Head of Residential Children’s Services

Position: Head of Residential Children’s Services (Permanent)
Location: Broadland

Head of Service
- Residential, Solo and Disability Services

Full-time, 35 hours per week ¦ East Anglia ¦ Permanent

Are you an experienced, values-led leader who believes relationships change lives?

Do you want to shape services that walk alongside children and young people for as long as they need us - into adulthood and beyond? If so, this may be the role for you.

About Us

At Break, we are deeply rooted in relationships, connection and lifelong commitment. We support children and young people on the edge of care, in care, and leaving care - not just through short-term interventions, but through a lifelong offer of support, grounded in consistency, presence and genuine care.

Our values are central to everything we do:

We are all about relationships – we put connection at the heart of our work.

We are here when it matters most – we show up, stay present, and offer consistency.

We are curious about the world around us – we listen deeply, reflect, and seek to understand.

We challenge to encourage change – we speak up, advocate, and push for better when it’s needed.

These values guide how we work with children, families, carers, professionals — and each other.

The Role

We are looking for a Head of Service to provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of services. Your initial focus will include our Disability Services.

This is a key leadership role where you will:

* Provide strategic direction and day-to-day oversight of services across East Anglia.

* Lead, coach and supervise Registered/Service Managers, ensuring they are supported to thrive.

* Embed trauma-informed, reflective and relationship-based practice across all teams.

* Shape, develop and grow high-quality services that meet the needs and ambitions of children and young people.

* Maintain full compliance with all regulatory, legal and contractual requirements.

* Work closely with Ofsted, commissioners and partners to ensure excellent outcomes.

* Act as Responsible Individual for designated services.

* Lead service improvement, quality assurance, safeguarding oversight and workforce development.

* Foster a culture of curiosity, learning and continuous improvement.

* Represent Break within the wider care sector, strengthening partnerships and promoting our work.

* Be an active, constructive member of the Break Leadership Team.

What You’ll Bring

We are looking for someone who brings:

* A deep commitment to relational and trauma-informed practice.

* Significant experience leading care services (residential, disability, fostering or similar).

* The ability to inspire, support and develop managers and teams both in the day to day as well as through periods of change and growth.

* Confidence in working with regulation (e.g. Ofsted), safeguarding systems and quality assurance.

* Strategic thinking and the ability to turn plans into practice.

* Strong partnership-building skills and experience working with external agencies.

* Emotional intelligence, resilience and the ability to hold calm in complexity.

* A growth mindset - curious, reflective, open to learning and able to model this for others.

Why Break?

Joining Break means joining a team that:

* Believes in doing the right thing, not the easiest thing.

* Stays with children and young people as long as they need us.

* Values your wellbeing, growth and professional voice.

* Encourages creativity, innovation and brave thinking.

* Is committed to strong leadership, clear direction and collaborative working.

Other Information

You will participate in our on-call rota (usually one week in seven).

You must hold a relevant management qualification or be willing to work towards this.

Full driving licence and ability to travel across East Anglia are essential. Access to own vehicle is essential.

Other Information

You will participate in our on-call rota (usually one week in seven).

You must hold a relevant management qualification or be willing to work towards this.

Full driving licence and ability to travel across East Anglia are essential. Access to own vehicle is essential.

If you are motivated by purpose, grounded in strong values and ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people, we would…