Shift Leader – Westminster House

About the role

This is a part-time Shift Leader role within Milton Keynes City Council's Residential Children's Homes service, based at Westminster House. The home provides round-the-clock care for children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs, and staffing is driven by those children's needs, risk levels, and unpredictability rather than occupancy alone.

As Shift Leader, you'll hold responsibility for the smooth and safe running of the home during your shift. Many children at Westminster House require one-to-one or enhanced support for communication, personal care, emotional regulation, and safeguarding — making confident, skilled leadership on shift essential. You'll lead colleagues, model good practice, and ensure that each child receives high-quality, child-centred care in line with their individual plan.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the management of the home during your shift, making decisions to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people.
• Providing advice, guidance, and support to children, families, and colleagues as part of a twenty-four-hour service.
• Managing and responding to challenging behaviour using risk assessment, de-escalation, and approved physical intervention techniques where required.
• Ensuring accurate, timely, and high-quality recording to support handovers, care planning, and regulatory compliance.
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting colleagues on shift, promoting a supportive team culture.

This role is contracted at 16 hours per week, with a pro-rata salary of £16,121 plus an Additional Work Payment (AWP) at Level 1, equivalent to 5% of salary. The full-time equivalent salary range is £37,280 to £41,771.

The role operates on a two-week rota covering a mix of weekday and weekend shifts. Morning shifts run from 7am to 2pm, and afternoon shifts from 2.30pm to 9.30pm. There are no sleep-in or waking-night requirements attached to this pattern.

Interviews are scheduled for 10 and 11 August 2026. Click Apply Now to discover more about this opportunity and submit your application.

About You

Westminster House works with children who have complex needs, and the Shift Leader role carries real responsibility for their safety and the quality of their daily experience. This is a role that calls for sound judgement, clear communication, and the ability to support and guide a team under pressure.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce, be willing to start this qualification within three months of appointment, or have at least one year's experience in residential childcare.
• Have experience of working with children and young people with learning disabilities and complex communication needs.
• Demonstrate strong observation skills and the ability to produce clear, accurate, and timely written records.
• Be confident in assessing and managing risk, adapting practice to meet changing needs during a shift.
• Have the ability to mentor and support colleagues, offering guidance and constructive feedback.
• Be physically able to meet the demands of the role, including moving and handling and the use of specialist equipment.

Milton Keynes City Council is committed to having a workforce that reflects the community it serves. Whatever your background, you are welcome here if you share the values of being dedicated, respectful, and collaborative.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service. Candidates must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

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 dedicated to creating cleaner, safer, and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

There is a genuine commitment to training, development, and internal progression — and because of the scale of the organisation, there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new challenge. Benefits for this role include:

• 28 days' annual leave per year on top of public holidays, rising to 32 days after five years, plus the option to purchase up to five additional days each year.
• Membership of the 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.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme including a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme, and discounts on retail, entertainment, and travel.
• A salary sacrifice car scheme for eligible employees, covering low-cost leasing of electric and low-emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card eligibility for staff working within social care, giving access to additional discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
• And more.