Rossie is a multidisciplinary organisation which aims to help vulnerable children and young people prepare for independent living. We provide accommodation, bespoke care and individualised education, ensuring all areas of our young people’s health are being met. We have been caring for boys, aged 10-18, since 1857 and boys and girls, aged 10-18 since 1984. We are committed to helping our young people in care build strategies to cope with their past, while they prepare for their future. We deliver all our services in a safe and nurturing environment where our young people can grow, develop and thrive, at their own pace.
The closing date for completed applications for this post is 9am on Monday 17 November 2025, and it is anticipated interviews will take place on Thursday 27 November 2025.
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: £75,160 - £81,938 (SCP 60-64)
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Service Head of Residential Care, is a key member of the Senior Leadership and Management Team (SLMT) and has a critical role in achieving Rossie’s vision and mission. This post has both an inward and outward organisational focus, ensuring delivery of safe trauma informed residential care in line with all internal and national requirements. Our organisation is multi-disciplinary and the post-holder must work collaboratively, in line with our values, with all departments and services. As a Senior Manager, the post-holder will contribute to the development/delivery of the Business Plan, operate within budget and manage all resources effectively and efficiently. This post will be responsible for developing and improving Residential Care and Throughcare services, fostering a sound organisational culture and in line with The Promise and other national developments.
As a member of SLMT, support the CEO in strategic planning, service development, delivery and improvement:
* Take lead responsibility for the delivery of excellent standards of care within residential houses
* Lead on development and review of innovative practice, policies and procedures for the Residential Care and Throughcare services
* Develop service responses and diversification within key national policy drivers including The Promise
* Ensure delivery of appropriate and sustained service improvement in line with the organisational Business Plan, ensuring high Care Inspectorate ratings
* Support and advise the CEO and DCEO on strategy, policy and direction of service, ensuring effective service delivery
* Work collaboratively with all members of the SLMT
* Proactively attend to own training, learning and development needs as required/ identified by CEO/ DCEO
Report all relevant operational issues directly to the DCEO through appropriate reports, briefings, management and team meetings, as well as formal supervision and appraisal systems:
* Provide regular management information and reports to the Board of Governors, CEO and DCEO to support systematic and informed decision making at senior levels
* Prepare business cases to develop new services and agree quality assurance systems
* Work collaboratively with other services to provide integrated and holistic services to young people
* Undertake management investigations into complaints, staff conduct/related issues and prepare written reports of the findings within tight timescales
Provide effective leadership and management of Residential Care, Throughcare and Brothers and Sisters services:
* Provide strong visible leadership to motivate, manage, engage and develop staff, enabling a culture of high performance and continuous improvement
* Provide oversight and guidance to support managers’ adherence to relevant policy frameworks, procedural guidance, legislative and regulatory requirements delivering high quality services within Residential Care, Throughcare Services and Brothers and Sisters services
* Ensure all managers and staff within areas of responsibility are familiar/comply with the Rossie Values
* Ensure oversight and adherence to Child Protection/Safeguarding, supporting staff compliance with policy requirements/timelines related to Initial Referral Discussions or Child Protection investigations
* Ensure all managers/staff are inducted into the Residential Care, Throughcare and Brothers and Sisters services, receive ongoing training, develop their skills to work with complex young peoples’ needs and behaviours
* Delegate the effective management and supervision of Rossie’s Throughcare Practitioner
Deliver services compliant with National Care Standards, regulatory Inspection processes and all national contractual requirements:
* Ensure all care staff are familiar, and comply with the Health and Social Care Standards, physical intervention theory/practice and comply with the SSSC Code of Conduct
* Ensure Deputy Service Managers within areas of responsibility; adhere to policy, procedures, legislative and regulatory requirements to deliver high quality services
* Actively contribute to the Scotland Excel (SXL) procurement process to secure the Residential Care contract, ensuring effective delivery and high occupancy levels
Ensure appropriate oversight and management of all service budgets/funding within area of responsibility:
* Ensure appropriate oversight of our Young Peoples’ Participation Meeting, maintaining excellent organisational relationships with advocacy agencies
* Develop sustainable partnership arrangements with Health, Police Scotland, local authorities, universities/colleges, to deliver improved outcomes for young people
Develop, implement and monitor policies/procedures required to deliver the vision, strategic aims and objectives of the organisation as determined by the CEO and Board of Governors:
* Lead responsibility for the referral/admission of young people to Residential Care, maintaining occupancy levels as per contractual requirements
* Lead responsibility for the implementation of effective risk assessment and risk management plans, behaviour management plans, policies, procedures and strategies within the Residential Care service
* Lead responsibility for monitoring, auditing and quality assurance of the care and case management arrangements for young people
* Lead on staffing matters inclusive of learning and development, attendance management, performance improvement and other HR matters
* Develop positive relationships with the Care Inspectorate, SSSC and Health and other Social Care agencies as necessary
Provide professional support/supervision and direct line management to the Deputy Service Managers, Project Coordinator and delegated line management to the Throughcare and Brothers and Sisters Service:
* Provide formal 1:1 supervision for Deputy Service Managers and Project Coordinator in line with policy
* Ensure Deputy Service Managers/Project Coordinator and staff have clear and annually reviewed objectives, appraisals and continuing professional development to enable delivery of the Business Plan
* Chair and attend regular team/service meetings with the Deputy Service Managers to discuss operational issues and service developments
Deputise for the DCEO, act as an ambassador for Rossie through attendance and participation at national conferences, external events and strategic planning meetings with key stakeholders:
* Maintain and develop professional networks, contribute to the promotion and publication of Rossie’s services and achievements to key external stakeholders
* With the prior approval of the DCEO, actively engage and participate in national and local practice initiatives ensuring Rossie contributes to national strategies and service developments
* Coordinate and participate in the senior on-call rota, providing emergency cover for the Duty Manager
* Report directly to the DCEO and advise on all matters relating to Residential Care, Throughcare, Safety and Security, including; environment, relational behaviour management issues, staffing issues, complaints and representations, investigations and care planning/ outcomes
Please note this job description is to provide a clear and concise statement of the main tasks and activities of the post, and it is not intended as an exhaustive list of every aspect of the post holder's duties. All the above duties will be carried out in line with Rossie policies and procedures.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Knowledge Base (Essential):
* Legislation applicable to Residential care
* National operating frameworks of residential care and The Promise.
* Child and adolescent development, attachment theory, trauma informed care
* Child Protection Processes
* Care Inspection Processes
* Health and National Care standards, GIRFEC
* Needs of complex vulnerable young people, ACEs, Neurodivergence
* Budget management
Knowledge Base (Desirable):
* Related legislation (e.g. criminal justice/mental health, secure care)
* Positive behavioural strategies
* Reflective supervision/staff wellbeing approaches
* SSSC Regulatory processes
* General Data Protection Regulations
Qualifications (Essential):
* Relevant degree level or Diploma/CQSW in Social Work, Degree level in Social Care, Health or Education/Business (Meeting Registered manager thresholds)
Qualifications (Desirable):
* MSc/BA/Diploma in Social Work or relevant field
* SVQ Leadership and Management Level 4
* Post registration qualification (e.g. child protection)
Experience (Essential):
* Operational management in a residential care setting
* Acting as Registered manager
* Young people with complex and behavioural needs
* Assessment, Care Planning and review processes
* Promoting the “Rights of the Child”
* Policy development/change management
* Collaborative/partnership work within multi-agency context
* Developing new/innovative service propositions
Experience (Desirable):
* Operating in a highly regulated environment
* Inspection preparation
* Human Resource Management
Skills (Essential):
* Excellent interpersonal, collaborative and networking skills
* Excellent communication (written, oral, presentation, IT) skills
* Excellent planning, analytical and problem solving skills
* Ability to build appropriate trusting relationships with staff/ young people
* Managing, supervising and support
Skills (Desirable):
* Rota management
* Talent assessment and management
Ability (Essential):
* Ability to undertake on-call responsibilities as part of a formal rota system with other Managers
* Managing complex workload and competing demands
Full Clean Driving Licence - Essential