Job Description

HR & Recruitment Lead - Kennedy Elliott

Contract:

37.5 hours per week

Locations

: Enfield, Lewisham, Newham & Remote

Salary

: 50,000pa - 60,000pa

Reports to

: Managing Director

About Kennedy Elliott

Kennedy Elliott is a values-driven children's care home provider regulated by Ofsted. Our mission is to provide safe, loving, and empowering environments where children in care can heal, grow, and thrive. We support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, often resulting from trauma, neglect, or abuse.

Founded by Dr. Nigel Kennedy and Trevor Elliott MBE, Kennedy Elliott Care Homes was born from a commitment to provide safe, caring, and stable environments for young people. Trevor Elliott's journey began as a youth worker and foster carer, eventually becoming the UK's youngest single foster carer at 24. His belief in the transformational power of stability led to the establishment of the first home in Ladywell.

From these humble beginnings, Kennedy Elliott has grown into a trusted provider with three operational homes across London, delivering trauma-informed care. Our practice is grounded in therapeutic principles, structured routines, and high expectations for all. We are committed to promoting emotional resilience, education, life skills, and long-term outcomes. Every member of our team plays a vital role in ensuring each child receives consistent, personalised, and child-centred care. We are growing and evolving, and we welcome professionals who want to be part of shaping the future of care in our homes.

Job Purpose

The HR & Recruitment Lead will be responsible for building and leading a high-performing, values-driven workforce at Kennedy Elliott. This strategic role will shape and deliver our end-to-end people strategy -- from safe and effective recruitment through to employee experience, development, and retention.

Acting as the organisation's expert on HR, culture, and compliance, the postholder will ensure that every staff member is supported, safeguarded, and empowered to deliver exceptional care. This role is critical to building a thriving organisational culture rooted in compassion, professionalism, and accountability -- one where children are safe and staff are proud to work.

Our Vision

For every young person to thrive in a safe, stable, and nurturing home environment that supports healing, growth, and a positive future.

Our Mission

To provide safe and secure living where children and young people can thrive, be heard, and develop to reach their full potential.

Our Purpose

To operate high-quality children's homes rooted in trauma-informed care, fostering positive relationships, personal growth, and future stability through integrated and collaborative working.

Our Values

- Safe, warm, and family-like homes
- Trauma-informed and healing-centred care
- High expectations and aspirations for all
- Inclusion, respect, and zero stigma
- Collaborative working with families, professionals, and communities

Responsibilities

The HR & Recruitment Lead will take strategic and operational ownership of all HR and recruitment functions at Kennedy Elliott. You will lead the development and execution of workforce planning, recruitment pipelines, onboarding, employee relations, learning and development, and HR compliance -- all with a trauma-informed, safeguarding-first approach.

You will play a key role in shaping a positive workplace culture, supporting leadership development, and embedding our values into every stage of the employee lifecycle.

Strategic HR Leadership

- Develop and deliver the People & Culture Strategy in line with organisational goals and care regulations

- Design and implement policies and procedures that support a safe, inclusive, and values-aligned working environment

- Partner with the Managing Director and senior leaders to build a high-performance, values-driven culture

Recruitment & Workforce Planning

- Design and lead a robust, trauma-informed recruitment strategy that ensures safe and timely hiring of high-quality staff

- Establish talent pipelines, agency partnerships, and community-based recruitment channels

- Oversee end-to-end recruitment processes, including DBS, references, Right to Work checks, and Safer Recruitment best practice

Employee Experience & Engagement

- Lead the design and implementation of onboarding, induction, and retention strategies

- Champion staff voice, wellbeing, and engagement, including surveys, feedback forums, and reward initiatives

- Support line managers in conducting performance reviews, coaching, and probation management

Learning & Development

- Develop and deliver the annual Learning & Development plan, aligned with Ofsted and regulatory requirements

- Ensure staff are trained in safeguarding, behaviour management, trauma-informed practice and leadership

- Monitor mandatory training completion and effectiveness

Compliance & HR Operations

- Ensure full compliance with employment law, Ofsted, and CQC regulations

- Maintain up-to-date HR records, policies, and reporting systems

- Lead on ER casework including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, and investigations

Leadership & Influence

- Be a visible, trusted HR leader who models our values and sets professional standards

- Train and support managers in people leadership, holding difficult conversations, and promoting psychological safety

- Contribute to strategic projects including culture change, DEI, and leadership development

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

- Proven track record in a senior HR or People role within the care, education, or third sector

- Significant experience leading end-to-end recruitment and HR operations

- Strong working knowledge of employment law, safer recruitment, and safeguarding best practice

- Experience managing complex ER casework

- Ability to design and deliver HR strategy aligned with business objectives

- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, influencing, and coaching

Qualifications

- CIPD Level 5 (minimum); Level 7 or working towards preferred

- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD) in HR, leadership, or safeguarding

Values & Attributes

- Deep commitment to child safeguarding and trauma-informed care

- Values-led, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent

- A proactive problem-solver and critical thinker

- High levels of discretion, professionalism, and integrity

- Resilient, organised, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-led environment

Desirable

- Experience in HR leadership within Ofsted-regulated settings

- Knowledge of Ofsted frameworks and inspection processes

- Experience implementing HRIS or digital HR solutions

- Background in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy and initiatives

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 50,000.00-60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE13 7UQ