorded, reported, and followed up.
• Support staff in applying effective de-escalation and risk management strategies.

Care Planning and Key-Working

• Act as Key Worker for allocated young people and support other Key Workers.
• Contribute to the preparation, implementation, and review of individual care plans.
• Ensure care plans accurately reflect each young person’s needs, wishes, views, and outcomes.
• Deliver high-quality direct work and key-working sessions.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• Liaise with families, social workers, and other relevant professionals.
• Represent the service at meetings such as:
  • Child care reviews
  • Safeguarding meetings
  • Multi-disciplinary meetings
  • Professional forums
• Prepare accurate reports and maintain clear, comprehensive records.
• Contribute to external reports, including court submissions, when required.

Therapeutic Care and Direct Work

• Support planning and delivery of individual and group interventions.
• Promote therapeutic parenting approaches throughout the home.
• Assist young people in developing emotional regulation and positive coping strategies.
• Help manage emotional and behavioural challenges in a safe, supportive environment.
• Embed therapeutic care principles in daily practise.
• Support young people who may have experienced:
  • Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Domestic abuse
  • Substance misuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Learning disabilities
  • Emotional, behavioural, or psychological challenges
• Apply appropriate de-escalation and physical intervention techniques in line with training, policies, and statutory requirements.

Staff Supervision, Development and Training

• Provide effective supervision, support, and guidance to staff.
• Identify staff development and training needs and communicate these to the management team.
• Support the induction and ongoing professional development of staff.
• Ensure staff are familiar with:
  • Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
  • Quality Standards 2015
  • Ofsted inspection requirements
  • Safeguarding procedures
  • Health and safety protocols
  • Organisational policies and procedures
• Complete relevant training to support delivery of specialist training, including positive behaviour support and physical intervention.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Quality Assurance

• Monitor the quality and consistency of care during shifts.
• Ensure staff adhere to care plans, risk assessments, and agreed strategies.
• Oversee areas of responsibility delegated to staff.
• Assist the management team in identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure all records, care plans, risk assessments, and incident reports are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Contribute to preparations for internal and external inspections.

Medication and Health & Safety

• Ensure compliance with organisational procedures for medication administration and recording.
• Report any medication concerns, errors, or incidents appropriately.
• Ensure specialist equipment is used safely and correctly.
• Promote a safe environment for young people, staff, and visitors.
• Comply with all relevant health and safety procedures, including:
  • Fire safety
  • COSHH
  • Food hygiene
  • Risk assessments
  • Incident reporting
  • Infection prevention and control

Financial Responsibilities

• Assist the Registered Manager in maintaining appropriate financial controls.
• Adhere to organisational financial procedures and audit requirements.
• Ensure correct procedures are followed when:
  • Ordering goods and services
  • Using petty cash
  • Managing young people’s savings
  • Making authorised payments
• Report any financial concerns promptly to the Registered Manager or Deputy Manager.

Regulatory and Professional Compliance

The Team Leader must ensure their practise complies with all relevant statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements, including:

• Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
• Quality Standards 2015
• Ofsted inspection framework
• Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
• Safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance
• Health and safety legislation
• Organisational policies and procedures

Level 8 Progression

Progression to Level 8.0+ depends on satisfactory performance appraisal and successful completion of the service’s Advanced Practitioner