Practice Development Lead

Practice Development Lead – Residential Children’s Services

Location: Jersey| Based on island

Contract: Temporary Agency 6 months contract| Immediate start

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Rate: £55 per hour

You’ve built a great home. Now shape what great looks like across a whole service.

As a registered manager, you know what makes the difference for children: a team that is confident, consistent and trauma-informed. You know relationships matter more than routines. You also know how hard it is to grow that culture while you’re covering shifts, chasing paperwork and getting ready for the next inspection.

This role lets you focus on the part of the job that made you want to lead in the first place: developing practice and developing people.

Jersey is on a genuine improvement journey in children’s social care. We’re looking for an experienced residential leader to help define what outstanding care looks like on the island, and to make it happen day to day.

Why this role, and why Jersey

* Influence beyond one home. Your expertise shapes practice across the service.

* A service that wants to improve. You’ll be backed to challenge and to innovate, not just maintain.

* Island life. You’ll be part of a close-knit professional community, with coast and countryside on your doorstep.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

* Lead the development of trauma-informed, relational, child-centred practice across our children’s homes

* Coach, mentor and build confidence in managers and frontline staff

* Design and deliver workshops and learning that change how teams work, not just what they know

* Lead quality assurance activity and close the loop, so that learning becomes improvement

* Embed the Jersey Children First Practice Model, which is restorative, trauma-informed and grounded in children’s rights

* Make sure the voices of children, families and staff shape what we do

Essential Requirements

Applicants must:

* Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)

* Significant experience in residential childcare at management level

* Significant experience working with children and their families

* A strong track record in quality assurance and improvement work

* Experience designing and delivering training, coaching and mentoring

* The ability to build trusted relationships quickly and adapt to different learning needs

* A clear DBS (Update Service preferred)

* Availability to relocate to Jersey for the length of the contract (no remote working)

Documentation Required for Successful Candidates

If your candidate is successful, the following documentation will be required:

* References covering the last 5 years, from employers, not the agency, with any gaps explained

* Proof of Enhanced DBS and its expiry date

* International police or agency checks, where the candidate has lived outside the UK

* Photo ID (e.g. passport)

* Driving licence (front and back)

* Proof of Qualification

* Proof of Social Work England registration

* Proof of Jersey Care Commission registration

Accommodation and Travel Arrangements

Accommodation

Staff accommodation is arranged and provided by the Government of Jersey; however, the full rental cost is payable by the agency on behalf of the agency worker. Please note that we require that payment of the accommodation costs for the successful candidates to be deducted by yourselves on behalf of the candidate's and paid to the Government of Jersey

Travel

The service will fund:

* One flight or ferry journey (foot passenger) to Jersey at the commencement of the contract.

* One return journey at the end of the contract.

* Mileage and other travel expenses are not covered.

Mandatory: Candidate must have a UK Passport or a Full Right to Work in the UK

Closing Date: 10th November 2026, 5:00pm

Please note:

CVs will only be reviewed after the closing date.

For more information, contact Natasha Haddon
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed