Head of Care Services
£71,000 and generous benefits including Strathclyde pension fund
Bishopbriggs, with hybrid working (including on call rota that involves evenings and weekends)
Striving to make a difference for the lives of young people, St Mary’s Kenmure, with a committed and dedicated team of around 130 staff, is a secure care children’s centre that offers a controlled, safe and secure environment for the care and education of young people referred from the Courts and Children’s Hearing. Young people come to St Mary’s Kenmure from all over Scotland. St Mary’s Kenmure also provides care for children from England.
Guided by their core values of respect, compassion, learning, accountability, and collaboration, the organisation is committed to delivering high-quality care and continuous improvement.
With refreshed members of the leadership team, St Mary’s are at an exciting point in history and are on a mission to progress and improve outcomes and are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Care Services to lead and manage their residential child care services. St Marys are seeking an individual who shares their values and vision to use this time as a big opportunity to make real change and improve the lives of their young people.
The role
Joining the leadership team at St Mary’s Kenmure and reporting into the Head of Integrated Child Care Services, the Head of Care Services, will ensure that the needs of children are met, safeguarding their welfare and respecting their rights.
The successful postholder will ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and practice standards, contributing to service improvement planning and promoting evidence-led practices. They will be responsible for fostering a child-centred and rights-respecting culture within the children's houses and ensuring collaborative work with other services supporting the children.
Key responsibilities include providing clear vision, direction, and leadership to children's house managers and other staff as directed by the Head of Integrated Children's Services. The role also involves managing the admission process, overseeing children's legal statuses, ensuring safe recruitment and induction of staff, implementing comprehensive staffing assessments, and maintaining robust care plans. The role also entails developing and monitoring systems that reflect the organisation's values, promoting effective communication with external agencies, and representing St Mary's Kenmure on national platforms to influence policy and practice. The role also requires the successful candidate to bring their experience in service design to help St Mary’s Kenmure respond to the Promise and Reimagining Secure Care policy aspirations.
The person
The ideal candidate for Head of Care Services at St Mary’s Kenmure will be a values-driven leader with extensive leadership experience in social care, including significant experience in operational management. They will have a strong understanding of The Promise, Reimagining Secure Care, and Getting It Right for Every Child, alongside expertise in regulated services and service innovation. A degree in Social Work (or equivalent) and a relevant management qualification are essential. They will demonstrate exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and team management skills, with the ability to motivate staff, drive service improvement, and uphold children’s rights. Adaptable, resilient, and professional, they will excel in high-pressure environments while fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture.
If you are a strategic leader passionate about improving the lives of young people, eager to drive positive change, and envision a brighter future for St Mary’s Kenmure, we want to hear from you.
You can contact Lauryn Pringle or Debbie Shields at Aspen People for a confidential discussion about the role on 0141 212 7555.
More information can be found on our dedicated recruitment microsite at: https://www.aspenpeople.co.uk/smkenmure/
Closing date for applications: Monday 17th of March
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter (as one document) via the apply button.