Head of Care

Head of Care – Essex £42,000 – £45,000 per annum | Full-time | Senior Care Leadership New Way Recruitment is delighted to be recruiting for an experienced Head of Care to join a well-established care service in Essex. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Senior Carer, Care Team Leader, Deputy Manager, Care Manager or experienced care professional ready to take the next step in their career and play a key role in maintaining outstanding standards of person-centred care, safeguarding, quality and resident wellbeing. You will be a visible and compassionate leader, working alongside the senior management team to ensure care is safe, dignified, consistent and responsive to individual needs. Key Responsibilities Provide visible leadership and day-to-day oversight to Senior Carers and Care Assistants. Champion safe, compassionate and person-centred care, promoting dignity, privacy, choice, independence and wellbeing. Ensure care plans, risk assessments and daily care records are accurate, current and reflective of residents’ needs. Lead and support regular care audits and quality assurance, identifying trends, risks and areas for improvement. Support compliance with CQC regulations, safeguarding requirements, fundamental standards and internal policies. Promote strong safeguarding practice and ensure concerns are recognised, escalated and appropriately managed. Support staff understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and promote least restrictive practice. Provide oversight of medication management, including MAR records, audits, safe practice and appropriate escalation. Coach, mentor and support care staff, including supervision, competency observations, induction and practice development. Support Senior Carers with shift leadership, delegation, handovers, care checks and documentation. Monitor resident physical, emotional and social wellbeing and ensure changes in need are identified and communicated promptly. Support the management of falls, accidents, incidents, wounds and care-related concerns, ensuring appropriate follow-up and learning. Build positive relationships with residents, relatives, professionals and colleagues. Support admissions, resident reviews, professional meetings and effective transitions into the service. Promote effective communication, teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement. Support the Registered Manager and wider management team with day-to-day care operations, staffing deployment, quality monitoring and management cover where required. Support preparation for CQC inspections, audits and quality visits, ensuring appropriate evidence and improvement actions are in place. About You We are looking for a confident and compassionate care leader who can lead by example and consistently promote high standards. You will ideally have: Previous experience in a senior care role within a residential or nursing care setting. Strong knowledge of person-centred care, safeguarding, MCA, DoLS, care planning and risk assessment. Experience supervising, coaching or leading care staff. Excellent communication, organisation and record-keeping skills. The confidence to identify poor practice, address concerns professionally and escalate appropriately. Experience with care audits, medication oversight and electronic care planning systems is desirable. NVQ/Diploma Level 3 in Health & Social Care or above is desirable, with Level 4/5 or willingness to work towards this advantageous. Previous experience as a Senior Carer, Team Leader, Care Coordinator, Deputy Manager, Care Manager or similar would be highly valued. What We Offer £42,000 – £45,000 per annum Senior leadership opportunity within an established care environment A supportive, values-led management culture Opportunity to influence care quality, resident experience and staff development Ongoing training and professional development Opportunities to develop your leadership and management skills A role where your experience, judgement and compassion will have a genuine impact The opportunity to help create a culture of dignity, respect, accountability and continuous improvement Apply Now If you are an experienced care professional looking for a rewarding Head of Care position where you can make a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you. New Way Recruitment is managing this opportunity confidentially on behalf of the care provider. The identity of the service will be discussed with suitable candidates during the recruitment process. Our Promise: At New Way Recruitment, we believe in Heart-Led Hiring in Care. Guided by our ethos of “Recruiting with Care, Placing with Purpose”, we are committed to a recruitment experience where compassion meets opportunity. Our promise is simple: a heart-led, confidential, and individually tailored approach for every candidate and client we support. You can be assured that our team handles every step of the process with integrity, understanding, and genuine care. If you’re considering your next move and this job sounds like something you would be interested in then please don’t hesitate to get in touch - we’re here to help. INDHP