Shift Leader

About the role

Milton Keynes City Council is recruiting a Shift Leader to join its Residential Children's Homes service, providing safe, supportive care for children and young people across a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation based at Westminster House in Bletchley.

In this role, you will lead colleagues during your shift, taking responsibility for decisions that support the safety, wellbeing, and individual needs of the children and young people in care. You will work closely with children, families, colleagues, and other professionals to help achieve the best possible outcomes, while coaching less experienced staff and modelling good practice to maintain high standards across the service.

This role includes:

• Leading the service during your shift and making well-informed decisions to keep children and young people safe
• Taking the lead when managing challenging behaviour, using risk assessments, debriefs, and appropriate physical intervention skills
• Ensuring care plans and risk assessments are followed, reviewed, and updated in collaboration with families and other professionals
• Maintaining accurate and timely records and making sure important information is clearly shared with colleagues and managers
• Supporting children to develop their skills and independence, adapting your approach to their individual communication, care, and support needs

You will work a fortnightly rota across weekdays and weekends. In week one, shifts fall on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. In week two, you will work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Shifts vary between early, afternoon, and evening working, with start times from 7am and finishes up to 10pm. Occasional evening and weekend shifts attract a 5% pay boost. This is a site-based role and you will be expected to work from the designated workplace.

Interviews will be held in person on 26 November 2026. Click Apply Now to discover more about this opportunity and submit your application.

About You

This role suits someone who is calm and considered under pressure, able to lead a team through demanding situations while keeping the needs of children and young people at the centre of every decision. You will bring strong communication skills, good judgement, and the flexibility that a round-the-clock residential service requires.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce, or be willing to start the qualification within three months of appointment — alternatively, bring at least one year's experience in residential childcare together with paid or voluntary experience supporting children and/or people with learning disabilities
• Be confident and calm in making considered decisions, managing risk, and responding appropriately when behaviour becomes challenging
• Understand that children have different communication needs and be able to adapt verbal and non-verbal communication accordingly
• Have strong observational and written communication skills, and be able to maintain clear records and write, monitor, and review risk assessments
• Be physically able to support moving and handling requirements and use specialist equipment safely where required
• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, with insurance that includes cover for business use — evidence of both will be required before any appointment is confirmed
• Be reliable and collaborative, with the flexibility to support a 24-hour residential service

Milton Keynes City Council is committed to having a workforce that reflects the community it serves and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

This role is subject to Safer Recruitment procedures. Pre-employment checks will include identity verification (with original documents required, including a full birth certificate), employment history and reference checks, qualification checks, and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with barred list check, unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service. No appointment will be confirmed until all checks are satisfactorily completed.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold an independent and unrestricted right to work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Milton Keynes City Council's Offer to You

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern, and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across eight service areas. The council is committed to investing in its workforce and offers strong training and development support alongside genuine opportunities to progress as the organisation grows.

Benefits include:

• 28 days' annual leave per year on top of public holidays, rising to 32 days after five years, plus a holiday purchase scheme of up to five additional days
• Membership of the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity support as part of a full range of family-friendly policies
• An award-winning employee benefits programme including a health cash plan, cycle purchase scheme, high street discounts, and savings on entertainment and travel
• A salary sacrifice car scheme for eligible employees, covering electric and low-emission vehicles
• Blue Light Card eligibility for social care staff, giving access to further discounts from national retailers and local businesses
• And more