Head of Service

**We have a rare opportunity to join the Cambian Group in a well-established Specialist Mental Health Service, a children’s residential home with educational provision for up to 12 children. As a senior leader within our specialist mental health services your will be a major part in the transformation of delivery of service and our incredible children’s experiences.**

**The role is based at the children's home which is in Friday Bridge in Wisbech**

We are looking for a Head of service who will also take on the role of Registered Manager to achieve the aims and objectives within the Statement of Purpose of the Children’s homes and the wider needs of the whole site at Meeko. You will manage a 12 bedded home that caters for children aged 12 - 18 years, all of whom require additional support due to mental illness or concerns about them being able to stay safe due to considerable risk of self-injurious behaviours.

You will lead and be part of a multi-disciplinary team, including our on-site clinical team and teachers and will work with the children to support their transitions on from Meeko following successful achievement of the goals set out in the care plans.

You will work alongside a well-established regional manager to continue to develop the service and others in our specialist mental health portfolio, you will be able to step up and support the home in the absence of the regional manager.

Ideally the right person will have had some experience of working with children suffering with poor mental health, have some understanding of the Mental Health Act or in fact practicing within this arena at present, equally you will have a proven track record of working in a Childrens home setting and experience of the Ofsted framework.

**Your role will involve**:

- Ensuring that each young person has a plan which reflects his / her care, education, social, emotional, cultural, therapeutic and health needs and that this plan is regularly reviewed.
- Establishing and monitoring high quality standards of care.
- Designated safeguarding lead in the home, so a good understanding of child protection and safeguarding protocols and be able to direct and support others in the home.
- Taking responsibility for progressing any complaints or child protection concerns
- Working in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people
- Ensuring adequate staffing levels that meet the needs of the service.
- Ensuring that budgets are managed effectively and the use of finances is properly monitored.
- Working alongside our multi-disciplinary team to develop the service and offering it has to the young people we care for.
- Ensuring the team remain up to date with changes to the legislation involving children’s homes but equally changes to the way children and young people are supported in the mental health arena.
- Working alongside other managers in current roles, to support them, to help develop their skill sets to be able to support the service in the absence of the regional manager. You will have 4 deputy managers and a head of care to support.

Will have proven experience of Ofsted or other clinical settings, and the ability to manage and want to develop their core skills and experience of mental health services.

Is wanting to take that next step into their management role as a senior manager in the business with a view to helping and supporting the wider development of our specialist mental health services throughout the Cambian business.

**Requirements**:

- Childcare legislation and Safeguarding knowledge.
- Understanding needs of complex needs Children and ideally the systems underpinning the mental health act and support functions available to enhance the care for the children in the setting.
- Ability to manage challenging behaviour.
- Ability to support a team to understand the function of self-injurious behaviours.
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting care colleagues, clinicians and school staff to meet the needs of the children and young people placed in the home.
- Ability to manage a team of over 70 staff, with the support of own management team in the home.
- Ability to be able prioritise work loads according to the needs of the service, utlising key staff to support this.
- Ability to be able to work with other professionals to support their understanding of the work we do in our specialist mental health services as well as the limitations of what we can offer outside of the NHS or other agencies.
- Full UK Driving License.
- The ability to undertake the necessary training.

**Essential criteria**:

- 2 years recent experience (in last 5 years) working with children.
- At least 1 year at supervisory capacity in any setting.
- Experience within children’s mental health and practices.
- Full enhanced children’s and adults DBS required & provided.

**What we can offer you as a Head of Service at Cambian Group**
- Sa