Job Description

Job Title:

Team Leader - Learning Disability & Autism

Service:

Single-occupancy home for an 22-year-old Female

Reports to:

Registered Manager

Works with:

Support Workers, Placement/Service Manager, family/carers, health and education professionals (MDT)

Location:

Taunton

Hours:

Full time; rota-based (days/evenings/weekends; occasional sleep-ins/waking nights)

Purpose of the role

Provide day-to-day leadership of a small team delivering safe, person-centred support to an 22-year-old with significant Mental health diagnosis and learning disability and challenging behaviour . You will uphold Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, lead positive behaviour support, write and maintain care plans and risk assessments, ensure robust record-keeping, and coordinate with the wider multi-disciplinary team to achieve agreed outcomes.

Key responsibilities

1) Person-centred support & outcomes

Champion the young person's voice, rights, preferences and routines; use appropriate communication aids (e.g., visuals/now-and-next). Co-produce, write and update person-centred care plans (health, daily living skills, community access) and SMART outcomes; review at agreed intervals. Plan and lead meaningful activities that are structured, low-arousal and enjoyable; promote independence, confidence and community participation.

2) Positive behaviour support (PBS) & safeguarding

Embed least-restrictive, trauma-informed practice (e.g., low-arousal, PACE-informed approaches); model calm, consistent support during distress. Lead incident prevention and de-escalation; complete post-incident reviews, hot debriefs and next-day reflective debriefs; update plans accordingly. Recognise, record and escalate safeguarding concerns promptly in line with policy; contribute to strategy meetings when required.

3) Compliance, quality & CQC standards

Ensure practice meets CQC's five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-Led. Maintain accurate, timely records in the electronic care system: daily notes, tasks, outcomes, incidents, body maps and actions. Conduct and document audits (medication, records, H&S checks) and implement action plans; contribute to service improvement activities.

4) Risk assessments & safety

Write and review individual risk assessments for behaviour, health (e.g., epilepsy, dysphagia, allergies), environment, transport and community activities. Complete dynamic risk assessments in real time; ensure staff follow control measures and lone-working protocols. Oversee infection prevention and control, fire safety checks and routine H&S monitoring in the home.

5) Medication & health coordination

Oversee safe medicines management (ordering, storage, MAR accuracy, returns); complete competency sign-offs for staff and spot checks. Coordinate health appointments; liaise with GP, community nurses, therapists and other MDT members; ensure clinical plans are followed.

6) Team leadership, supervision & rota

Line-manage and mentor Support Workers; deliver structured 1:1 supervisions, probation reviews and competency assessments. Lead monthly team meetings and group reflective sessions; set clear actions and follow-up. Build fair rotas that meet agreed staffing ratios and skill mix; arrange cover for sickness/leave; maintain continuity for the young person.

7) Partnership working & family engagement

Build respectful relationships with family/carers; agree how they wish to be involved; provide clear, regular updates. Prepare concise reports for reviews and commissioners; present progress against goals and risks.
Person specification

Essential

Substantial experience supporting people with learning disabilities and autism, including behaviours of concern. Proven ability to write person-centred care plans and risk assessments and to evidence outcomes. Confident in positive behaviour support and low-arousal approaches; calm and consistent under pressure. Experience delivering supervisions, coaching colleagues and holding professional conversations. Strong understanding of safeguarding, mental capacity/consent, dignity, equality, and data protection. Organised, proactive and able to "think outside the box"; strong written and verbal communication; competent with electronic care records. Willing and able to work a rota (evenings/weekends; occasional sleep-ins/waking nights).

Qualifications

Level 3 Health & Social Care (or equivalent) required; willingness to work towards Level 4/5. Up-to-date training: safeguarding (adults and children), first aid/paediatric first aid (as appropriate), medication administration, infection prevention and control, manual handling, PBS/low-arousal/autism awareness. Desirable: epilepsy and rescue medication competencies; communication aids (e.g., PECS/visuals) training; full UK driving licence.
What success looks like

The young person feels safe, listened to and enjoys daily life; measurable progress against goals. Consistent least-restrictive practice; incidents reduce in frequency/severity; learning from incidents is embedded. Records are accurate and timely; audits show compliance; actions are closed on time. Staff feel supported, supervised and confident; staffing ratios and skill mix are maintained; continuity is protected.
Safer recruitment

Appointment subject to enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (including children's barred list if required), verified references and right-to-work checks. We are an equal opportunities employer and will make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a short statement describing how you led a team to improve outcomes for a person with autism/learning disability to [email]. Interviews will include a values-based conversation and a practical scenario.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: 32,000.00-42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Employee mentoring programme
Work Location: In person