About Us
Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of the benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.
We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children’s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools. Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
About The Role
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team at Cressingham Residential Children’s Home. Cressingham is an expanding and thriving short break service offering overnight support, independence clubs, and after school visits to children and young people aged 8-18 years with complex needs and learning disabilities. We provide a home from home setting where children can make friends and feel safe. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a reputable and growing Children’s Services provider and to work in a home rated Outstanding by Ofsted!
This position would suit someone who is currently working as a Team Leader or Deputy Manager in a Children’s Service with at least 18 months experience of leading a team and looking for career progression.
Key Areas Of Responsibility
* Assist Registered Home Manager in delivering a specialist service (e.g. residential or short break) over a 24-hr period, to children and young people with profound and multiple learning/physical disabilities and sensory impairments, in accordance with legislative requirements.
* Under the direction of the Registered Home Manager, provide strong clear and informed leadership, supervision and general management to motivate a team of Residential Child Care Practitioners, enabling them to support and empower young people through high standards of professional practice.
* Support the team to provide positive outcomes for children/young people and their families.
* Under the direction and in the absence of the Registered Home Manager, take responsibility for the efficient and effective operation of the home, ensuring that all BFfC systems, policies and procedures are adhered to.
Minimum Requirements
* Level 4 Diploma in childcare or equivalent professional qualification
* An undertaking to complete a relevant management qualification
* Experience in residential or short break care services
* Experience of working in the area of disability
* Experience working with Social Services and Families
* Experience of effective risk assessment and risk management
* Experience of supervising and managing a direct line team
* Experience of the legal and social care policy framework
* Experience of quality performance and auditing systems
Our Offer
* Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
* Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years’ service)
* Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
* Cycle to work scheme
* Season train ticket loans
* Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
* A range of local shopping discounts
Inclusion and Diversity
We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.
Asking for Adjustments
Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.
If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.
Closing date: Sunday 14th September
Interview date: To be confirmed
We look forward to hearing from you!
In January 2025 the decision was made to bring Children’s Services (currently operating as Brighter Futures for Children Ltd (BFfC)) back in-house to Reading Borough Council (RBC). All staff employed by BFfC on 30 September 2025 will transfer, via the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), to the Council on 1 October 2025. For new starters who BFfC confirms before 27 September 2025 their pre-employment checks are completed and a start date agreed will be issued with a BFfC contract and will transfer to RBC. For new starters whose pre-employment checks have not been completed and/or a start date has not been agreed before 27 September, you will be issued with an RBC contract and your start date will not be before 6 October 2025.
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