Registered Manager

Anima Residential Care is looking for an exceptional Registered Manager to lead our children’s home in Slade Green, Erith. The home is a two-bed service for young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and Learning Disabilities (LD) and is currently rated Good by Ofsted. This is a genuine opportunity to build on an established, well-regarded service, lead a high-performing team, and deliver trauma-informed care that changes children’s lives. We are ambitious about growth, and we want a leader who shares that ambition.

A second home is currently underway for registration in the same area, a three-bed EBD home just a ten-minute walk away. This offers genuine potential for dual registration, with the opportunity to manage both homes and care for up to five children in total. For the right leader, this is a rare chance to grow with us, though if you would prefer to focus on a single home, we are happy to consider single registration.

Remuneration & Growth

• Salary of £55,000–£63,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.
• For dual registration — managing both homes and up to five children — a salary of £65,000–£75,000 per annum, negotiable for the right leader.
• A clear growth pathway: a second three-bed EBD home is underway for registration just a ten-minute walk away, offering dual-registration potential (single registration also considered).
• 30 days’ annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) and a workplace pension.
• Fully supported continuing professional development, including funding towards your Level 5 Diploma where needed.
• Genuine autonomy and the backing of a committed Responsible Individual who invests in quality, training and facilities.
• The opportunity to build and lead a team, set the culture, and make this home truly your own.

Job Purpose

• To lead and manage the home in line with its Statement of Purpose, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards.
• To create and sustain a safe, nurturing, therapeutic environment in which children recover, build resilience and achieve positive outcomes.
• To register with Ofsted as the named Registered Manager and to meet the “fit person” requirements at all times.
• To lead, inspire and develop a skilled, motivated staff team that delivers consistent, high-quality, child-centred care.
• To ensure the home is inspection-ready at all times and works towards a judgement of Good and Outstanding.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Compliance

• Hold Ofsted registration for the home and ensure full compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
• Lead the home in line with its Statement of Purpose, embedding a culture of high aspiration for every child.
• Ensure robust monitoring and review systems are in place, including Regulation 45 reports, and engage fully with Regulation 44 independent visits.
• Maintain inspection readiness and lead the home through Ofsted inspections under the SCCIF.
• Develop, implement and review policies, procedures and safe working practices.

Care & Safeguarding

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of every child, acting as a lead for safeguarding and child protection.
• Oversee high-quality, individualised care planning, risk assessment and key-working that meets each child’s assessed needs.
• Champion trauma-informed, therapeutic approaches and effective de-escalation throughout the home.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with social workers, families, health, education, the police and the wider professional network.
• Lead the recording, review and reporting of incidents, ensuring lessons are learned and good practice is sustained.

Team & Operations

• Recruit, induct, supervise and develop staff through safer recruitment, regular reflective supervision and appraisal.
• Plan the rota and staffing to ensure sufficient, suitably qualified staff and continuity of care for each child.
• Manage performance, address poor practice, and build a positive, accountable team culture.
• Manage the home’s budget, resources, occupancy and day-to-day operations effectively.
• Ensure the home is safe, well-maintained and compliant with health, safety and fire requirements.
• Provide on-call leadership and ensure effective management cover in your absence.

Person Specification

Essential

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), or a willingness to achieve it within three years of appointment as required by Regulation 28.
• Substantial experience of working in children’s residential care, including in a management, deputy or senior role.
• A thorough working knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards and Ofsted inspection.
• Proven leadership, supervision and team-development skills.
• A strong, demonstrable commitment to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.
• Excellent communication, organisation, record-keeping and decision-making skills.
• The ability to meet Ofsted’s “fit person” requirements, hold an enhanced DBS (with barred list checks) and the right to work in the UK.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to provide on-call cover.

Desirable

• Experience of managing a home rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
• Experience supporting children with EBD and/or learning disabilities.
• Experience of opening or registering a new home, or of dual registration.
• Training in trauma-informed care, therapeutic parenting or de-escalation/physical intervention.

Anima Residential Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All appointments are subject to our safer recruitment process and to Ofsted’s requirements for a registered manager, including an enhanced DBS check with barred list checks, satisfactory references (including the most recent employer), a full employment history, proof of identity, evidence of relevant qualifications and the right to work in the UK, in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. Anima Residential Care operates a No Smoking policy at all of its establishments and is committed to diversity, inclusion and treating everyone with dignity and respect.