Registered Manager – New Children’s Residential Home
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Service: Ofsted-Registered Children’s Residential Home
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Location: Oxfordshire/ Buckinghamshire
About the Role
We are establishing a new children’s residential home and are seeking an experienced, committed and child-focused Registered Manager to lead the service through its establishment, Ofsted registration and ongoing operation.
This is an opportunity to play a key role in developing a new home from the outset, building a strong staff team and creating a safe, nurturing and well-managed environment in which children and young people can thrive.
The Registered Manager will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the home, regulatory compliance, safeguarding, quality of care, staff leadership and achieving positive outcomes for children.
Essential / Ofsted Requirements – Must Have
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they meet the fitness and experience requirements applicable to a manager under Regulation 28 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, including:
- At least 2 years’ experience within the last 5 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children.
- At least 1 year’s experience in a role involving the supervision and management of staff working in a care role.
- Appropriate experience, knowledge and skills to effectively manage a children’s home and lead the care of children.
- Integrity and good character and the ability to satisfy the relevant Ofsted suitability and Schedule 2 checks.
- Ability to demonstrate physical and mental fitness to manage the home, in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Ability and willingness to successfully complete the Ofsted Registered Manager application and suitability process, including interview.
Qualification
For this appointment, we require candidates to already hold:
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England); or
- A qualification demonstrably equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma.
Knowledge & Experience
The successful candidate should have strong working knowledge of:
- The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and associated Quality Standards.
- Safeguarding and child protection requirements.
- Children’s residential care practice.
- Risk assessment and risk management.
- Safer recruitment and appropriate staff deployment.
- Care planning and placement planning.
- Positive, relationship-based approaches to behaviour support.
- The impact of trauma, attachment and adverse childhood experiences on children.
- Quality assurance, monitoring and continuous service improvement.
- Working effectively with local authorities, social workers, families, education providers, health professionals and other agencies.
Key Responsibilities
The Registered Manager will:
- Lead the establishment and day-to-day operation of the children’s home.
- Support the provider throughout the Ofsted registration process and prepare for the Registered Manager interview.
- Ensure the home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose.
- Maintain compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and other relevant legislation and guidance.
- Establish a strong safeguarding culture in which children’s welfare is paramount.
- Recruit, lead, supervise and develop a competent and compassionate staff team.
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels and effective rota management.
- Provide regular supervision, performance management and professional development for staff.
- Ensure children receive individualised, high-quality care that reflects their assessed needs and placement plans.
- Develop positive relationships with children and ensure their wishes, feelings and views influence how the home operates.
- Oversee safeguarding concerns, incidents, complaints, missing-from-care episodes and significant events, ensuring appropriate action, recording and notification.
- Maintain robust records, policies, procedures and monitoring systems.
- Ensure risk assessments and behaviour support plans are appropriate, current and consistently implemented.
- Work collaboratively with placing authorities, social workers, families and other professionals.
- Monitor the quality of care provided and implement continuous improvement plans.
- Prepare the home and staff team for Ofsted inspections and lead confidently during the inspection process.
- Work closely with the Responsible Individual and provider to maintain high standards of governance and regulatory compliance.
- Manage the home’s resources and budget responsibly.
- Maintain appropriate professional development and remain up to date with changes in legislation, regulation and best practice.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for someone who is:
- An experienced leader within children’s residential care.
- Confident in establishing and developing a new service.
- Highly knowledgeable about Ofsted expectations and regulatory compliance.
- Child-centred and committed to achieving excellent outcomes for young people.
- A strong and supportive leader who can build and retain an effective staff team.
- Organised, accountable and comfortable maintaining high standards of documentation and governance.
- Calm and confident when managing safeguarding concerns, incidents and challenging situations.
- Able to communicate effectively with children, staff, families, professionals, commissioners and regulators.
- Ambitious about developing a home capable of achieving a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
Desirable
- Previous experience as an Ofsted Registered Manager or Deputy Manager in a children’s home.
- Experience successfully supporting or leading an Ofsted inspection.
- Experience opening or registering a new children’s home.
- Previous experience achieving or maintaining a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
- Experience recruiting and developing a new residential care team.
- Full UK driving licence.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to lead and shape a brand-new children’s home from inception.
- Competitive salary package.
- Support from the Responsible Individual and provider.
- Investment in professional development and ongoing training.
- Genuine autonomy to build a high-quality, child-centred service and culture.
- Opportunity to grow with the organisation as additional services are developed.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, references and all other checks required for the role and Ofsted registration.
Applications are particularly welcomed from experienced children’s residential care managers who are confident in leading a new home through registration and establishing a strong culture of safeguarding, quality and positive outcomes for children.
Pay: £55,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
