The role at a glance
The home: 2-bed children's residential home in Whalley Range, Manchester● Current position: Rated Requires Improvement at our last inspection — we're open about that, and this role exists to change it.
The team:
largely a new team — you will recruit and shape your own staff group, including your senior/deputy
Salary:
£50,000–£60,000 (top of band for a current or former RM with a track record of improvinginspection outcomes)
Bonus:
£5,000 on achieving a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement
On-call:
phone/remote on-call included in salary; paid at your hourly rate if you're called out to the home
Annual leave:
25 days + bank holidays, rising by one day for each year of service
You report to:
our Responsible Individual, who is hands-on in supporting the improvement plan
An honest pitch:
Our home in Bury was rated Requires Improvement at its last inspection. We're not hiding from that, we're hiring because of it. This is a small, 2-bed home, which means the turnaround is focused and achievable: two children, a team you build yourself, and a clear post-inspection action plan agreed with you, not handed to you. Turnarounds aren't for everyone. But if you're the kind of manager who wants a home you can genuinely call your own, your team, your culture, your standards, with a £5,000 bonus and a rating improvement with your name on it at the end, there are few better opportunities to prove what you can do. You will not be scapegoated for problems you inherited: the plan, timescales and resourcing are agreed together, and the RI works alongside you, not just above you.
What you'll do:
Hold overall responsibility for the home, leading it from Requires Improvement to Good and sustaining it
Recruit, develop and lead your own staff team, selection, supervision, culture and training
Own safeguarding, care planning, and compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
Lead Regulation 44/45 monitoring and inspection preparation, delivering the action plan with RI support
Work with placing authorities, schools, health and other agencies to get the right outcomes for our children
What we offer
£50,000–£60,000 depending on experience and track record
£5,000 Ofsted outcome bonus on achieving Good or Outstanding
Fully funded Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare if not yet held, plus ongoing funded training and CPD
25 days annual leave + bank holidays, rising by one day per year of service
Phone/remote on-call included in salary; call-outs paid at your hourly rate
Company pension
Who we're looking for:
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, held, or willing to complete within 2 years of appointment (fully funded)
At least 2 years' experience relevant to residential childcare within the last 5, including at least 1 year supervising staff, in line with the fit-person requirements
Registered Manager or Deputy Manager experience with Ofsted; experience of improving an inspection outcome is highly valued, but a strong Deputy ready to step up with our support will be seriously considered
A safeguarding-first, child-centred leader who is resilient, honest, and wants accountability with genuine backing.
Talk to us before you apply:
We know most good RMs are currently in post. For a completely confidential conversation about the home, its last inspection, and the improvement plan, before you send anything, call 01706 536589 (office hours — outside these, leave a message and we'll call you back the next working day).
To apply:
send a CV, no application form, no cover letter. We respond to every applicant within one working day, interview in a single stage including a visit to the home, and move quickly to a decision.
Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Manchester, Greater Manchester: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
- Children's Registered Manager: 2 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
