Residential Childcare & Growth Lead

Residential Childcare Performance & Growth Lead

Employer:

Acorn Training LTD

Location:

Pay:

£44,000 to £48,000 per year

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

20/06/2026

We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.

The Strategic Lead of Residential Childcare is responsible for providing strategic leadership, innovation, and operational oversight across the Residential Childcare provision.

The role plays a key part in driving curriculum excellence, quality improvement, business growth, employer engagement, and performance management to ensure we deliver high‑quality programmes that meet local, regional, and national skills priorities.

Working closely with the Assistant Director for Skills, the Strategic Lead will shape and implement strategic objectives across the Residential Childcare curriculum area, ensuring provision remains compliant, commercially viable, learner‑focused, and inspection ready.

The Strategic Lead will provide leadership and support to the Head of Residential Childcare and the delivery team, embedding a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation across all aspects of delivery.

Furthermore, the Strategic Lead will work alongside the Head of Business Development to drive growth and position Acorn Training as one of the leading providers of Residential Childcare apprenticeships and qualifications in the country.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Residential Childcare curriculum
• Oversee the development and implementation of curriculum strategies
• Support the Assistant Director for Skills in achieving strategic business objectives, performance targets, quality outcomes, and operational compliance
• Line manage and support the Head of Residential Childcare ensuring effective performance management, accountability, and professional development across teams
• Lead and direct quality assurance and quality improvement activities across the Residential Childcare provision
• Ensure the curriculum area remains fully compliant with awarding organisations, funding, regulatory, safeguarding, and inspection requirements
• Analyse performance data, learner outcomes, quality indicators, and market intelligence
• Lead on self‑assessment, quality improvement planning, deep dives, internal audits, standardisation activities, and external inspection preparation
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with employers, stakeholders, local authorities, sector bodies, and external agencies
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities, partnerships, and commercial growth opportunities
• Champion the use of innovative teaching practices, educational technologies, and learner‑centred approaches

• High levels of learner, employer, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Successful implementation of curriculum growth and development strategies
• Achievement of business growth and partnership development objectives
• Sustained improvement in learner achievement, retention, attendance, and progression rates
• Strong quality assurance outcomes and inspection readiness

• Minimum Level 5 teaching learning and assessment qualification, such as Cert Ed, DTLLS or Diploma in Education and Training (essential)
• Minimum Level 5 or above subject specialism qualification (essential)
• Level 3 CAVA and Level 4 IQA or equivalent (essential)
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics (essential)
• Full Driving Licence (essential)
• Degree in Education, Leadership, Management or related discipline (desirable)
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification (desirable)

• Significant experience within the post‑16 education and training sector (essential)
• Proven experience of strategic leadership and operational management (essential)
• Experience managing curriculum performance and quality improvement (essential)
• Experience leading teams within apprenticeships and/or adult learning provision (essential)
• Experience of curriculum development aligned to employer and learner needs (essential)
• Experience preparing provision for inspection and external quality assurance…