Deputy head of school jobs

About Carers Bucks

At Carers Bucks we are committed to making a lasting and positive difference in the lives of unpaid carers across Buckinghamshire - from children as young as five, to adults supporting loved ones, through physical or mental illness, frailty, disability or addiction. We understand that caring can impact a person’s health, wellbeing and future opportunities and we are here to change that. 

Our vision is that every unpaid carer in Buckinghamshire feels recognised, respected and supported in their role – so they can access the right support, at the right time, in a way that works for them – regardless of age, circumstance and cultural or socio-economic background.

Our team is at the heart of everything we do. We foster a positive, supportive working culture where wellbeing matters, and professional development is encouraged and celebrated. 

Our values reflect our core principles and culture. They guide how we engage with service users and how we work as a team. We are:

Kind                We understand the challenges carers face. With real compassion and empathy we are able to build confidence and resilience in both carers and colleagues. 

Inclusive        We adapt our services to meet the diverse needs of all carers, making sure they feel seen, supported and empowered in their role. 

Collaborative   We work together – with carers, partners and one another – to listen, learn and improve outcomes. 

Innovative      We are curious to find better ways to support carers. We are open to new ideas and committed to improving what we do. 

Reliable          We are informed, trustworthy and confidential. We do what we say we will - every time. 

As a trusted local charity with over 20 years’ experience, we are continually evolving to meet carer’s needs and improve access to support.  

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Team Leader for our Young Carers and Young Adult Carers team. You will play a key role in shaping and guiding the service, managing a dedicated team and overseeing day to day delivery while working with the Head of Services to deliver our strategy. Essential to the role is ensuring the service is inclusive, responsive and shaped by the voices of the young people we support. This is a hands-on, people-focused role, combining team management, safeguarding oversight, caseload guidance and partnership working. 
 

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Coordination and Planning

• Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of the Young Carer Service in line with agreed workplans and available resources.
• Support the Head of Services in implementing strategic priorities and translating them into clear team actions.
• Plan and organise delivery schedules, ensuring one to one work, groups, clubs and school sessions are appropriately staffed and resourced.
• Manage delegated budgets and approve individual expenses in line with organisational procedures.
• Contribute to service planning and improvement by sharing insights from young carers, families and frontline delivery.

2. Service Delivery and Quality

• Oversee the daily flow of referrals, assessments and casework, ensuring timely allocation and consistent quality standards. Provide guidance to the team with their individual caseloads. 
• Coordinate and monitor the delivery of group sessions, clubs and school-based activities to ensure they are safe, engaging and age-appropriate.
• Ensure there is adequate staff and volunteer cover to enable the schedule of sessions and activities.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate information for families, schools and professionals, including content for the website and promotional materials.
• Support effective volunteer participation in groups, events and activities, working with the Volunteer Manager to ensure volunteers are appropriately trained, supervised and valued.

3. People and Team Development

• Provide day-to-day supervision, guidance and coaching to staff, ensuring they are supported, motivated and clear about priorities.
• Support the Head of Services with team meetings, supervision and annual appraisals.
• Ensure all team members are trained and equipped to the required standard, identifying learning needs and coordinating relevant development opportunities.
• Foster a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment, addressing interpersonal issues promptly and constructively. 

4. Safeguarding and Inclusion

• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), receiving, responding to and recording safeguarding concerns and escalating to the DSL (Head of Services) in a timely manner.
• Ensure robust safeguarding practices are embedded across all delivery settings, including schools and community venues.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring activities are accessible, inclusive and representative of Buckinghamshire’s diverse communities.

5. Partnerships and Representation

• Maintain day-to-day relationships with schools, youth organisations, community groups and VCSE partners to coordinate delivery and share information.
• Represent Carers Bucks at local forums, events and school-based meetings as agreed with the Head of Services.
• Promote awareness of young carers and young adult carers and the support available through Carers Bucks, sharing information and good practice with partner organisations.
• Provide feedback from schools, young and young adult carers and community partners to inform service improvement and planning.

6. Performance, Data and Reporting

• Record and monitor service data accurately, ensuring compliance with GDPR and organisational procedures.
• Track team performance against agreed objectives and highlight areas requiring support or improvement.
• Analyse data and feedback to identify trends and contribute to quarterly and annual reports.
• Provide case studies and operational insights to evidence impact and support funding and reporting requirements.

About you

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience of supervising or leading a team.
• Background in youth work, education, social care or the voluntary sector.
• Experience of working directly with young people and/or unpaid carers.
• Experience of partnership working with schools, community organisations or health and social care professionals.
• Experience of handling safeguarding concerns and maintaining appropriate records.
• Experience of report writing, record keeping and using client databases or CRM systems.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Strong understanding of young people’s development.
• Robust knowledge of safeguarding principles for both children and adults.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, and how to embed these in practice.
• Awareness of the issues affecting young carers and their support needs.
• Awareness of local services and support available for young people and families in Buckinghamshire.
• Understanding of how compassion, collaboration and reliability build trust and improve outcomes for carers. 

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adaptable across audiences.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Ability to support, motivate and develop a small team through encouragement and shared learning.
• Confident in analysing information and using data to support service improvement. 
• Competent IT user with experience of standard office packages and electronic record systems.

Personal Attributes

• Empathic, approachable and emotionally intelligent, with genuine respect for others.
• Inclusive and open-minded, valuing different perspectives and experiences.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with a positive and flexible approach.
• Calm under pressure, able to use initiative and make sound judgements.
• Team-oriented and collaborative, sharing information and celebrating success with others.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of Carers Bucks.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work across Buckinghamshire.

Why join us?
We have recently published our one-year strategy, guiding us through the next phase of our development -  ensuring our services are embedded with partners in the community and strengthening the way we work both with our adult team and with volunteers.

By becoming part of our team, you will:

• Play a key role in shaping our future: You will help shape and guide the Young Carer and Young Adult Carer Service, working with the Head of Services, and based on the needs of young people.
• Make a lasting impact: Your work will directly support unpaid Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, helping to reduce isolation, promote wellbeing and improve access to support.
• Be part of a supportive, passionate team: You will collaborate with dedicated colleagues who are committed to making a difference and supporting one another.
• Access opportunities for growth: We will support your professional development with training, learning opportunities, and the chance to shape a growing area of work.
• Enjoy flexibility and balance: We offer flexible working arrangements.

If you are seeking a role where your contributions are recognised, your work drives real impact and you can help shape something meaningful, we would love to connect with you.

Employee Benefits Include:

·       25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays (increases with length of service)

·       3x Christmas Closure Days

·       Up to 5 days paid Carers Leave

·       Regular training and development opportunities

Equal Opportunities

We want our services to be representative of the community we serve. We are proud of the diversity within Buckinghamshire and particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

How to apply
Please submit a CV and covering letter via our online portal.  Successful candidates may be invited to a first interview before the closing date.
 

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. If you require any adjustments to the interview process or would like to discuss your access needs in advance, please let us know by emailing us (email address available on our online portal) - we will do our best to accommodate you.

Join our team as Director of Education, helping us to support teachers, champion great teaching and raise the status of the profession. The Director of Education will advocate for the need for a strong professional body and its importance to teachers and leaders. The role will articulate the vision and ethos of the Chartered College of Teaching and inspire and empower internal and external stakeholders and the teaching profession to achieve the vision. The role will lead the growth of three core income streams: Chartered Status, membership and funded projects, and will represent the Chartered College of Teaching externally and grow our strategic networks. The role will advise on the education content of our external communications. The Director of Education will work with the Executive Leadership Team to develop and oversee implementation of the organisation’s strategy and to lead the Education Directorate to deliver the strategy. In association with other members of the Executive Leadership and Senior Management teams the role will advise on partnerships, funded education projects, policy, events, publishing and content, marketing and communications.

Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applicants based outside of the UK at this time.

For a short audio description of this role and the full application pack, please visit our website.

The Organisation

The Chartered College of Teaching is a charity and the professional body for teachers. We are working to empower a knowledgeable and respected teaching profession through membership and accreditation.

We are dedicated to bridging the gap between practice and research and equipping teachers from the moment they enter the classroom with the knowledge and confidence to make the best decisions for their pupils.

Our activities mainly focus on four key areas:

● membership

● Chartered study, professional learning and accreditation

● research, policy and events

● online and print resources

Since opening membership in 2017, we have grown rapidly. In total our work reaches over 40,000 teachers and more than 3.6 million young people. We are a growing and multi-skilled team of 30 people, supported by a Board with a significant track record of experience in a range of fields. Our business plan focuses on growing membership and Chartered Status, strategic positioning of the College in the education sector, and providing meaningful professional learning opportunities for the teaching profession.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to make a real impact. You will have overall accountability for the Education and Research directorate, including accreditation, partnerships, research, events and policy, funded projects, publishing and content and marketing and communication. We are recruiting a dedicated individual who believes in the Chartered College of Teaching’s mission and is committed to leading our growth. 

This would be an ideal opportunity for an ambitious  individual to inspire and empower stakeholders and the teaching profession to achieve the Chartered College of Teaching’s mission. You will:

•  have autonomy for leading the Education and Research Directorate;
• enjoy speaking at events and advocating for the need for a strong professional body;
• work collaboratively with many of the team across the charity, supporting the growth of partnerships in the sector;
• be part of the team driving the organisation forward at an exciting time for the future of the College.

Lead the growth of Chartered Status and membership; advocate for and represent the College; grow strategic networks

• Provide keynote speeches as required for the Chartered College of Teaching, building on teaching experience and practice. Attend and contribute as required at speaking events, important functions, sector events and meetings across the country
• Develop and manage senior strategic relationships with the DfE, devolved governments, other sector bodies as directed by the CEO
• Exemplify the importance of professional learning, especially sustained enquiry leading to validation e.g Masters, PhD study, Chartered routes
• Maintain detailed understanding of the wider education policy landscape and support our Public Relations dept in commenting to the media
• Lead the College’s income growth from funded projects, seeking new opportunities and work with the Deputy CEO and Director of Finance to ensure that new opportunities have robust commercial model
• Support management of relationships with funders at the highest level in partnership with the CEO and Deputy CEO

Organisational Planning & Strategy

• Work with the Executive Leadership Team to shape the organisational business plan, in partnership with Executive Leadership Team colleagues and Council, supported by a clear budget and plan for income generation
• Lead the implementation of the strategy, ensuring that KPIs are met / action is taken to course correct, and provide day-to-day guidance and long-term strategic direction for all employees within the College
• Oversee the College’s existing and new products and services, ensuring that they are of the highest standard, and are informed by research and impact evaluation

Leadership

• Advise on the education content of external communications
• Provide overall accountability and leadership in a range of areas including membership, publishing, content, research, Chartered status and other professional learning and accreditation
• Report to the Council as required and be the Executive Leadership Team representative for relevant committees, and ensure they have the reports and data needed to make informed decisions for the College 
• Provide leadership and development of individuals within the team, including setting clear objectives, responsibilities, performance standards and development goals and managing these accordingly – through informal coaching and feedback and formal discussions including regular one to ones and appraisals

About You

The Director of Education will be passionate about the purpose, vision and mission of the Chartered College of Teaching, including the growth of membership and accreditation, and the importance of high-quality education and research content. You will understand the importance of the College taking a balanced position (beyond ideology) and be able to link our existing content to our members’ needs. You will have gravitas with external stakeholders and be energised by developing and maintaining strong external networks within the education sector and with new and existing funders.

You do not need to have expertise in absolutely all areas, let us decide! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage applications from global majority candidates to diversify our workforce. We’re looking for someone that is motivated by our vision and is passionate about leading our growth.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Teaching expertise - experience of working with teachers and school leaders in a range of contexts, ideally with a focus on professional learning
• Highly credible, increasingly respected profile (including in public speaking) and a strong network within the education sector
• Experience of building and maintaining strong external relationships 
• Significant professional experience including a senior leadership role and interactions with board level executives or equivalent 
• Ability to motivate and inspire the whole staff team to consistently deliver quality services and develop a high-performance culture
• Be future focused able to make strategic decisions and deliver capabilities ahead of business requirements as well as in response to them

Desirable

• Strong academic skills e.g. at PhD / Masters level or Chartered Teacher Status
• An appreciation of the drivers of company profitability and cost management
• Experience of financial management, risk management and strategic business planning
• Experience of successfully identifying and securing funding bids
• Experience of successfully leading the delivery of multidisciplinary projects, programmes or organisational initiatives of significant size or impact
• A publication portfolio

Skills

• Excellent and adaptable communication skills
• Strong autonomy and accountability 
• Strategic thinker and results-driven
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good attention to detail
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills
• Articulate, and literate – able to express complex concepts both verbally and written down
• Highly effective organisational skills, with ability to manage a very demanding and varied workload 
• Calm and resilient with a warm sense of humour and ability to work well under pressure 
• Highly numerate (desirable)

Why Us?

As an organisation we care deeply about creating a working environment that supports our people to grow personally and professionally. These are reflected in our organisational values which outline the distinctive working culture we are looking to create. In particular, these values are reflected in our commitment to: 

• Flexible working: responsive management, flexible hours, hybrid or fully remote working 
• Professional development, including formal and informal training and support 
• Transparency and ownership: we have an open culture that ensures all staff guide our strategic direction 
• Mental health and wellbeing: access to health and wellbeing advice and health cash plan.

Diversity and inclusion at the Chartered College 

As a growing organisation we are committed to:

• Becoming increasingly representative of the sector and geographies that we operate in
• Providing a positive experience of work as part of an inclusive culture led by our organisational values 
• Maintaining an annual EDI action plan - led by the internal team. 

What to expect from the recruitment process

• All applications are anonymised until the point of interview
• Line Managers trained in recognising bias
• We implement a standardised interview template and competencies matrix for a fair and transparent process
• Online interviews are conducted via Zoom and the use of camera is optional.

For more information about joining the Chartered College, please watch this short video from Dame Alison Peacock (CEO).

Your Personal Data

As part of the recruitment process, the Chartered College of Teaching collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. The organisation is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations.

Pre-employment checks

All conditional offers of employment are subject to:

• Two satisfactory references
• Proof of qualifications
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

We are an employer committed to the safeguarding of children and young people.

About Us

Unfold is a bold, community-rooted charity supporting children, young people and families to thrive on their own terms and shape the systems around them. We’ve been driving social justice locally for 35 years, powered by brilliant volunteers who mentor, champion and walk alongside the people we serve.

About the Role

We’re growing fast, and we’re looking for someone who can supercharge our volunteer experience. You’ll lead the full volunteer journey,  recruiting community-rooted mentors, designing inclusive training, strengthening partnerships with universities and employers, and making sure every volunteer feels valued, prepared and inspired.

About You

You’ll embed social justice, accountability and care at every step, ensuring our volunteers reflect the communities we support. If you’re a relationship-builder, a storyteller, a strategist and a champion of equity who knows how to turn passion into action, we’d love you on our team.

We’re eager to hear from applicants with lived experience of the challenges our service users face, including people from the global majority, women, people living with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Why Work with Us

• Holidays: 25 working days (along with additional Christmas closedown days)
• Pension: We offer a generous pension provision. New staff are automatically enrolled for a pension after three months, and after six months, we will match your contribution up to a maximum of 8%.
• Team working: We are a small but brilliant team: we're supportive, diverse, and we help each other out. There are always opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the organisation, or lead on new initiatives.
• Training opportunities: We want to ensure that our team is continuously learning and building expertise in their field. For this reason, we offer each team member two days per year dedicated to professional development and training opportunities.
• Wellbeing - How we feel matters: Staff have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and our staff Wellbeing Champions are leading on the design and delivery of our wellbeing strategy, including the review of our quarterly wellbeing survey. Staff have regular supervision sessions to encourage reflection and discussion on our work and wellbeing. Additionally, we’re excited to introduce three days a year dedicated to team-building activities. These days are an opportunity to build skills, foster connections, and recharge as a team!
• Flexible working: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements in line with the requirements of the role.
• Working Environment: We work in a beautiful, accessible, eco-friendly co-working space with a number of other charities, with plants, a leafy roof terrace and free hot and cold drinks. With comfortable spaces to read quietly or talk in a group, our workspace is somewhere you'll want to be.