Healthcare, Social Care & Pharma

Contract: Permanent, full time

About the Provider

This is a well‑established, growing children’s residential care provider which:

• Has been operating for over 14 years in health and social care

• Launched its complex children’s residential division 4–5 years ago

• Now runs 16 children’s homes across England and Wales

• Specialises in high‑acuity, complex EBD placements, often step‑down from secure

• Has a strong track record of stability and outcomes, including children with 30+ previous placements who have gone on to settle, thrive and move on positively

A key differentiator is the infrastructure built specifically to support managers:

• Dedicated Compliance Team – leads on regulatory and file compliance

• Dedicated Payroll Team – manages payroll and related admin

• Dedicated Recruitment Team – recruits Support Workers and core staff

• In‑house Training & Qualifications – delivers Level 3–5 children’s residential care qualifications and education for young people, avoiding long external waiting lists

This structure allows Registered Managers to focus on the child, the team and the outcomes, rather than being buried in admin.

The Homes & Care Model

• Predominantly solo placements – usually 1 child per home

• Staffing ratios typically 2:1 Support Workers, occasionally 3:1 depending on complexity

• One Chester home is multi‑bed (capacity 3; currently 2 children) but remains highly staffed and well supported

• Homes are deliberately non‑clinical, warm and homely – high‑quality interiors, en‑suite bedrooms, proper family kitchens, social spaces (e.g. pool tables, patio doors, gardens)

• Ethos: homes should feel like “their home, not a unit”

The Opportunity

We are recruiting experienced Registered Managers (Ofsted) to lead:

These are complex services, working with children who have significant trauma histories, complex risk profiles and multiple previous placement breakdowns. They are, however, properly resourced, with good staffing ratios, strong central support and a senior team that understands the reality of the work.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Service Management

• Hold Ofsted registration for your home(s); be the accountable person for quality and safety

• Provide visible, values‑led leadership and maintain a stable, resilient culture

• Ensure a therapeutic, nurturing, structured environment that feels safe and homely

• Oversee care planning, risk management and behaviour support in line with trauma‑informed practice

• Lead by example in crises, de‑escalation and safeguarding

Quality, Compliance & Regulation

• Ensure full compliance with:Children’s Homes (England) Regulations
  Ofsted Inspection Framework
  Internal policies, procedures and quality standards
  

• Prepare for, lead and respond to Ofsted inspections, driving and sustaining ‘Good’ or better outcomes

• Work closely with the central Compliance Team while retaining clear operational accountability

• Maintain robust auditing, incident review and continuous improvement processes

Outcomes & Performance

• Be accountable for occupancy, outcomes, stability and staff retention, in line with the bonus structure (up to £10k)

• Ensure the home delivers measurable progress for children (education, health, emotional regulation, independence, risk reduction)

• Implement and monitor care and behaviour support plans to drive positive change

• Use data and regular reviews to identify trends and improve practice

People Management & Team Development

• Line manage Deputies and Support Workers, ensuring clear expectations, supervision and appraisals

• Work with the Recruitment Team to ensure safe staffing levels and the right team fit

• Coach, mentor and develop staff – many Deputies are being grown into future managers

• Foster a culture of learning, reflection and psychological safety

Partnership Working

• Build strong relationships with:Social workers and placing authorities
  Education providers (including internal education services)
  Health and CAMHS teams
  Families and wider networks, where appropriate
  

• Represent the organisation professionally in all external meetings and reviews

What Makes This Different

In many organisations, RMs are expected to be recruiter, HR, payroll, compliance officer and manager all at once. Here:

• You are not expected to recruit all your own staff – a Recruitment Team does this

• You are supported on compliance and documentation – a Compliance Team is in place

• You are not chasing external qualification providers – in‑house training delivers L3–L5 without long waits

• Your primary focus is to lead the home and the child’s journey

This is designed to reduce burnout and let managers do the job they trained for.