Team Leader

Team Leader for Dove Tree House:

• To take accountability and work proactively with the team to help children and young people achieve their full potential and promote their welfare.



• To assist the Registered Manager/Deputy to lead and manage the children's home consistent with the approach and ethos of the organisation, delivering outcomes and high-quality care as set out in the Home's Statement of Purpose.



• To assist the Registered Manager in providing a high-quality service for children and young people requiring care.



• To lead by example and maintain good professional practices.



• To take responsibility for the safety and well being of our children and young people, whilst on duty.



• To ensure all children have a relevant plan including Care plan, a risk assessment, a behaviour management plan and any other work is completed with them as instructed by their relevant plans.



• To lead shift plans and weekly plans, guiding and supporting staff on duty to implement the plan and when incidents occur.



• To promote a positive safeguarding culture within the home.


General Duties

Leadership and People Management:

• To lead by example and develop effective teams within Dove Tree House.



• To understand and help others understand the impact of trauma on children and young people.



• Develop a positive working environment which nurtures and rewards good practice.



• To ensure good quality working relationships are built and maintained between staff and the individuals they are caring for and supporting.



• In the absence of the Registered Manager or the Deputy Manager, take the lead on organising and managing meetings, including team meetings, placement support meetings, LAC Reviews, etc.



• To manage change effectively.



• Take part in and be involved in the induction of new employees.



• Work closely with the Registered Manager and senior members of the Company.



• Take responsibility for an overview of medication, accidents, incidents and allegations in the absence of the Registered manager or Deputy Manager and work closely with the Registered Manager/ RI / Senior Managers during these times.



• Take the lead and support staff to use PACE.



• Managing budgets allocated to the Home and the children.



• Take an active role in developing the skill set of the Residential Support Workers.


Quality Management:

• Ensure Dove Tree House is run in line with statutory and Young UK Today policies and procedures.



• Take key worker responsibilities and allocate tasks to members of the team with a clear plan of how this links to the overall placement plan.



• Complete any chronologies/monthly reports requested to give an overview of the children in the Home.



• Have overall responsibility for specific duties that are deemed necessary.



• Ensure that all specific/activity risk assessments are up to date and reviewed.



• Ensure that key working sessions take place, and these are in line with Care plans/ Placement Plans.



• Ensure that weekly / Monthly reports are completed accurately and promptly and sent to the Registered Manager for Quality Assurance before being sent to Local Authority Social Workers.



• Ensure that planning takes place before CIC Reviews, reports are completed, all LAC reviews are attended, and action plans are recorded and followed through.



• Ensure that children's birthdays and special events are remembered and marked.



• Ensure good professional relationships with social workers and team managers.



• Have overall management of key working for the children in regard to their health, education, induction of new children arriving into the home, access to community resources, having daily and weekly plans with targets,



• Undertake a monthly Quality audit of own work and the effectiveness of this work.



• Take responsibility for shifts duties including handovers and petty case.



• Ensure recording is completed at a high standard


Health and Safety

• Ensure Dove Tree House meets health and safety regulations and guidance and completes weekly house and Fire checks.



• Report and keep monitoring maintenance issues within the home.



• Ensure the premises are kept clean and hygienic throughout.



• At all times work within H&S policy and procedures.



• Ensure any new agency workers to the home complete our inhouse fire induction at the start of their shift., Keep the home, vehicle and garden a safe environment for everyone living and working there.



• To undertake activities with the children.



• Meeting the child's medical needs by liaising with the relevant medical professionals and administering medication where required.



• Ensure the child's placement plan is implemented and all risk assessments followed.



• Act on safeguarding issues and follow procedures accordingly.



• Facilitate and represent the home in statutory meetings e.g. LAC Reviews, PEP reviews.



• Keep up to date with training offered.



• Actively participate in your supervisions and your own professional development.


Equality and Diversity

· Promote equality and value diversity by interpreting equality, diversity and rights in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures and relevant standards.

· Identify patterns of discrimination and take actions to overcome this and enable others to promote quality and diversity and a non-discriminatory culture that supports people in exercising their rights.

Qualifications and Education

• GCSE English or equivalent (Essential)



• Excellent written English



• IT skills



• NVQ Level 3/4 (or working towards)



• Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development., Experience working within a residential childcare setting.


• Experience of working with children/young people who have experienced trauma and have a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties.


• Previous experience as a Support Worker within residential care.


• Driver (do we need to add in anything about maximum points for insurance purposes?)


• Honest and trustworthy person and work safely with children.


Positive attitude

Knowledge and Understanding

• An understanding of attachment theory, child development and the impact of trauma.


• An understanding of psychological theories and basic human needs e.g. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Motivational theories etc.


• Knowledge and ability to implement the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Working Together 2023


• The impact of residential settings on children and young people e.g. placement breakdown, missing, self-harming behaviours etc.


• Understand how to safeguard and protect children in a residential setting e.g. allegations, sexual abuse, and exploitation.


Skill and Abilities

• Commitment to completing contracted hours and shifts pre-agreed including sleeping in at the home.



• Ability to complete reports on time and to a satisfactory standard.



• Form positive working relationships with children by communicating with them, getting them involved, listening to them and showing they are wanted and cared for.



• Maintain professional boundaries.
  
  Established in May 2021, Young UK Today is the realisation of a vision by a dedicated team of proven and passionate care and support providers with nearly two decades of expertise in their chosen field of work. With a remarkable history of empowering the most vulnerable children and young people, in the area of Supported Accommodation, our founders and management team have been career long champions of positive change in the lives of those facing emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and complex needs.


We've always believed that early support can change the course of a young person's life. Having seen countless journeys through the care system, we recognised a need for a more nurturing, holistic approach. Our first established home, Dove Tree House was born from this vision, and we are committed to offering unwavering support to children and young people aged 8-17, providing them with a stable and loving environment within which to flourish and grow.

Children and young people placed in residential care are often admitted during their teenage years, a trend that continues to prevail in the UK. A significant proportion of these children and young people have undergone multiple placements, including various foster care experiences. It is their complex needs, often rooted in childhood trauma, in mental health, emotional, and behavioural challenges that necessitate specialised care and support.

Government statistics underline a persistent issue; a notable percentage of these young people are placed in care due to experiences of abuse or neglect. The instability in their living arrangements is highlighted by the fact that a similar percentage have lived in five or more different placements, exacerbating their vulnerability and complex needs. A rising trend is the increased focus on their educational requirements. A significant portion of these children, a figure that is currently under review, have special educational needs, emphasising a critical area for enhanced support and resources.

At the heart of our vision for Dove Tree House is the unwavering commitment to empowering both staff and children through trauma-informed approaches. We believe that understanding and addressing the impacts of trauma is foundational to fostering an environment of healing, growth, and empowerment. It's not just about care but about enabling each child and team member to navigate through their journey of recovery and development with resilience and confidence. The central tenant of our approach is rapport building, an essential element that enhances the quality of life and echoes the sanctity of a family home. In such a nurturing environment, every interaction is imbued with respect, dignity, and understanding, laying the groundwork for the holistic achievement of our outlined goals.

At Dove Tree House, the safeguarding of children and young people is paramount. It is embedded in every aspect of the care we deliver to the children and young people that live with us.