Residential Childcare Performance & Growth Lead

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Residential Childcare curriculum area, ensuring delivery aligns with organisational priorities, growth strategies, funding requirements, and sector needs. 
• Oversee the development and implementation of curriculum strategies that support innovative, high-quality adult learning and apprenticeship provision which is responsive to employer demand and labour market intelligence. 
• Support the Assistant Director for Skills in achieving strategic business objectives, performance targets, quality outcomes, and operational compliance across all Residential Childcare provision. 
• Line manage and support the Head of Residential Childcare ensuring effective performance management, accountability, and professional development across teams.
• Drive a culture of excellence, professionalism, innovation, and continuous improvement through effective leadership, coaching, and strategic direction. 
• Oversee curriculum performance, including learner attendance, retention, achievement, progression, employer satisfaction, quality indicators, and compliance measures, implementing improvement strategies where required. 
• Lead and direct quality assurance and quality improvement activities across the Residential Childcare provision, ensuring consistency in teaching, learning, assessment, and learner experience. 
• Ensure the curriculum area remains fully compliant with awarding organisations, funding, regulatory, safeguarding, and inspection requirements, maintaining a continual state of inspection readiness.
• Analyse performance data, learner outcomes, quality indicators, and market intelligence to inform strategic planning and decision-making. 
• Lead on self-assessment, quality improvement planning, deep dives, internal audits, standardisation activities, and external inspection preparation within the curriculum area. 
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with employers, stakeholders, local authorities, sector bodies, and external agencies to enhance curriculum relevance, learner progression, and business growth opportunities. 
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities, partnerships, and commercial growth opportunities in line with organisational objectives. 
• Collaborate with internal departments including quality, compliance, learner services, business development, and marketing to enhance learner engagement, recruitment, retention, and progression outcomes. 
• Champion the use of innovative teaching practices, educational technologies, and learner-centred approaches to improve learner engagement and achievement. 
• Lead cross-departmental strategic projects and organisational improvement initiatives as directed by the Assistant Director for Skills. 
• Support workforce planning and succession development within the Residential Childcare provision to ensure sustainable and high-performing teams.

• High levels of learner, employer, and stakeholder satisfaction. 
• Successful implementation of curriculum growth and development strategies. 
• Achievement of business growth and partnership development objectives. 
• Sustained improvement in learner achievement, retention, attendance, and progression rates. 
• Strong quality assurance outcomes and inspection readiness. 
• Successful achievement of contractual, funding, and compliance targets. 
• Positive quality indicators across teaching, learning, and assessment. 
• Timely implementation of quality improvement actions and strategic initiatives.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Minimum Level 5 teaching learning and assessment qualification, such as Cert Ed, DTLLS or Diploma in Education and Training (essential)
• Minimum Level 5 or above subject specialism qualification (essential)
• Level 3 CAVA and Level 4 IQA or equivalent (essential)
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics (essential)
• Full Driving Licence (essential)
• Degree in Education, Leadership, Management or related discipline (desirable)
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification (desirable)
• Leadership or management qualification (desirable)

• Significant experience within the post-16 education and training sector (essential)
• Proven experience of strategic leadership and operational management (essential)
• Experience managing curriculum performance and quality improvement (essential)
• Experience leading teams within apprenticeships and/or adult learning provision (essential)
• Experience of curriculum development aligned to employer and learner needs (essential)
• Experience preparing provision for inspection and external quality assurance activity (essential)
• Experience leading large-scale strategic or organisational improvement projects (desirable)
• Experience managing budgets and commercial performance (desirable)
• Experience developing external partnerships and stakeholder relationships (desirable)

• Strong understanding of the FE and training sector including apprenticeships and adult learning (essential)
• Knowledge of funding rules, regulatory requirements, quality assurance, and inspection frameworks (essential)
• Understanding of curriculum development, quality improvement methodologies, and learner-centred practice (essential)
• Knowledge of safeguarding, Prevent, equality, and compliance responsibilities (essential)
• Familiarity with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in curriculum design and delivery (desirable)
• Knowledge of labour market trends and workforce development priorities within Residential Childcare (desirable)

• Strong strategic leadership and people management skills (essential)
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement abilities (essential)
• Ability to analyse performance data and implement improvement strategies (essential)
• Ability to lead organisational change and drive continuous improvement (essential)
• Strong organisational, planning, and project management skills (essential)
• Ability to build high-performing, collaborative teams (essential)
• Experience using digital technologies and data systems to support curriculum management and quality improvement (desirable)

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant 
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications 
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards
• £500 Recommend a friend scheme