Team Leader – Pioneering New Project Supporting Young People’s Transition to Independence County Durham Area Salary: £32,597 – £36,363 (plus potential additional earnings up to £5,000 with enhancements) Are you ready to lead in a bold new initiative that empowers young people aged 16–17 as they take their first steps toward independent living? We’re launching a new and innovative residential project designed to support young people transitioning from care to independence. This is a unique opportunity to shape a service that is trauma-informed, aspirational, and person-centred—providing a safe, nurturing environment where young people can thrive. As a Team Leader, you’ll play a key role in: Leading and managing shifts, making decisions that directly impact young people’s lives. Supporting the Registered and Deputy Managers in the day-to-day running of the home. Providing supervision and guidance to residential staff. Championing high-quality care and promoting independence, resilience, and ambition in young people. What We’re Looking For Significant experience in a residential childcare setting. Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent equivalent qualification as stated in the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015. Please refer to QS Stat Guidance on page 71 to confirm relevant equivalent qualifications). Strong leadership, communication, and report-writing skills. A passion for supporting young people to achieve their potential. All applicants must be aged 22, Enhanced DBS Disclosure is applicable to this post. Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. Why Join Us? Be part of a forward-thinking team creating a new model of care. Work in homes that reflect our Durham Values: Dignity, Unity, Responsibility, Heart, Aspiration, and Mindset. Benefit from a comprehensive training programme, professional development, and mentoring. Enjoy a range of employee benefits, take a closer look via Rewards and Benefits We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Ready to make a difference? To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Sharon Powch, Service Manager via Sharon.Powch@durham.gov.uk to arrange. Interviews are anticipated to be held w/c 1 December 2025. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. HOW TO APPLY Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates. CONNECT WITH US Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website VPRS/161