About the opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Dual Registered Manager — or a strong Registered Manager ready to step up — to join an ambitious and growing children's residential care provider during a significant period of expansion.
This is an opportunity to take overall leadership of two children's homes in Slough, each offering a solo placement for young people with needs, including Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). The two homes are located just a short drive apart. You will hold Ofsted registration for both services and shape the culture, practice and performance of each.
You will be joining an organisation with an excellent reputation for high-quality therapeutic care and existing homes. You will be supported by an experienced senior leadership team, including a dedicated Responsible Individual, operational, HR and compliance functions — so your focus stays where it matters: on the children and your teams.
About the homes
Both homes provide long-term, therapeutic solo placements for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, many of whom have experienced trauma, disrupted care histories, and multiple placements moves. A single-occupancy model, high staffing ratios, and a consistent, relational approach sit at the heart of the offer, giving each young person the intensive, individually tailored support they need to stabilise and progress.
Purpose of the role
To provide effective leadership and management of two registered children's homes, ensuring each delivers safe, nurturing, therapeutic care that meets the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, and achieves positive outcomes and strong Ofsted judgements.
Key responsibilitiesLeadership and management
- Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, management and operational performance of both homes
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership across both sites, balancing your presence and time effectively
- Recruit, induct, supervise, appraise and develop Deputy Managers, Team Leaders and Residential Support Workers
- Build and retain high-performing, stable staff teams, minimising reliance on agency staff
- Ensure safe staffing levels, effective rotas, and robust on-call arrangements at all times
- Lead a positive, open, learning culture in which staff feel supported, challenged and able to raise concerns
Quality of care and therapeutic practice
- Promote trauma-informed, child-centred and relational practice throughout both homes
- Ensure every child has an up-to-date, personalised care plan, placement plan, risk assessment and behaviour support strategy
- Work closely with clinical colleagues to embed therapeutic approaches into everyday practice
- Ensure children are supported to access education, health services, activities and community life, and to maintain positive family and social relationships
- Ensure children's wishes and feelings are actively sought, recorded and acted upon, and that they know how to complain or seek advocacy
- Promote positive behaviour support and ensure any use of restrictive physical intervention is lawful, proportionate, properly recorded and reviewed
Safeguarding
- Ensure safeguarding is at the heart of all decision-making and practice in both homes
- Act as the designated safeguarding lead, managing concerns, allegations and referrals in line with local safeguarding partnership procedures
- Report notifiable events to Ofsted, placing authorities and other agencies promptly and accurately
- Oversee safer recruitment, DBS checks, staff conduct, and the management of complaints, incidents and missing-from-home episodes
Regulatory compliance and quality assurance
- Ensure full compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, Ofsted's Social Care Common Inspection Framework, and all other relevant legislation and guidance
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date Statements of Purpose, children's guides, policies, records and registers for both homes
- Deliver the Regulation 45 quality of care review and support the Regulation 44 independent visitor process, acting on recommendations
- Lead preparation for and management of Ofsted inspections, and drive continuous improvement through robust action planning
- Monitor and evidence outcomes for children, using data to inform improvement
Partnership working and business performance
- Build strong, credible relationships with local authorities, placing social workers, IROs, education providers, health professionals, families and the wider community
- Manage referrals, matching and admissions to ensure each solo placement is safe, appropriate and sustainable for the young person and the staff team
- Manage delegated budgets, occupancy, expenditure and resources effectively
- Support the ongoing growth and development of the organisation, including the mobilisation, registration and launch of new services
About you
We are looking for an experienced, ambitious and resilient leader who is passionate about delivering exceptional care and developing outstanding services.
Essential
- Previous experience as a Registered Manager in an Ofsted-regulated children's home
- Evidence of a strong track record of positive Ofsted outcomes (Good or Outstanding)
- Experience of managing or supporting more than one service, or a clear ability to successfully hold dual registration
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) — or equivalent, or willingness to complete within an agreed timeframe
- Strong working knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, safeguarding legislation and Ofsted expectations
- Experience of leading, supervising and developing residential care teams
- Experience of supporting children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, trauma and complex needs
- Excellent leadership, communication, organisational and report-writing skills
- Ability to meet Ofsted's fit person requirements for registration
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
- Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain one)
Desirable
- Experience of opening, registering or developing new children's homes
- Experience of working within a therapeutic or clinically supported model of care
- Level 7 or other management qualification
- Training in a recognised behaviour support / physical intervention model (e.g. Team Teach, PROACT-SCIPr-UK)
- Experience of budget and occupancy management
Key personal qualities
- Child-focused, with genuine warmth and high aspirations for every young person
- Calm and decisive under pressure, with sound professional judgement
- Organised and self-directed, comfortable managing competing priorities across two sites
- Reflective, open to challenge, and committed to continuous learning
- Honest, transparent and resilient, with the integrity to hold a high standard of practice
What we offer
- Highly competitive salary of £100,000 – £120,000 per annum, dependent on experience and Ofsted track record
- Company bonus scheme on top of base salary
- Supportive, highly experienced senior leadership team, including a dedicated Responsible Individual
- Full central support with HR, recruitment, compliance, finance and maintenance
- Funded training, qualifications and continuing professional development
- Staff health and wellbeing programme, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme
- Generous annual leave plus bank holidays and a birthday day off
- Company pension scheme
- Genuine career progression within a growing organisation, including routes to Responsible Individual and operational leadership
- The opportunity to shape services and lead the mobilisation of new homes as we grow
Pay: £100,000.00-£120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
