Team Manager (Responsible Individual)

Full Time, 12 Months Fixed Term (Maternity Cover)

Join us in transforming children's lives at Bristol City Council's Residential Children's Services.

At Bristol City Council, we're committed to providing outstanding care and life-changing opportunities for children and young people. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Responsible Individual to join our Residential Children's Services leadership team and lead our specialist residential services for children with disabilities.

This 12-month maternity cover post offers a unique opportunity to shape and influence services at a time of significant growth and development. You will play a key leadership role across both our long-term and short break residential provisions, ensuring children receive safe, nurturing, and high-quality care that enables them to thrive.

About the role

This is a particularly exciting time to join our service. Our Residential Services for Children with Disabilities are undergoing a significant transformation programme, including:

• The development of a new purpose-built long-term children's home
• Expansion of our short break provision
• Continued growth through Bristol City Council's Stable Homes Programme
• Opportunities to influence and shape future residential services within the city

As Responsible Individual, you will provide strategic oversight of service quality, safeguarding, compliance, and continuous improvement. You will ensure our homes continue to deliver exceptional care while meeting all regulatory and quality standards.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced leader with a strong track record in residential children's services and a passion for achieving the best possible outcomes for children.

• Significant experience within residential children's services
• Experience managing or leading children's home provision
• A strong understanding of children's homes regulations, quality standards, inspections, and compliance requirements
• A commitment to therapeutic and trauma-informed practice
• The ability to inspire, support, and develop high-performing teams

We particularly welcome applications from experienced Registered Managers looking to progress their career, as well as established Responsible Individuals who are passionate about developing innovative and therapeutic services for children with disabilities.

Essential Requirements

• Experience working within residential children’s services
• Ability to satisfy the requirements of an Enhanced DBS check
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, or willingness to achieve this within the first two years of employment

Why join us?

You’ll become part of an experienced and supportive senior leadership team, working alongside two established Responsible Individuals who share a commitment to delivering the very best outcomes for children and families.

Bristol’s residential children’s homes are all currently rated Good by Ofsted, reflecting our focus on quality, strong leadership, and child-centred practice. We are proud of our warm, nurturing environments, our therapeutic approach to care, and the positive feedback we receive from children, families, and professional partners.

Our services benefit from:

• Strong and stable staffing teams
• Excellent staff retention
• A robust matching process that supports positive outcomes for children
• A commitment to therapeutic and trauma-informed practice
• No reliance on agency staffing

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

If you have questions or require further information please email Children Homes Service Manager Amanda Braund,

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Bristol City Council are not offering sponsorship for this role.

We’re a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We’ll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.

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