Parent and Child Assessment Unit – Reading
Are you an experienced children’s social worker looking to leave local authority practice and take your first step into residential management?
We are recruiting both a Registered Manager and Deputy Registered Manager for a Parent and Child Assessment Unit in the Reading area. You do not need to be an existing Registered Manager: we are particularly interested in qualified social workers who can bring strong safeguarding practice, professional judgement and emerging leadership experience into a management role.
This is a rare opportunity to progress without sacrificing your evenings and weekends.
Why consider this opportunity?
- Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
- No nights, sleep-ins or weekend shifts
- A genuine route from children’s social work into management
- Funded NVQ training and ongoing professional development
- Direct support from an owner with a social work background
- An experienced management team with significant social work expertise
- A child-focused, values-led working environment
- The opportunity to develop into—and succeed as—a children’s Registered Manager
- Meaningful influence over safeguarding, practice standards and the development of the service
You will join an organisation that understands the realities of frontline social work. Its leadership team has substantial social work experience and provides a genuine layer of support around its managers. You will be trusted to lead, but you will not be expected to manage difficult decisions in isolation.
The roles
The Registered Manager will take overall responsibility for the safe, effective and compliant operation of the service, providing strong leadership to the staff team and ensuring that children and families receive high-quality, child-focused support.
The Deputy Registered Manager will support the day-to-day leadership of the unit, develop staff practice and help maintain excellent standards across safeguarding, assessments, care planning and compliance. This position offers a clear development route for an experienced social worker preparing to move into a Registered Manager role.
Appointments will be matched to each candidate’s experience, leadership background and readiness for registration.
Key responsibilities
Depending on the level of appointment, you will:
- Support or lead the day-to-day running of the Parent and Child Assessment Unit
- Provide visible, thoughtful leadership to the staff team
- Maintain robust child protection and safeguarding practice
- Oversee care plans, risk assessments and the quality of support provided to children and families
- Supervise, mentor and develop staff, encouraging reflective and accountable practice
- Lead meetings and contribute confidently to complex decision-making
- Coordinate effective multi-agency work with social workers, local authorities and other professionals
- Ensure records, policies and working practices meet regulatory and organisational requirements
- Monitor standards of care and take action when improvements are needed
- Help create a culture in which children’s welfare remains at the centre of every decision
- Contribute to the continued development of the service
About you
You must:
- Be a qualified social worker
- Have practical experience of child protection and safeguarding
- Be able to demonstrate leadership or management potential
Your leadership experience could include:
- Supervising staff or students
- Mentoring colleagues
- Leading professional or multi-agency meetings
- Managing complex cases
- Coordinating multi-agency interventions
- Supporting service or practice improvements
You will also need to:
- Live within a reasonable commuting distance of Reading
- Be ready to progress into residential management within a Parent and Child Assessment Unit
- Communicate confidently with families, staff and external professionals
- Make sound decisions in complex or sensitive situations
- Be committed to child-focused, values-led practice
- Have the confidence to challenge decisions when they are not in a child’s best interests
Previous experience as a Registered Manager is not essential. We welcome applications from experienced children’s social workers who are ready to transfer their skills into leadership, as well as established residential managers seeking a well-supported Monday-to-Friday position.
A genuine next step in your career
This is more than an opportunity to step away from local authority pressures. It is a supported route into management within an organisation whose leadership understands social work practice firsthand.
You will receive funded training, direct access to experienced senior leaders and the practical support needed to grow into your role. The organisation is serious about creating a service where children’s needs come first and where managers have the guidance and backing to lead well.
Apply
Apply through Indeed or email [email protected] with your name and telephone number to arrange a confidential discussion.
If you are an experienced children’s social worker wondering whether you are ready for management, we would love to speak with you.
Pay: £43,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
