This isn't just a management role. It's an opportunity to shape the care and lives of young people.
Parker Smith Inclusion is working with a specialist residential school in Chelmsford that is looking for an experienced and compassionate Head of Care to lead their residential provision.
This is a role for someone who understands that exceptional residential care isn't simply about keeping young people safe.
It's about building trust.
It's about creating stability when things feel difficult.
And it's about giving young people the confidence, relationships and support they need to move forward.
The school supports young people with a range of additional needs, including SEMH, Autism and SLCN, within a specialist educational and residential environment.
The Role
As Head of Care, you'll provide leadership across the residential team while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day life of the residential provision.
You'll be responsible for ensuring young people experience a safe, calm, stimulating and nurturing environment, whilst making sure the residential team delivers consistently high-quality care.
You'll work closely with the Headteacher and senior leadership team, taking responsibility for the organisation, supervision and development of the residential staff team.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading and supporting the residential team
- Organising staffing rotas and ensuring appropriate supervision
- Providing professional supervision and support to residential staff
- Overseeing the quality of care provided to young people
- Supporting staff training, induction and ongoing CPD
- Managing performance and quality assurance within the residential team
- Leading shift handovers and residential team meetings
- Monitoring pupil progress and supporting targeted interventions
- Overseeing individual care, distress management and support plans
- Supporting the health and welfare of residential pupils
- Maintaining accurate records and reports
- Working alongside parents, carers, school staff and external agencies
- Taking an active role in residential activities and the wider life of the school
- Undertaking shifts and sleep-in duties when required
- Responding appropriately to emergencies and challenging situations
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Alongside your Head of Care responsibilities, you'll also take on the important role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
You'll support the school's DSL with safeguarding and child protection, acting as a source of advice and support for staff.
This will include:
- Acting as an initial point of contact for child protection concerns within the residential setting
- Supporting the DSL with safeguarding and child protection matters
- Providing DSL cover when required
- Monitoring incident reports and physical interventions
- Liaising with children's social care, the local authority and other relevant agencies
- Making appropriate safeguarding referrals when required
- Keeping safeguarding knowledge and training up to date
- Supporting the implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Understanding the school's filtering and monitoring systems and escalating concerns appropriately
The Young People
The school supports young people with complex and varied needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, Autism, ADHD and Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
Because of this, the successful candidate needs to be confident working in an environment where behaviour can sometimes be challenging and where young people may communicate distress through their behaviour.
You'll need to be able to remain calm, think clearly and follow individual support and behaviour strategies consistently.
The role may also involve responding quickly when a young person is at risk, including situations involving absconding or the need for physical intervention. Appropriate training will be provided in line with the school's requirements.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who has genuine experience supporting children or young people with additional needs, ideally within a residential or specialist setting.
You may currently be working as a Residential Manager, Head of Care, Care Manager, Senior Residential Worker or in a similar leadership position.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience working with children or young people with SEND
- Experience within a residential setting
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding and child protection
- Experience managing or leading a team
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- The ability to remain calm during challenging situations
- A good understanding of behaviour management
- The ability to build respectful and trusting relationships
- Confidence working with parents, carers and external professionals
- The ability to work independently and use your own initiative
- A genuine commitment to the physical and emotional wellbeing of young people
A relevant qualification such as NVQ Level 4 in Childcare or equivalent would be desirable, alongside DSL-level safeguarding experience or qualification.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to take on a genuinely important leadership position within a specialist residential setting.
You'll have the chance to influence not only how the residential provision operates, but how young people experience their time at school.
For the right person, this is a role where leadership, safeguarding and care come together — with the opportunity to make a lasting difference to young people who need consistency, understanding and someone willing to champion them.
What's on Offer?
- Permanent, full-time position
- Leadership role within a specialist residential setting
- Head of Care and Deputy Safeguarding Lead responsibilities
- Opportunity to lead and develop an experienced residential team
- Ongoing professional development and training
- A genuinely rewarding role supporting young people with additional needs
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day
Interested?
If you're an experienced care professional who wants to take the next step in your career and lead a residential team where relationships, safeguarding and the wellbeing of young people genuinely come first, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and speak to the Parker Smith Inclusion team.