Social Worker Registered Manager – Residential Family Assessment Centre
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
Salary: £55,000–£65,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Job Type: Full-time
Contract: Permanent
Working Arrangement: Hybrid, with a minimum of three days per week based at the centre
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and committed Social Worker to become the Registered Manager of our new Residential Family Assessment Centre in Bournemouth.
Our centre provides specialist residential parenting assessments for mothers and their babies and young children, offering a safe, nurturing and therapeutic environment where families can be assessed, supported and empowered. Working closely with Local Authorities and the Family Court, we deliver fair, evidence-based assessments that place the child's welfare, safety and developmental needs at the heart of every decision.
We believe that, wherever it is safe to do so, families should be supported to remain together. Our role is to provide balanced, analytical and evidence-based assessments that recognise both strengths and risks, enabling informed decisions that are always in the best interests of the child.
As Registered Manager, you will provide strong leadership to a multidisciplinary team, ensuring the centre delivers outstanding care, robust safeguarding and high-quality parenting assessments while maintaining full compliance with Ofsted and regulatory standards.
Why Join Us?
- Opportunity to shape and develop a brand-new Residential Family Assessment Centre from its inception.
- Help build an innovative, therapeutic service supporting mothers and babies at one of the most significant times in their lives.
- Work alongside experienced clinical leaders in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
- Influence the future development and growth of a high-quality, child-centred service.
- Ongoing investment in leadership development and professional training.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operation, management and development of the Residential Family Assessment Centre.
- Recruit, induct, supervise, develop and motivate a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
- Lead and oversee comprehensive parenting assessments of mothers and their babies and young children, ensuring assessments are evidence-based, analytical and centred on the child's welfare and developmental needs.
- Promote positive parent–infant relationships and ensure assessments consider attachment, child development, parental capacity for change and long-term outcomes.
- Produce high-quality analytical reports for Local Authorities and the Family Court.
- Ensure every family is treated with dignity, compassion and respect while maintaining professional curiosity and a child-centred approach.
- Lead the service in achieving and maintaining a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
- Prepare for, manage and respond to Ofsted inspections.
- Maintain effective safeguarding, risk management, quality assurance and governance systems.
- Monitor service quality through regular audits, reflective practice and continuous improvement plans.
- Ensure statutory notifications and regulatory requirements are met.
- Ensure compliance with the Residential Family Centres (England) Regulations 2002, National Minimum Standards and all relevant legislation.
- Develop, implement and review assessment, placement and support plans.
- Work collaboratively with families, Local Authority social workers, Cafcass Guardians, solicitors, health visitors, midwives, perinatal mental health services and other partner agencies to ensure holistic assessments and coordinated support.
- Attend professional meetings, legal planning meetings and court hearings where required.
- Maintain safe staffing arrangements and effective service delivery.
- Contribute to the effective management of budgets, resources and occupancy.
- Participate in the management on-call rota where required.
Essential Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Significant post-qualifying experience within children's social work.
- Significant experience undertaking parenting assessments involving infants and young children.
- Sound understanding of attachment theory, child development, safeguarding and risk assessment.
- Strong understanding of Family Court processes and care proceedings.
- Experience of supervising, developing and supporting staff.
- Excellent leadership, organisational and decision-making skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality analytical reports.
- Ability to build positive and effective relationships with families and partner agencies.
- Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- Enhanced DBS check.
- Right to work in the UK.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience working within a Residential Family Assessment Centre.
- Experience preparing for and leading Ofsted inspections.
- Knowledge of the Residential Family Centres (England) Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (or willingness to work towards the qualification).
- Experience using ParentAssess, PAMS or CUBAS assessment frameworks. Applicants willing to undertake relevant training will also be considered.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Management training and ongoing professional development will be provided for the right candidate.
Benefits
- Competitive salary of £55,000–£65,000 per annum.
- Flexible hybrid working.
- Company pension.
- On-site parking.
- Ongoing CPD and leadership development.
- Supportive supervision and mentoring.
- Opportunity to lead and shape a newly established Residential Family Assessment Centre.
- Genuine opportunities for career progression as the organisation grows.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced Social Worker who is passionate about improving outcomes for mothers, babies and young children, and are committed to delivering fair, analytical and child-centred parenting assessments within a therapeutic residential setting, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please get in touch.
We'd love to tell you more about our vision, our values and the opportunity to help build an outstanding Residential Family Assessment Centre from the very beginning.
Pay: £55,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bournemouth BH3 7NQ
