Join Lagans Foundation as our Head of Care (Registered Nurse) and lead the delivery of high-quality, family-centered care across the North West. You will hold nursing accountability for clinical quality, safeguarding, and workforce development, guiding Area Care Team Leaders, Seniors, and the wider care team. This role blends operational leadership, business planning, and strategic growth, ensuring both commissioned and donated care meet the highest standards. Youll engage with families, commissioners, and partners, foster innovation, and shape the future of our services. Flexible working is considered, and this hybrid role includes regional travel. With generous benefits, CPD opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in childrens lives, this is an exciting leadership opportunity for a compassionate and driven nurse.
Main duties of the job
Lead the day-to-day delivery of safe, effective, and emotionally intelligent care across all hubs. Maintain professional nursing accountability, oversee clinical governance, and drive quality improvement initiatives. Manage, mentor, and develop Area Care Team Leaders, Seniors, and care staff. Support staff training, CPD, and student placements. Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversee risk management. Collaborate with the CEO and board on service evaluation, financial planning, and strategic growth. Represent Lagans Foundation externally, engaging with commissioners, ICBs, NHS, and voluntary sector partners. Promote family-centered care and ensure children and families voices influence service design.
About us
Lagans Foundation is a leading non-profit supporting children and young people with complex healthcare needs, providing respite care and family support across the North West. Our award-winning team is compassionate, diverse, and collaborative, with a culture focused on excellence, innovation, and inclusion. Staff benefit from hybrid working, CPD, well-being support, and flexible working options. We celebrate diversity, value every team member, and offer the chance to make a real difference in childrens lives while growing your career in a supportive environment.
Job responsibilities
Head of Care (Registered Nurse)
Reports to-Chief Executive Officer
Location: North West (Hybrid with regional travel)
Purpose of the Role
Toprovide professional, compassionate, and strategic leadership for Lagan'sFoundations care delivery across all hubs. The Head of Care will hold nursingaccountability for clinical quality, family safety, and workforce development,ensuring that both commissioned and donated care are delivered to the higheststandards
Theywill guide Area Care Team Leaders, Seniors, and the wider care team to deliversafe, effective, and emotionally intelligent care for children and families,whilst developing and scaling services across the North West and beyond.
Therole will also play a key part in business planning, financial oversight, andstrategic growth, ensuring sustainability and innovation within Lagan'sFoundations care operations.
Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance
Maintain professional nursing accountability for all aspects of caredelivery.Ensure all services meet CQC regulations, commissioning standards, and internalquality frameworks.
Lead on audits, incident reviews, and quality improvement plans.Ensure care plans are evidence-based, holistic, and child- and family-centred.
Work closely with the CEO and Board on quality assurance reporting andservice evaluation.
Hold clinical oversight for a skilled care team delivering complexinterventions including-
oTracheostomy care and airway management (including nasopharyngealsuction and oxygen therapy)
oAdministration of Level 3 medicines and controlled drugs
oGeneral medicine administration and monitoring
oEpilepsy care and seizure management
oSupport for children and young people with acquired brain injuries
oCare for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and sensoryloss
oManagement of mild behaviours that challenge using trauma-informedapproaches
oEnsure staff competencies are maintained and aligned with clinical bestpractice and family needs.
Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the organisation, ensuringrobust safeguarding processes and immediate response to concerns.
Provide clinical expertise in complex cases and family support planning.Ensure risk assessments are thorough, dynamic, and reflective of familiesevolving needs.
Promote a culture of psychological safety and open communication acrossthe team.
Workforce Development & Support
Line manage and mentor Area Care Team Leaders and Senior Carers,nurturing leadership confidence and capability.
Lead on recruitment, and competency development for care staff.
Directly support and develop supervision, within the senior leadershipteam
Build strong nursing teams across all hubs and establish student nurseplacements to support learning and professional growth.
Work with the Training & Development function to ensure stafftraining aligns with the needs of children and families.
Support the introduction of apprenticeships and continued professionaldevelopment opportunities.
Innovation, Business Growth & Financial Oversight
Contribute to the expansion of care hubs, ensuring consistent qualityand culture across regions.
Work with the CEO to support financial planning, budget management, andlong-term sustainability.
Develop and implement growth plans for new care and support pathways,aligning with strategic objectives.
Identify and respond to opportunities for new service areas andcommunity partnerships.
Collaborate with the Stewardship and Communications Leads to strengthenthe organisations voice, presence, and influence.
Actively engage with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), commissioners, andkey partners to promote collaboration and innovation.
Support data-driven decision-making, ensuring cost-effectiveness withoutcompromising quality.
Contribute to solving operational and systemic challenges, fostering aculture of continuous improvement.
Represent Lagan's Foundation at professional, clinical, and partnershipmeetings.
Build collaborative relationships with NHS, social care, and voluntarysector partners.
Advocate for social care as a strong and equal partner in the widerhealth system.
Champion the excellence, compassion, and innovation that make Lagan'sFoundation unique.
Ensure that families voices are heard and reflected in service design,influencing local and national discussions around children's complex care.
Person Specification
Registered Nurse (Children's, Learning Disability, or RGN withpaediatric experience) active NMC PIN required.
Strong leadership and people management experience.
Experience in community-based or family-centered care.
Knowledge of safeguarding, clinical governance, and quality improvement.
Experience in financial or resource management within a service setting.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organisational skills.
Passion for supporting families of children with complex health needs.
Experience in charity, hospice, or home-based care settings.
Familiarity with CQC processes and compliance.
Experience working with commissioners, ICBs, and multidisciplinarypartners.
Understanding of family support and donated care services.
Experience contributing to business planning or growth strategies.
Personal Attributes
Compassionate and family-focused.
Calm, confident, and decisive under pressure.
Motivational leader and excellent communicator.
Innovative thinker with strategic and financial awareness.
Resilient and flexible in a fast-developing organisation.
Passionate advocate for excellence in social care and the mission ofLagan's Foundation.
Employee Benefits
33 days holiday including statutory bank holidays
Flex Benefits including salary sacrifice scheme
Access to 24/7 counselling, wellbeing support, and staff discounts viaour employee benefits platform
On-site parking
Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office per week)
Investment in CPD
The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children andfamilies
To Apply
Pleasesubmit your CV and a cover letter outlining how your experience aligns with therole and our values. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview andmay be asked to complete a practical task.
Help us make a real difference-one message, one family, one heart at atime.
Furtherqueries or for more information please contact Applications@lagans.org.ukor call 01204 800300 (option 4 for recruitment).
Be Yourself
LagansFoundation embraces Diversity and Inclusion. We celebrate what makes usdifferent, as well as what we have in common. This enables us to work better asone team shaping a dynamic, innovative and inclusive culture.
Lagan'sFoundation is a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you requireany reasonable adjustments as part of our recruitment process, please get intouch and let us know. Were also happy to discuss flexible working optionsshould the role accommodate it.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of working within a nursing team
* Experience of managing care staff and supervising teams
* Experience of dealing with vulnerable children and young people
* Experience delivering complex clinical skills training
* Experience of working to Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards
* Minimum 3 years management experience in a healthcare setting
* Strong understanding of NMC standards and regulatory requirements
* Experience in community-based or family-centred care
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Excellent organisational and time management skills
* Effective decision-making and problem-solving abilities
* Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
* Proficiency in IT packages relevant to the role
* Experience working within a charity, hospice, or home-based care setting
* Experience working with commissioners, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), or other multi-agency partners
* Experience contributing to business planning, service development, or organisational growth
* Experience leading or supporting safeguarding reviews and audits
* Experience managing or improving services through quality improvement initiatives
* Experience supporting staff wellbeing and promoting positive workplace culture
* Experience of delivering trauma-informed or behaviour support approaches
* Experience in implementing training, competency, or professional development frameworks
* Experience engaging with external regulators, inspectors, or clinical governance reviews
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse (Childrens, Learning Disability, or RGN with paediatric experience) active NMC PIN required
* Minimum 3 years management or leadership experience in a healthcare or social care setting
* Experience managing care staff and supervising teams
* Experience delivering complex clinical skills training to care teams
* Experience working within community-based or family-centred care
* Experience working to and maintaining CQC compliance standards
* Knowledge of safeguarding, clinical governance, and quality improvement processes
* Experience of financial or resource management within a service setting
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Excellent organisational and time management skills
* Effective decision-making and problem-solving abilities
* Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
* Proficiency in IT systems and packages relevant to the role
* Strong understanding of NMC standards and regulatory requirements
* Full UK driving licence and business use insurance
* Experience working within charity, hospice, or home-based care settings
* Experience working with commissioners, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and multidisciplinary partners
* Experience contributing to business planning, service development, or growth strategies
* Familiarity with CQC inspection processes and compliance management
* Experience in supporting or leading safeguarding reviews and audits
* Understanding of family support services and donated care models
* Experience delivering or overseeing trauma-informed care approaches
* Knowledge of budget management and data-driven decision-making
* Experience in developing or delivering staff training and competency frameworks
* Post-registration qualification or further study in leadership, management, or paediatric care
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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