Overall Purpose of the Role
To provide effective leadership and management of a registered children's home for children with Emotional Behavioural Difficulties, ensuring high standards of care and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
The post holder will be responsible for creating a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment that promotes positive outcomes for all children and young people.
Main Accountabilities
- Take responsibility for the home, holding legal registration with Ofsted and ensuring that the home operates in line with the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, and Ofsted guidance.
- Maintain a high-quality service that meets the complex needs of children with emotional behavioural difficulties.
- Provide strong, compassionate leadership to the staff team, promoting a culture of high performance and accountability.
- Be the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the home, promoting and upholding a strong safeguarding culture, ensuring all incidents, concerns, and allegations are properly managed and reported.
- Ensure all staff are trained and confident in safeguarding practices, including whistleblowing and reporting procedures.
- Take responsibility for the production and review of care plans, risk assessments, behaviour guidelines, and other associated paperwork, ensuring that these reflect each child's individual needs, preferences, risks, and goals.
- Monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of each child, ensuring care and support promote aspiration, independence, inclusion, and wellbeing.
- Work in partnership with families, social workers, education providers, and health professionals to deliver holistic care.
- Recruit, induct, supervise, and develop staff in line with safer recruitment practices.
- Arrange and lead regular supervisions, team meetings, appraisals, and training to ensure staff are skilled, motivated, and competent, and keep records relating to all of the above.
- Foster a reflective and learning culture.
- Maintain accurate and timely records in accordance with regulations.
- Prepare for and respond to Ofsted inspections and internal audits.
- Ensure all health and safety, medication, and risk assessment protocols are strictly followed.
- Take part in and support the Regulation 44 Visitor in their monthly reviews of the home and complete Regulation 45 reviews of the service at least every six months.
- Manage the home's budget effectively, ensuring cost efficiency while maintaining high-quality provision.
- Ensure the home is maintained to a high standard of cleanliness, safety, and comfort.
- Participate in an out-of-hours on-call service on a rotational basis and be able to offer suitable advice or support that ensures the safety and wellbeing of staff and young people across the service.
- Assist in carrying out quality assurance and regulatory adherence compliance checks for homes across the company.
- Ensure all practices and processes within the home are conducted in line with the home's policies and procedures.
This list is not exhaustive but reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies the level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, accountabilities may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances.
Education and QualificationsEssential Criteria
- Level 3 in Residential Childcare (or Ofsted-recognised equivalent).
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or willingness to work towards achieving this within 18 months).
- A good general standard of education.
Desirable Criteria
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
- Evidence of specific training or qualifications related to supporting people with emotional behavioural difficulties.
Experience and Knowledge Essential Criteria
- At least 2 years' experience working with children in a residential setting (must be within the last 5 years).
- Minimum 1 year's experience in a management role (Deputy Manager or Registered Manager).
- In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, including:
- Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015
- Children Act 1989 & 2004
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Ofsted Inspection Frameworks
- Experience of writing and covering rotas.
- Experience of carrying out assessments.
- Experience in writing Regulation 45 reports.
- Experience in taking part in Regulation 44 visits.
- Experience in taking part in Ofsted inspections.
- Experience of supervising and appraising staff.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working with children who have learning disabilities and associated complex and challenging behaviours.
- Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approaches.
- Experience in leading Ofsted and Regulation 44 inspections.
- Experience in using ClearCare for care planning and recording.
Ability and SkillsEssential Criteria
- Strong leadership, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage complex safeguarding and behavioural needs confidently.
- IT literate and able to use programmes such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to chair meetings and write appropriate agendas.
- Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills.
- Ability to write reports in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to keep clear and concise records, including a staff training matrix.
- Ability to risk assess situations effectively, including dynamic risk assessment when required.
- Resilient and able to deal with difficult situations effectively.
- Ability to advocate for children, ensuring their views, wishes, and feelings are considered.
- Must hold a driving licence and have access to a car in order to effectively complete on-call duties.
Equal OpportunitiesEssential Criteria
- Knowledge of Equal Opportunities legislation and the ability to apply this effectively within the workplace.
- A commitment to working in an anti-discriminatory and non-judgemental manner, in line with Equal Opportunities Policies.
Desirable Criteria
- Training relating to the Equality Act and/or equality in the workplace.
Pay: £50,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Residential Childcare: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Level 3/4/5 in Residential Childcare (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
