Purpose of the Role
Francis Children's Homes is looking for an experienced, values-led Registered Manager to hold day-to-day
responsibility for the running of the home, ensuring that every child and young person receives safe, nurturing and
high-quality care in line with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, and Ofsted's
Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF).
The Registered Manager is accountable for the leadership of the staff team, the quality and safety of care provided,
compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, and for driving continuous improvement so that outcomes
for children and young people are consistently good or better.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
- Provide clear, visible and consistent leadership to the staff team, promoting a culture of high aspiration,
warmth and accountability.
- Recruit, induct, supervise, appraise and develop staff, ensuring a stable, skilled and confident workforce.
- Ensure staffing levels and skill mix are sufficient to meet the needs of the children and young people, and the
requirements set out in the home's Statement of Purpose.
- Chair and contribute to team meetings, reflective practice and case discussions, embedding a learning culture
within the home.
Quality of Care and Outcomes
- Ensure each child has an up-to-date, individualised care plan and that placement plans, risk assessments and
behaviour support plans are current and reflect best practice.
- Promote children's education, health, emotional wellbeing, and their voice and participation in decisions that
affect them.
- Champion trauma-informed, attachment-aware approaches to care, tailored to each child's needs.
- Work in partnership with placing authorities, social workers, families, education providers and health
professionals to achieve the best outcomes for each child.
Safeguarding
- Act as the home's lead for safeguarding, ensuring staff understand and follow child protection procedures
and that concerns are reported and escalated promptly.
- Maintain a safe physical and emotional environment, with robust risk assessment and management of
behaviours that challenge, missing-from-care episodes, and online safety.
- Ensure safer recruitment practices are followed for all staff, in line with Schedule 2 of the Children's Homes
(England) Regulations 2015.
Regulatory Compliance
- Maintain the home's registration with Ofsted and ensure ongoing compliance with the Children's Homes
(England) Regulations 2015 and associated Quality Standards.
- Complete the Registered Manager's monthly Regulation 45 review of the quality of care, and act on findings
without delay.
- Support and act on the independent person's monthly Regulation 44 visits, ensuring recommendations are
addressed.
- Notify Ofsted and other relevant bodies of significant events in line with statutory timescales.
- Prepare thoroughly for Ofsted inspections and lead the home through them, ensuring evidence of compliance
and continuous improvement is readily available.
- Maintain accurate, high-quality records, including care records, incident logs, medication records and staff
files.
Resource and Business Management
- Manage the home's budget effectively, ensuring resources are used efficiently to meet children's needs.
- Oversee the maintenance, health and safety, and general upkeep of the home environment.
- Contribute to the development and regular review of the home's Statement of Purpose, policies and
procedures.
Person Specification
Francis Children's Homes welcomes applications from candidates who meet the criteria below. This includes both
current Registered Managers and highly experienced Deputy Managers (five or more years' experience) who hold, or
are working towards, the required Level 5 qualification and are ready to step up into registration.
Qualifications
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or the equivalent, e.g. the Level
5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services, Children
and Young People's Management pathway).
- Candidates who do not yet hold the Level 5 Diploma but can evidence significant relevant experience will be
considered, provided they can commit to enrolling and completing the qualification within the regulatory
timescale (currently enrolment within 3 months and completion within 3 years of appointment, in line with
Regulation 28).
- A genuine commitment to continuing professional development.
Experience
- For applicants applying as a current Registered Manager: proven track record of managing a children's
home, including a good working knowledge of Ofsted's inspection framework and regulatory requirements.
- For applicants applying as a Deputy Manager: a minimum of 5 years' experience in a residential childcare
setting, including substantial experience at Deputy Manager level, with demonstrable readiness to take on
registered management responsibility.
- At least 2 years' experience, within the last 5 years, working directly in a role relevant to the residential care
of children (in line with Regulation 28 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015).
- At least 1 year's experience in a role involving the supervision and management of staff providing care to
children.
- Experience of managing safeguarding concerns, behaviour that challenges, and multi-agency working with
social workers, education and health colleagues.
Skills and Knowledge
- Sound working knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards, and
Ofsted's Social Care Common Inspection Framework.
- Strong leadership and staff management skills, with the ability to motivate, supervise and performance-
manage a team.
- Excellent understanding of safeguarding practice and statutory child protection procedures.
- Confident written and verbal communication, including report writing to a standard suitable for Ofsted, local
authorities and other professionals.
- Sound budgeting and resource management skills.
- Ability to remain calm, resilient and solution-focused under pressure, including during out-of-hours
emergencies.
- Good IT skills for record-keeping, reporting and communication.
Personal Qualities
- A genuine commitment to improving the lives and life chances of children and young people in care.
- High standards of integrity, honesty and professional conduct.
- Emotionally warm, resilient and non-judgemental approach to working with children who may have
experienced trauma.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the role.
- Flexibility to participate in an on-call rota and to respond to the needs of the home outside of normal
working hours.
Statutory Checks
Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory completion of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
check, verification of employment history, satisfactory references, evidence of relevant qualifications, and a health
declaration confirming fitness to undertake the role, in line with Schedule 2 of the Children's Homes (England)
Regulations 2015. Successful applicants will also be required to complete Ofsted's 'fit person' interview as part of the
registration process.
Francis Children's Homes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Pay: £55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- Gym membership
Work Location: In person
