Acting Deputy Head of Care

Temporary contract: 9 month maternity cover.

Lufton College is a 52-week residential specialist college providing quality care and education for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 with a diagnosis of autism, or whose difficulties place them on the autistic continuum. Our students often have complex needs, associated learning difficulties and behaviours of concern.

Our curriculum has been devised to prepare our students for adulthood and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to achieve their personal best. This is delivered in a variety of settings, including within students' homes, vocational placements both internally and externally. As well as learning within the classrooms, our young people take part in various outdoor activities such as animal therapy and various activities based around nature throughout the college sites.

Cambian Lufton College is situated across several sites which include Lufton Manor, Manor Farm and community houses. Together, these services access facilities based across a 30-acre rural campus located on the outskirts of Yeovil, Somerset. The College provides bespoke residential and day placements to our young people to prepare them for adult life within our rural and peaceful setting.

Summary of the Job

Your role will be to work in partnership with all professionals in order to achieve the optimum outcomes for all of our young people and adults (students). In the absence of the Head of Care, you will deputise for them and ensure that the homes continue to be managed effectively on a day-to-day basis and that there is no disruption as a result of their absence.

In this Senior Management position, you will be flexible towards your hours; you will not leave the homes in an unsafe situation regardless of your working hours/shift. You will be a role model for all staff at all times; this means that you will present yourself professionally in all situations and without exemption promote the vision, ethos and expectations set by the Head of Care and Principal.

You will be responsible for the overall management of your allocated Home Managers within Cambian Lufton College, but ensure that you offer support and guidance to staff from across all areas of the College, promoting a ‘one team’ approach.

You will ensure the highest quality of service is provided for our students through their person-centred Positive Behaviour Support, Care and Treatment plans and that Home staff are encouraged and supported to achieve and exceed their full potential; addressing any staffing approaches that differ from those set by the Senior Leadership Team.

To have a proactive visible presence across the college, challenging poor practice and celebrating achievements of students and staff.

You will be responsible for working closely with Home Managers and others within the Senior Management Team to ensure that there is effective motivation of the residential staff team, maintaining and improving the quality of the service delivery to meet and exceed the standards of CQC and exceed the expectations of our Stakeholders such as Commissioners and Parents/Families and to build upon the College’s existing reputation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop and maintain pro-active working relationships with our regulators, CQC and Ofsted and ensure compliance with Regulatory Standards and Guidelines.
2. Establish support and deliver against the agreed structure for the delegation of responsibility within the care team, which is both effective and accountable.
3. To maintain a system of structured supervision of staff which is both evaluative and developmental and one which promotes good practice; providing monthly data on the compliance rates for each Home; in line with Cambian policy and procedures.
4. Be accountable for the fulfilment of day care allocations and rota’s ensuring that staff skills and knowledge are evenly distributed across all time periods; and ensuring safe funded support hours are monitored and staffed at all times throughout the 24-hour period.
5. Maintain strict confidentiality in regards to all information shared with you in relation to this senior management role and without exception support key messages agreed by the senior leadership team.
6. To be involved in the recruitment of staff across all roles, including vetting, interviewing and induction.
7. Line manage the House Managers to ensure the efficient running of their homes, and to create an atmosphere conducive to the best interests of young people.
8. Promote a supportive, caring environment for all students through high standards of professional practice which are conducive to their physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual needs.

Person Specification

1. NVQ Level 3 in a Health and Social Care setting – Essential
2. A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 and IT Systems
3. Basic First Aid knowledge – Essential
4. 2 years experience of managing a service, either residential or supported living being the registered manager or having delegated responsibilities.
5. Current car driving license.

We pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities Employer and we are committed to safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and reference checks.

If you want to learn from and work with a highly specialist, incredibly proud and integrated team that unlocks the potential of young people, then please talk to us.