Children’s Residential Team Leader

Do you see yourself leading a team that makes a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people?

Can you use your experience in residential childcare to inspire and support others to deliver outstanding care?

Does the idea of joining a dedicated, trauma-informed service that puts children at the heart of everything it does excite you?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Children's Residential Services are looking for a passionate and dedicated Team Leader to join our amazing team and help make a difference today!

About the Role:

As a Team Leader within Southwark's Children's Homes, you will support and supervise a team of Residential Practitioners to provide high-quality, child-centred care for children and young people. You will play a key role in creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where children can thrive, develop resilience, build positive relationships, and achieve greater independence.

Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will lead by example, motivate your team, and ensure that care is delivered in line with regulatory requirements, best practice guidance, and Southwark Council's values. You will also support children with complex needs, including those affected by trauma, attachment difficulties, and learning disabilities, ensuring their individual needs are met through compassionate and trauma-informed care.

About You:

You are a committed and resilient childcare professional with a passion for supporting children and young people to reach their full potential. You have strong leadership skills and can inspire others to deliver excellent outcomes for children.

You will have:

• Experience working with children and young people in a residential care setting.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or leading staff teams.
• A sound understanding of trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and child-centred care.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and standards relating to residential childcare.
• Strong communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to remain calm and effective in challenging situations.
• A commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and the rights of children and young people.
• A relevant qualification in Residential Childcare, Social Care, or a related field (or willingness to work towards one, where applicable).

About the Team:

Our Children's Residential Services are committed to providing bespoke, trauma-informed care that promotes the safety, wellbeing, and aspirations of every child and young person in our homes. We are a supportive, collaborative team that values professionalism, compassion, and continuous improvement.

Joining us means becoming part of a service that prioritises learning and development, encourages career progression, and empowers staff to make a meaningful difference every day. Together, we strive to create environments where children feel safe, valued, and supported to achieve positive futures

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ann Simpson at Ann.Simpson@southwark.gov.uk.

Additional Information:

• QCF Level 3 in Residential Childcare, QCF Level 4 Children Young
  People and Family Practitioner Diploma or equivalent.
  
  
• Hours of work: 36 hours per week in accordance with the needs of the service which operates on a rota basis. Shifts can include weekend and overnight work.
  
  
• Type of contract: Permanent

This post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at Enhanced - Children’s (Barred) level.

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment Timeline:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 20th September 2026.

Shortlisting date: week commencing Monday 21st September 2026.

Interview date: week commencing Monday 28th September 2026.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

About Southwark:

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises, and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Additional Information

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on recruitment@southwark.gov.uk before sharing any personal information.

Attachments

• Job Description and Person Specification - Children’s Residential Team Leader