At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a children's residential care home, ensuring high-quality, child-centred care.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on making a positive impact in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonuses, generous holidays, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career progression and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: LEWISAHM
Salary: £65000 plus Bonus depending on experience.
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Working Hours: 40 hours per week (may include evenings, weekends, and on-call duties as required)
Job Purpose
The Registered Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and development of a 3-bed Children’s Home, including the registration and start-up of the service. The post holder will ensure that children and young people receive high-quality, safe, and child-centred care, promoting positive outcomes in line with regulatory requirements and best practice. The Registered Manager will lead by example, creating a nurturing, trauma-informed environment, ensuring safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of practice, and developing a skilled and motivated staff team capable of delivering consistently high standards of care.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership and Management
- Provide strong, visible leadership to the home, modelling values-led, child-focused practice
- Lead the initial set-up and Ofsted registration of the home, ensuring readiness to operate
- Develop and implement the home’s Statement of Purpose, policies, and procedures
- Create a positive, inclusive culture that promotes stability, safety, and aspirational care
- Ensure children’s rights, wishes, and feelings are central to all decision-making
- Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the home
- Ensure all safeguarding concerns, incidents, and allegations are managed in line with statutory guidance
- Maintain strong links with Local Authorities, safeguarding partners, and other professionals
- Promote a culture of professional curiosity, reflection, and learning
- Quality of Care and Outcomes
- Ensure care planning is individualised, trauma-informed, and responsive to children’s needs
- Monitor and review children’s progress across education, health, emotional wellbeing, and relationships
- Lead regular reviews, contribute to statutory meetings, and advocate for children effectively
- Strive to meet and exceed the Quality Standards, aiming for Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes
- Staff Recruitment, Development and Supervision
- Recruit, induct, and retain a competent and values-aligned staff team
- Provide regular supervision, appraisal, and performance management
- Ensure staff receive appropriate training, development, and emotional support
- Address capability, conduct, and absence issues fairly and consistently
- Regulatory Compliance and Governance
- Ensure full compliance with Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, safeguarding legislation and Working Together guidance
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date records and monitoring systems
- Prepare for and lead Ofsted inspections, regulation 44 visits, and audits
- Act promptly on learning, recommendations, or requirements
- Operational and Financial Management
- Manage the home’s budget, staffing rota, and resources responsibly
- Ensure effective occupancy planning and placement matching
- Oversee health and safety compliance, premises suitability, and risk management
- Contribute to service development and continuous improvement
- Accountability
- Reports to: Responsible Individual
- Responsible for: All staff within the children’s home, quality of care, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance, day-to-day operational management of the home
Benefits
- Competitive salary with performance-related bonuses.
- Comprehensive induction program and ongoing professional development.
- Opportunities for career progression within the organization.
- Generous holiday entitlement.
- Company pension scheme.
- Employee assistance program and well-being support.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Qualifications
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) or willingness to complete within agreed timescales
- Relevant professional qualification in social care, childcare, or related field
- Experience
- Significant experience working in children’s residential care
- Proven experience in a management or leadership role (Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting children and young people with complex needs, including trauma, attachment, or risk behaviours
- Experience of safeguarding, child protection processes, and multi-agency working
- Experience of Ofsted inspections and regulatory frameworks
- Knowledge and Skills
- Thorough understanding of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
- Safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance
- Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a diverse staff team
- Strong decision-making, organisational, and problem-solving skills
- Confidence in managing budgets, rotas, and operational demands
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Personal Attributes
- Child-centred, compassionate, and resilient
- Emotionally intelligent with a calm, reflective approach
- Values-driven and committed to continuous improvement
- Able to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
- Strong sense of professional integrity and accountability
- Desirable Criteria
- Experience of setting up or registering a children’s home
- Evidence of leading a service to Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes
- Experience working with commissioning teams and placement matching
- Therapeutic, systemic, or trauma-informed practice training
- Management qualification beyond Level 5
Additional Requirements
- Enhanced DBS check
- Right to work in the UK
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
Registered Manager - Children's Social Care in London employer: BIDEX RECRUITMENT SERVICES LTD
As a Registered Manager in our Children's Residential Care Home in Lewisham, you will join a dedicated team committed to providing high-quality, child-centred care in a nurturing environment. We offer competitive salaries, performance-related bonuses, and extensive professional development opportunities, ensuring that our staff are well-supported and equipped to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. Our inclusive work culture prioritises employee well-being and career progression, making us an exceptional employer in the social care sector.
Contact Details:
BIDEX RECRUITMENT SERVICES LTD Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Registered Manager - Children's Social Care in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's social care sector. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for child-centred care.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent developments. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in making a positive impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Focus on articulating your experience in managing children's homes and how you've led teams to achieve outstanding outcomes. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We want to see your application and help you land that Registered Manager role. Plus, it’s a great way to stay updated on new opportunities in children's social care.
We think you need these skills to ace Registered Manager - Children's Social Care in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Registered Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your written application, emphasise your leadership and management experience. We want to see examples of how you've led teams and created positive environments in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to mention your experience in children's residential care and any specific achievements related to safeguarding and quality of care. This is crucial for us to see your fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at BIDEX RECRUITMENT SERVICES LTD
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarise yourself with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance in your role as a Registered Manager, as this will show your understanding of the regulatory framework.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Think about examples that demonstrate your leadership and management skills. Be ready to share how you've created a positive, child-centred environment in previous roles, and how you plan to lead a diverse staff team effectively.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Anticipate questions about safeguarding and child protection scenarios. Prepare specific examples of how you've handled similar situations in the past, highlighting your decision-making process and the outcomes for the children involved.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Discuss your commitment to ongoing professional development and how you plan to foster a culture of learning within the home. Share any relevant training or qualifications you have, and express your enthusiasm for leading a service to achieve Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
