Polaris Community
Head of Care- Carlisle
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Company Description
Polaris Community is one of the UK’s largest providers of children’s services, bringing together independent fostering and adoption agencies, leaving care services, education, and bespoke children’s services contracts. With over 30 years of dedicated experience, the community focuses on improving the lives of children and young people through high-quality, tailored support. Teams work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child, prioritizing safety, stability, and long-term wellbeing. Polaris is ambitious for children, young people, families, and staff, and invests in their futures through professional development and a nurturing work environment.
Role Description
The Head of Care – Carlisle is a full-time, on-site role based in Bromsgrove, responsible for leading and managing residential care services for children and young people. This position oversees daily operations, ensuring high standards of care, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance across the service. The role includes:
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- Managing and supporting care teams
- Overseeing care planning
- Working closely with social workers, education providers, health professionals, and families to achieve positive outcomes
- Monitoring performance
- Implementing service improvements
- Managing budgets and resources
- Ensuring policies and procedures are followed
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The role also involves:
- Contributing to strategic development
- Representing the service in multi-agency meetings
- Fostering a culture of learning, accountability, and child-centered practice
Qualifications
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience in children’s residential or social care settings, including team supervision and performance management.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, regulatory frameworks, and quality standards relevant to children’s services within the UK.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills with young people, families, internal teams, and external agencies.
- Proven ability in service planning, report writing, monitoring outcomes, and using data to drive continuous improvement.
- Relevant professional qualification in social care, childcare, social work, or a closely related field; registration with a relevant professional body is an advantage.
- Ability to work on-site in Bromsgrove, manage competing priorities, and maintain calm, reflective practice in emotionally demanding situations.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and trauma-informed, child-centered care.
- Experience with budgeting, resource allocation, and compliance audits is highly beneficial.
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