Team Leader - £14.21ph

Job Description: Team Leader

Organisation: Go For It!

Work Arrangement: On site as required
Job Type: Full-time/Part-time/Contract/Permanent |

Salary: £14.21 per hour

Benefits: Casual dress, on-site parking, flexible work options, 28 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)

Role Purpose

As Team Leader you provide visible, day-to-day leadership across GFI’s community-based support packages, helping our teams deliver safe, high-quality, person-centred support to the children (from age 5), young people and adults we work with, including people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex or co-occurring health needs.

You combine hands-on leadership with practical coordination: mentoring staff, overseeing records and quality, and supporting people to build confidence, achieve their goals and take part in their communities. Support is delivered one-to-one, two-to-one or in small groups (typically capped at six) across supported living, outreach, respite and visiting care, so that it is predictable, safe and tailored to each person’s routines, sensory needs and aspirations.

The role suits someone who lives GFI’s values of Aspire, Care, Respect and Partnership and is passionate about neurodiversity, rights-based support and strong, collaborative teamwork.

Key Responsibilities

1. Person-Centred Leadership & Service Delivery

• Build positive, trusting relationships with the people we support, their families and professionals, understanding each person’s strengths, challenges and aspirations.
• Support the development and delivery of bespoke, person-centred support plans, using tools such as circles of support and goal tracking.
• Champion choice and control, enabling autonomy in daily life (communication, finances, community engagement) while providing respectful, right-sized assistance.
• Advocate for the people we support so their voices are heard in decisions, whether with professionals, in the community or within the team.

2. Team Development & Performance

• Lead by example, modelling outstanding autism support, positive risk-taking and low-arousal approaches.
• Coach, mentor and support colleagues through inductions, shadowing, supervisions, spot checks and skill-building (e.g. Intensive Interaction, PBS and de-escalation approaches).
• Support safe rota cover, shift planning and handovers, matching staff to activities based on individual needs and team strengths.
• Help uphold standards by supporting audits of support plans, finances and safety measures in line with CQC and regulatory expectations.

3. Operational Excellence

• Work with the Service Manager and Operations Team on risk assessments, routines, policies and service development.
• Balance safety and independence, supporting people to explore new experiences while proactively managing risk.
• Liaise with multi-agency partners (social workers, health professionals, community nursing and housing partners) to align support.
• Use GFI’s digital systems confidently for recording, reporting and communication, including Log My Care, Workforce by Tanda and Microsoft 365 (Teams and SharePoint).

4. Safeguarding & Compliance

• Prioritise wellbeing: follow safeguarding protocols, recognise and report concerns promptly, and ensure dignity in all personal care.
• Support accurate, respectful record keeping through Log My Care, tracking progress, health changes and incidents.
• Assist with incident follow-up so learning is captured and support plans are updated where required.
• Help identify training needs (e.g. safeguarding, GDPR, health & safety) and promote continuous improvement and best practice.

Note: Clinical responsibility for complex health needs remains with NHS and community nursing services. GFI delivers delegated personal care tasks only and does not provide nursing services.

Person Specification

Criteria are marked Essential (E) or Desirable (D). Assessed through application, interview and pre-employment checks.

Criteria

E / D

Experience

Experience of supporting adults and/or children with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and/or complex support needs

Essential

Key working / link working and person-centred planning and risk enablement

Essential

Mentoring, supervising or guiding colleagues in a social care, supported living, respite or community setting

Essential

Experience of PBS, Transforming Care or community-based support models

Desirable

Experience of working within a CQC-regulated service

Desirable

Qualifications

Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care (held, or willingness to work towards)

Essential

Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle and business insurance (essential for some packages)

Essential

Skills & Attributes

Role-models empathy, resilience, professionalism and accountability

Essential

Able to lead, motivate and support colleagues and challenge poor practice constructively

Essential

Balances autonomy and positive risk-taking with safeguarding and dignity

Essential

Strong written recording, communication and report-writing skills

Essential

Confident using digital systems (Log My Care, Tanda, Microsoft 365)

Essential

Reliable local availability and flexibility for occasional out-of-hours and on-call cover

Essential

Strong understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, equality and person-centred support

Essential

Why Join GFI?

• Impact: Make a real difference every day in a values-driven service that champions dignity, inclusion and person-centred support.
• Professional growth: Access to training in autism specialisms, Positive Behaviour Support, leadership and regulatory standards, with the opportunity to work towards a Level 5 qualification over time.
• Supportive culture: A deliberately small and stable team, with close managerial support, clear probation goals and yearly salary reviews.
• Balance & benefits: 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, a paid Christmas break, flexible working by agreement and a genuine focus on wellbeing.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

GFI is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, young people and adults we support, and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check, proof of right to work in the UK and two satisfactory references. Where a role involves supporting people under 18, enhanced DBS clearance and safeguarding children training are mandatory.

An offer may be withdrawn, or employment ended, if these conditions are not met or maintained during employment.

GFI is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. This role adapts to evolving needs, so flexibility and a solutions-focused mindset are valued.

Career Progression at GFI

We want people to build a career with us, not just take a job. The typical progression pathway is:

Support Worker ➜ Senior Support Worker ➜ Team Leader ➜ Assessment Assistant ➜ Deputy Manager ➜ Registered / Service Manager ➜ Area Manager

You can also develop as a PBS Key Person, GFI’s positive behaviour support champion for a person or service. This is a recognised specialist role that can sit alongside any level and may carry additional responsibility, rather than being a separate management grade.

Progression into Deputy Manager and above usually requires, or is supported to work towards, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care.

How to Apply

This role is advertised both externally and as an internal opportunity for existing GFI team members ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.

External applicants

Please submit your CV and a short covering statement (maximum two pages) outlining your relevant experience, availability and why you would like to join GFI.

Internal applicants

Existing team members are invited to submit a short expression of interest (maximum two pages) explaining their experience, availability, strengths and why they would like to be considered. Applications should be sent to the Service Manager by the closing date.