Head of Training & Professional Development - Education

Job title: Head of Training & Professional Development - Education

Reporting to: Director of Training & Development

Location: Mulberry Bush, Witney, Oxfordshire.

Salary: £46,911 - £54,309 depending on experience

Job type: Permanent, full-time.

Hours: 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday

About the role 

As Head of Training & Professional Development - Education, you’ll be at the heart of how the Mulberry Bush shares its specialist therapeutic knowledge with schools and education professionals far beyond our own setting. Working as part of our Training and Professional Development core team, you’ll lead the Education Training team and help translate our relational, trauma-informed approach into meaningful learning experiences for others. This role combines strategic thinking, income generation with hands-on delivery, giving you the opportunity to grow our education training offer while playing a leading role in an extraordinary story. One which makes a real, positive difference to children’s lives.

We’ll look to you to

• Shape and deliver the strategic direction of our education training offer, working closely with the Director of Training & Professional Development and the wider core team


• Lead and manage the Education Training team, providing supervision, support and inspiration so everyone can do their best work


• Oversee the delivery of high-quality training, consultancy and school improvement work across a range of education settings


• Carry a personal workload, including income-generating work such as training delivery, project leadership, supervision and school improvement


• Develop strong partnerships with schools, local authorities and education providers to support growth and collaboration


• Play an active role in developing and managing our regional training hubs, helping extend our reach and impact


• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring services are well planned, sustainable and aligned with income


• Identify and respond to funding opportunities and tenders that support the charity’s strategic goals


• Put clear systems and processes in place to maintain consistently high standards and quality across all education training work


• Champion safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and the core principles of the Mulberry Bush in everything you do

We’ll care for you too

You’re not just part of a team, you’re part of our family. Support echoes through every part of our community, and your colleagues are always here to lend a hand or share a smile. We also offer the following benefits to make your journey with us even more rewarding:

• 40 days’ holiday each year.


• A comprehensive range of informal and formal wellbeing support.


• Employer contribution pension of 6%.


• Enhanced parental leave benefits.


• Subsidised meals.

About you

You’ll bring a thoughtful, grounded approach to your work, with the confidence and resilience to lead in complex systems. You’ll have good judgment, feel comfortable working independently when needed, and know the value of collaboration and reflection. Most of all, you’ll share our belief that with the right support, people and systems can change for the better, and you’ll be motivated by the positive impact this work has on children and those around them.

You’ll also bring:

• Qualification as an educational professional, with up-to-date knowledge of policy and guidance affecting the education sector


• Leadership experience, including line management, supervision and the ability to inspire others


• Experience of designing, delivering and overseeing high-quality training and professional development programmes


• A strong understanding of trauma-informed, therapeutic and relational practice


• Proven experience of partnership working and developing contract-based or income-generating services


• Good strategic, financial and organisational skills, including budget management


• Confidence communicating with a wide range of audiences, both in writing and in person


• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and relational leadership

About the Mulberry Bush

At The Mulberry Bush, we believe that with support and opportunities, children can overcome challenges and shape their future. We see their untold stories, possibilities, dreams, and untapped potential – and we believe in their ability to rewrite their destiny. All while having lots of fun along the way.

The Mulberry Bush is a therapeutic community, registered as a children’s home and a non-maintained residential special school. We are dedicated to transforming the lives of those affected by childhood trauma. Since 1948, we’ve been helping children and those around them through specialist therapeutic services and fulfilling activities.

Over the years we have established an outstanding reputation for transforming the lives of all those affected by childhood trauma. We believe we offer something special – and we’d love you to be part of it.

If you believe that you have the experience and expertise required to succeed in this role or would like to attend one of our visit days, please submit your CV via the 'Apply for this job' button.

If you have any questions about the role or the work we do, please email the HR team at [email protected]

The Mulberry Bush is an equal-opportunity employer. It is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff and students to share this commitment.

Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK. For applicants requiring visas, we can only accept those with visas which allow you to work in the UK indefinitely (we do not have the ability to offer sponsorship).

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore candidates must be prepared to undertake a DBS criminal background check.

Selection process

• Attend an initial Team interview.


• Complete an application form (this is a requirement of our safer recruitment policy).


• Attend a face-to-face interview, including giving a presentation


• Participate in the DBS criminal background checking process.