Job Overview
We are seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced Supported Accommodation Team Leader to support the day-to-day running of our 16+ supported accommodation provision.This role is ideal for someone with strong leadership skills and experience supporting young people, particularly those with emotional, behavioural, social, or complex needs. You will play a key role in ensuring young people receive high-quality support that promotes independence, safety, emotional wellbeing, and positive outcomes.The successful candidate will support the Registered Manager in leading the staff team, maintaining high standards of practice, and ensuring young people are supported in line with their individual support plans, risk assessments, and pathway plans.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate, and supervise support staff to ensure a consistent, young person-centred approach.
- Support staff through supervision, coaching, performance management, and development.
- Take a lead role in staff induction, training, shift planning, and daily handovers.
- Act as the responsible person in the absence of the Registered Manager.
- Support with updating risk assessments, support plans, key work session planners, and pathway documents.
- Ensure weekly reports and updates are completed and shared with relevant professionals where required.
- Support with overseeing young people’s finances, budgeting, and independence skills.
- Follow internal weekly/monthly checklists and ensure tasks are completed to a high standard.
Young Person-Centred Support
- Promote a safe, supportive, structured, and homely environment for young people aged 16+.
- Support young people to develop independence skills, including budgeting, cooking, cleaning, appointments, education, employment, and daily routines.
- Ensure support is delivered in line with individual support plans, risk assessments, placement objectives, and pathway plans.
- Encourage young people’s emotional, social, educational, and personal development.
- Promote positive behaviour and de-escalate challenging situations using a calm, supportive, and trauma-informed approach.
- Ensure young people’s views, wishes, and feelings are captured through key work sessions, house meetings, and regular engagement.
Safeguarding & Compliance
- Ensure the safeguarding and welfare of young people remain a priority at all times.
- Report and escalate safeguarding concerns promptly in line with internal procedures.
- Maintain accurate records, including daily logs, incident reports, support plan key work records, and risk assessments.
- Ensure documentation meets internal standards, Ofsted expectations, and relevant supported accommodation regulations.
- Contribute to audits, quality assurance processes, inspections, and service improvement plans.
- Support the team to follow policies and procedures consistently.
Communication & Partnership Working
- Build positive relationships with young people, families, social workers, education providers, health professionals, and other external agencies.
- Attend and contribute to reviews, planning meetings, professionals’ meetings, and case discussions where required.
- Communicate effectively with management and professionals regarding young people’s progress, risks, concerns, and outcomes.
- Ensure young people’s reports and updates are completed in preparation for review meetings.
Operational Duties
- Oversee daily routines within the accommodation, including appointments, activities, education, employment, and household responsibilities.
- Participate in the on-call rota and support out-of-hours issues where required.
- Support young people with medication prompts where applicable and in line with policy.
- Ensure the accommodation is clean, safe, well-maintained, and compliant with health and safety standards.
- Support with newsletters, young person engagement activities, and service development initiatives.
Skills and Experience Essential
- Experience working with young people in supported accommodation, residential care, semi-independent living, leaving care, or a similar setting.
- Previous supervisory or leadership experience.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, risk management, and professional boundaries.
- Ability to support young people with independence skills and pathway planning.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
- Confident using IT systems for record keeping and reporting.
- Ability to lead by example and support positive team dynamics.
- Flexibility to work shifts, weekends, sleep-ins, and on-call where required.
Desirable
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, Health and Social Care, or equivalent.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, or willingness to work towards this.
- Experience supporting young people with emotional, behavioural, or complex needs.
- Knowledge of supported accommodation regulations and Ofsted expectations.
- PACE, PBS, First Aid, or other relevant training.
Person SpecificationThe successful candidate will be someone who is:
- Compassionate, patient, and professional.
- Confident leading a team and supporting staff development.
- Able to build trusting relationships with young people while maintaining clear boundaries.
- Calm under pressure and able to manage challenging situations appropriately.
- Committed to promoting independence, safety, and positive outcomes.
- Organised, reliable, and able to maintain accurate records.
- Passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.
Work Location: In person
