Team Leader (Support Worker)

About Us

At Unity Support Services, we are passionate about helping young people aged 16–18 overcome challenges, build confidence and develop the skills they need to live independently.

We are a trauma-informed service dedicated to providing safe, nurturing and supportive homes where young people feel valued, understood and empowered to make positive changes in their lives. Our approach focuses on building trusting relationships, promoting emotional wellbeing and equipping young people with the practical skills they need to transition successfully into adulthood.

We currently operate three homes across Bognor Regis and Worthing, each supporting up to five young people. As our service continues to grow, we are committed to developing a strong, supportive leadership team that ensures consistency, high standards and positive outcomes across all our homes.

The Role

We are looking for a proactive, organised and compassionate Team Leader to join our Support and Leadership team, working Monday to Friday, 9 am–5 pm, with some flexibility and on-call responsibilities.

The Team Leader provides a vital link between the day-to-day running of our homes and the wider management team.

You will work across all three homes, supporting staff, promoting excellent practice and helping ensure our young people receive consistent, high-quality, trauma-informed support. You will provide guidance and direction to Senior Support Workers and Support Workers, helping them deliver their responsibilities effectively while ensuring that concerns, incidents and operational issues are managed appropriately.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys supporting others, solving problems and maintaining high standards. You will need to be confident taking responsibility, making decisions within your remit and escalating matters appropriately to the Deputy Manager or Manager when needed.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Staff Development

• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and direction to Senior Support Workers and Support Workers across the three homes.
• Support Senior Support Workers in carrying out their responsibilities, ensuring consistency in practice and a clear understanding of expectations.
• Help coordinate staff activities and delegate tasks appropriately, ensuring responsibilities are completed to the required standard.
• Promote a positive, professional and supportive team culture, encouraging accountability, teamwork and open communication.
• Support the induction, training and development of new team members.
• Identify staff training needs and areas for improvement, feeding these back to the management team.
• Lead by example, modelling our trauma-informed approach, professional boundaries and high standards of practice.

Supporting Young People

• Promote the safety, welfare and emotional wellbeing of all young people across our homes.
• Support staff to build positive, trusting relationships with young people and provide consistent, individualised support.
• Help ensure young people are supported to develop independent living skills, confidence and resilience.
• Monitor young people's progress towards their individual goals and encourage meaningful participation in their support planning.
• Provide direct support when needed, particularly during challenging situations or when additional guidance is required.
• Promote young people's voice, choice and involvement in decisions affecting their lives.
• Ensure staff respond to challenging behaviour in a calm, consistent and trauma-informed manner, using restorative approaches where appropriate.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Help maintain high standards across all three homes, ensuring staff follow company policies, procedures and relevant Ofsted requirements.
• Review daily records, incident reports, safeguarding documentation and support plans to ensure they are accurate, timely and of an appropriate standard.
• Monitor the completion of required checks, records and other operational tasks, following up on outstanding actions.
• Support the management team with internal audits, quality assurance checks and preparation for inspections.
• Help ensure health and safety checks are completed and any identified concerns are addressed promptly.
• Promote good safeguarding practice and ensure concerns are escalated appropriately.
• Identify recurring issues, gaps in practice or opportunities for improvement and communicate these to the Deputy Manager or Manager.

Operational Management

• Support the smooth day-to-day running of all three homes, helping maintain consistency across the service.
• Assist with staff rota coordination, identifying potential gaps and supporting appropriate cover arrangements.
• Help manage day-to-day operational issues, making decisions within your level of responsibility and escalating more complex matters when necessary.
• Support the management team with incident follow-up, action plans and implementation of service improvements.
• Maintain effective communication between the homes, ensuring important information is shared appropriately.
• Participate in the on-call rota, providing guidance and support to staff and escalating significant concerns to the appropriate manager.
• Provide operational support during staff absences and periods of increased demand, helping maintain continuity of care.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Maintain clear and professional communication with the Deputy Manager, Manager and wider leadership team.
• Support effective working relationships with social workers, placing authorities and other professionals involved in young people's care.
• Contribute to meetings, reviews and discussions relating to young people's progress, safeguarding and placement stability.
• Ensure information is recorded and shared appropriately, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.

About You

We are looking for someone who is ready to take the next step in their career and develop their leadership skills within a supportive, growing service.

You will ideally have:

• Experience working with young people aged 16–18, preferably within supported accommodation, residential care or a related social care setting.
• Previous experience as a Senior Support Worker or in a similar role with responsibility for guiding colleagues.
• The confidence to lead, delegate tasks and hold colleagues accountable for completing their responsibilities.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate tasks across multiple homes.
• A good understanding of safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries and trauma-informed practice.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to provide constructive feedback and guidance to staff.
• A calm, consistent and solution-focused approach when dealing with challenging situations.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, use initiative and recognise when an issue needs to be escalated.
• A positive attitude, a willingness to get involved and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• A genuine passion for helping young people develop the confidence and skills they need for independent living.
• A full driving licence and access to your own vehicle, as the role requires travel between our three homes.

Above all, we are looking for someone who can balance compassion with accountability: someone who supports their colleagues, maintains clear expectations and helps create a safe, nurturing and consistent environment for our young people.

Why Join Unity Support Services?

• Make a meaningful difference: Help young people build the skills, confidence and independence they need for adulthood.
• Develop your leadership career: Gain valuable experience between senior frontline practice and management, with opportunities for future progression.
• Be part of a supportive team: Work alongside colleagues who are committed to providing high-quality, individualised support.
• Help shape a growing service: Contribute ideas, strengthen practice and help maintain consistency as our service develops.
• Access training and development: Build your skills and knowledge through ongoing professional development.
• Benefit from overtime opportunities: Additional hours may be available across the service.
• Be recognised for quality: We offer bonus opportunities linked to achieving the equivalent of Good or Outstanding Ofsted ratings, subject to the applicable scheme criteria.

Working Arrangements

• Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am–5 pm, with some flexibility.
• Location: Across our three homes in Bognor Regis and Worthing.
• On-call: Participation in the on-call rota is required.
• Travel: A full driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role. Duties may evolve in line with the needs of the service.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Please note that Unity Support Services does not hold a sponsorship licence and is unable to sponsor work visa applications.

If you are an experienced support worker ready to take the next step, enjoy helping others perform at their best and want to make a real difference to young people's lives, we would love to hear from

Pay: £37,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Work Location: In person

Salary : $37,000