Director of Children’s Care and Wellbeing
Location: St Elizabeth’s Centre, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent | Full Time
Salary: £104,000 per annum + Bupa Healthcare + Relocation Package*
Closing Date: Friday 18th July 2025
Shape the future of care. Inspire lives. Lead with purpose.
At St Elizabeth’s, we believe that every child and young person deserves to thrive in a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. For over 120 years, we’ve been at the forefront of providing residential care, education, and therapeutic services to individuals with complex needs, epilepsy, and associated learning disabilities. We now seek an ambitious and visionary Director of Children’s Care and Wellbeing to join our Executive Leadership Team and lead the continued development of our outstanding children’s residential services.
This is a rare opportunity to make a real difference in a senior leadership role where care, compassion, and commitment go hand in hand with strategic thinking and operational excellence.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director of Children’s Care and Wellbeing will take executive leadership of our children’s residential services. With 7 Ofsted-registered homes on-site, each offering specialist 24-hour care to children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties, complex epilepsy and autism, your focus will be to ensure consistently high-quality care and positive outcomes for every child.
Key responsibilities:
* Strategic Leadership: Define and deliver the vision for children’s care services, contributing to organisation-wide planning and long-term development.
* Operational Excellence: Lead and support Registered Managers and their teams, embedding robust systems, quality assurance processes, and a culture of continuous improvement.
* Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with Ofsted standards, safeguarding responsibilities and children’s care regulations (Children’s Homes Regulations 2015).
* Quality & Safeguarding: Maintain a relentless focus on safeguarding, wellbeing, and promoting positive behaviour and independence in our young people.
* Collaborative Working: Work cross-functionally with Education, Therapy, Clinical, HR and Estates teams to deliver integrated care aligned with each child’s EHCP and personal goals.
* Team Development: Inspire, coach and grow leadership capacity within your team, ensuring they feel supported, empowered and equipped to lead.
About You
You are an experienced and emotionally intelligent leader with a deep understanding of children’s social care and a commitment to delivering the highest possible standards in every aspect of residential provision.
We’re looking for someone with:
* Proven experience at senior level in children’s residential care, ideally in a large or complex setting.
* A detailed understanding of Ofsted inspection frameworks and safeguarding legislation.
* The ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams and manage change in a positive and inclusive way.
* Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to build trust with children, families, regulators, and staff.
* A values-driven approach, aligned with St Elizabeth’s mission and ethos.
* Relevant professional qualifications, such as Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care (Children and Young People) or equivalent.
Why Join St Elizabeth’s?
At St Elizabeth’s, you’ll find more than a role — you’ll find purpose.
* Join an organisation with a 120-year legacy of supporting individuals with complex needs.
* Be part of a supportive, values-led Executive Team committed to compassion, aspiration, joy and collaboration.
* Influence real change, with the autonomy to shape future service delivery.
* Benefit from excellent professional development opportunities and generous terms.
We offer:
* Competitive salary of £104,000
* Bupa Private Healthcare package
* Relocation package (subject to eligibility)
* Enhanced annual leave entitlement
* Free on-site parking across our 60-acre countryside campus
* Life assurance & Employee Assistance Programme
* Access to wellbeing platform (Spectrum Life)
* Blue Light Card for high street and leisure discounts
How to Apply
To apply, please submit:
* Your CV
* A supporting statement (max 2 pages) outlining your motivation for applying and how your experience aligns with the role requirements.
Please send your application to:
Robert Holdaway- Recruitment and Engagement, St Elizabeth’s
robert.holdaway@stelizabeths.org.uk
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a structured two-stage interview process, including:
* Initial panel interview and assessment (onsite)
* Final interview with the Chair of the Board of Trustees
Inclusion, Safeguarding & Equal Opportunities
St Elizabeth’s is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and hold Investors in People status.
We are fully committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. All roles are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks.
Lead with heart. Inspire with vision. Make a difference that lasts.
Join St Elizabeth’s and help children and young people live life to the full.