Working in Residential Care in Buckinghamshire
Hello, I’m Zoe, the Head of Home at Wenlock House. I joined Buckinghamshire Council in April 2024 and so far, I’m really enjoying my time here. It can be challenging, but I love a challenge and every day is different.
Tell us about your career journey, Zoe…
I started my career at Sainsbury’s many years ago, quickly moving up to become a department manager within six months. I stayed with Sainsbury’s for about eight years. During that time, a friend of mine had a son with Down syndrome. This piqued my interest in special needs, and I wanted to understand more about it.
A job opportunity came up at a special needs school, and I took it. I absolutely loved it, but I knew I wanted to advance further in my career. I worked as a teaching assistant for a while, then moved up to a senior position within a special needs school, and eventually became a cover teacher. Later, I transitioned to social, emotional, and mental health schools. The first six months were very challenging because it was so different, but after that, I found it incredibly rewarding and enjoyed building relationships. I still miss it to this day.
For financial reasons, I had to find something else, but I wanted to stay within the social, emotional, and mental health field. I moved to McIntyre School as a frontline manager in residential care for children. I enjoyed my time there and continued to move up the ladder, eventually becoming a service manager. I then moved to Adults Stay services but wanted to return to residential care.
When Buckinghamshire Council advertised for a Head of Home position, I was eager to apply because I had previously worked with Bucks schools and always wanted to return. I also knew their pension was excellent and the job offered stability. So, I applied, went through the interview process, and now I’m here.
What’s the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the successes of the children. From the moment they join us, we help them succeed in life and fulfill their wishes. Our work truly matters for the children, as we guide them toward achieving their goals. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we are all here in residential care for the children.
What’s the team culture like?
The team is like a second family. You see them more than your own family, and the children too. Everyone works so well together, and we recently received an ‘outstanding’ rating in our Ofsted inspection due to the team’s exceptional collaboration, which I’m hugely proud of. They bounce off each other, leveraging each other’s strengths to achieve the best outcomes for the kids. It’s brilliant, and my team has been amazing so far.
Why is it an exciting time to join the Residential Care teams in Buckinghamshire?
We’re opening another seven homes, which means there are numerous opportunities for residential support workers, assistant team managers, and registered managers. I’m committed to developing my team, so there’s plenty of career development within Buckinghamshire. We’re flexible and believe in give and take. To get the best out of your staff, it’s all about supporting each other — we recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. I definitely encourage people to apply. It’s a fantastic place to work, providing a great environment for the kids, and your well-being is well looked after.
Search and apply for roles within Buckinghamshire: https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
