Team Leader - Children Residental

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…