Are you a Registered Manager — or an ambitious Deputy ready for the next step — who wants to lead a small, calm, child-centred home and genuinely change young lives?
At Solent Child Care, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving home — and every member of our team deserves recognition, support, and room to grow. We're looking for an experienced, passionate Registered Manager to lead one of our homes, supporting three children with complex emotional needs through our PACE/DDP-informed therapeutic parenting model.
This is a small, tranquil home with a hands-on senior leadership team behind you — not a sink-or-swim management role. You'll have real support to grow into the position and shape a high-quality service from the ground up.
ABOUT SOLENT CHILD CARE
Established in 2015, Solent Child Care is an independent provider of small, family-style children's homes across Wiltshire, Somerset, and the New Forest. We support children who have experienced significant trauma and aren't yet ready for foster care, offering a warm, stable alternative to larger institutional settings. Every home is built around our PACE/DDP therapeutic parenting model, and our staff act as trained, professional parents, backed by ongoing development and regular clinical supervision from day one.
THE ROLE
You'll take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the home, in line with the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, and Ofsted expectations. Specifically, you will:
- Act as Registered Manager and lead the home's compliance, culture, and standards
- Provide visible, inspirational leadership to your staff team
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of every child in your care
- Embed Solent Child Care's ethos and therapeutic (PACE/DDP) approach
- Recruit, supervise, develop, and appraise your team
- Keep the Statement of Purpose accurate and lived day-to-day
- Manage budgets, rotas, and on-call responsibilities
- Drive quality assurance, audits, and continuous improvement
ABOUT YOU
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare (or working towards)
- At least 3 years' experience working in a residential children's home, including managing or deputising in a registered setting
- Strong working knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
- A natural ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team
- Excellent communication, organisation, and decision-making skills
- A full UK driving licence (required for this role)
Desirable
- Experience supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties
- Experience delivering therapeutic models such as PACE/DDP
WHAT WE OFFER
- Up to £55,000 per year, depending on experience
- A genuinely supportive senior leadership team and Responsible Individual
- Ongoing professional development and training, including PACE/DDP and progression toward further leadership qualifications
- The chance to shape and grow a high-quality service from an early stage
- A values-led organisation that puts children first
- Company pension
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — confidential support for you and your family
- Blue Light Card discount scheme
- Refer-a-friend bonus
- On-site parking
Work authorisation: You must have the right to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Location: In person
Pay: £37,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Application question(s):
- Do you have a level 3 in Residential Child Care, or equivalent, or level 5 in Leadership & Management?
Experience:
- Residential Child Care: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- UK Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
