Assistant Head of Home

About the role

This is an opportunity to join Buckinghamshire Council as it prepares to open a brand-new children's residential home in Steeple Claydon. As Assistant Head of Home, you will work alongside the Head of Home to establish and lead a high-quality residential service, helping to shape the culture, values and day-to-day operation of the home from the outset.

As a newly opening home, you will have the unique opportunity to influence its culture from day one, helping to create a service that delivers exceptional care and life-changing opportunities for young people. You will help build a skilled team, promote trauma-informed and child-centred practice, and create an environment where young people feel safe, valued and empowered to achieve their goals.

You will also step into the Head of Home role when required, ensuring continuity of leadership and care. Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the day-to-day leadership and management of the home
• Leading, coaching and developing a residential staff team to deliver outstanding care
• Monitoring the quality of care, implementing improvements and supporting regulatory compliance
• Working closely with social workers, education providers, health professionals and families to achieve positive outcomes
• Assisting with recruitment, staff development, supervision and performance management, and supporting Ofsted readiness in line with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards

Shift pattern details are not stated in the advert. For full information on working arrangements, please contact the recruiting manager directly.

To apply, click Apply Now. For an informal conversation about the role, contact Emma Matthews at Emma.Matthews@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Applications are shortlisted weekly, with interviews held each Thursday. Buckinghamshire Council reserves the right to close the vacancy once sufficient applications have been received, so early application is strongly advised.

About You

Buckinghamshire Council is looking for an inspiring and resilient leader who is committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in residential care. You will bring experience in leadership, a solid grounding in safeguarding legislation, and the ability to motivate and develop a staff team to deliver high-quality care.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification in Children's Residential Care (or equivalent), or be willing to achieve this where applicable
• Have experience in a management or senior leadership role within a children's residential home
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of safeguarding, children's residential care legislation and current best practice
• Have experience of supporting, developing and motivating teams to deliver high-quality care
• Have experience of care planning, risk management and driving continuous service improvement
• Bring strong organisational skills, attention to detail and experience maintaining high-quality records and reports
• Genuinely believe that every child deserves a safe home, positive relationships and the opportunity to reach their full potential

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to equality, fairness and inclusion, and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. The workforce should reflect the diverse communities served across Buckinghamshire.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with Barred List. It is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are required to declare all unspent convictions and conditional cautions, and all spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023). Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Buckinghamshire's Offer to You

Buckinghamshire Council is an ambitious, rapidly growing authority combining the strengths of the previous five councils in the county. Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy are the values its employees have chosen to represent what the organisation stands for.

Children's residential care sits within a council that is firmly focused on the future and committed to developing the people who work for it. The offer to staff includes:

• A fair and inclusive culture, with dedicated staff networks overseen by an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group
• Flexible and agile working arrangements that support a productive work-life balance
• Health and wellbeing initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• Auto-enrolment onto a generous pension scheme, discounts at cafés, restaurants and shops, discounted gym memberships, and travel discounts with Arriva
• Membership access to Costco
• Ongoing support and clear opportunities to develop and progress, and more