At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform Oakdene Care Home into a thriving, high-quality service.
- Company: Join Care Concern Group, a family-owned provider with over 130 homes across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, private medical insurance, and strong organisational support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by turning around a care home and improving lives.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing and improving underperforming care services.
- Other info: Opportunity for genuine autonomy and long-term career growth.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 102000 £ per year.
Management - Oakdene Care Home
Contract: Full Time
Salary: £85,000 per annum + up to 40% Annual Bonus + Private Medical Insurance
Shift Type: Days
Contracted hours: 40
Oakdene Care Home is a 71-bed residential service set across two buildings in the heart of Wimborne Minster. Currently operating at approximately 38% occupancy, with two units temporarily closed, Oakdene represents a significant and exciting turnaround opportunity for an experienced, resilient, and values-led Home Manager.
The home’s business model is under review, with aspirations to evolve from a residential service into a nursing-led model, creating a unique opportunity for a clinically aware leader with strong commercial acumen to help define and deliver Oakdene’s next chapter. This is not a short-term fix. We are seeking a long-term, visible leader who will restore trust, rebuild confidence, develop people, and drive sustainable improvement in both quality and commercial performance.
The Opportunity
As Home Manager, you will have full accountability for Oakdene’s performance, culture, and future direction. Over the next 12–24 months, your focus will be on stabilising the home, strengthening quality and compliance, reopening and embedding new units, and improving financial performance through increased occupancy and fee optimisation. You will lead from the front - working alongside your teams, coaching and developing capability, setting clear expectations, and holding people to account with fairness and consistency. You will balance high standards of care and risk management with commercial awareness, ensuring the home becomes both a great place to live and a sustainable, well-performing business. This role offers genuine autonomy, strong organisational support, and the chance to create long-term impact in a home with real potential.
A Snapshot of Where Oakdene Is Today
Oakdene is currently rated Requires Improvement by the CQC, with two regulatory breaches identified in March 2025. A follow-up inspection is anticipated to review progress. A local authority visit in November 2025 acknowledged positive steps forward, though there remains significant work to do. The internal quality audit score was below 40% in October 2025, highlighting the scale of improvement required. Workforce pressure remains high, with a HPRW of 55 (above the desired 41), and approximately 150 hours of recruitment still required across care and ancillary roles - though the home is not currently using agency staff. Fee structures vary widely due to a mix of self-funded and local authority placements, with older parts of the building presenting challenges for higher fees. However, the newer unit, Acorn Lodge, offers strong potential with target fees of £1,300–£1,400 in line with the local market. This context demands a leader who is calm, credible, systematic, and solutions focused. Someone who understands how to build improvement steadily and sustainably.
About You
You are an experienced Home Manager with a proven track record of turning around underperforming services, ideally across residential or nursing environments. You are clinically aware and confident in managing risk, governance, and regulatory compliance, with experience leading teams through inspection and recovery. You bring strong commercial understanding - able to improve occupancy, optimise workforce deployment, and build financial resilience without compromising care quality. You are hands-on, highly visible, and comfortable working alongside teams to understand the detail and drive change. Most importantly, you are a consistent and trustworthy leader. You do what you say you will do. You value coaching, development, and accountability, and you have the resilience to rebuild morale in a home that has experienced instability and lost confidence in leadership. Oakdene needs someone who will stay the course.
Leadership Style & Culture Fit
This role requires a leader who leads with heart, integrity, and energy - someone who takes the time to listen, understand, and rebuild belief. You will empower teams through support and development, while being clear, firm, and fair about expectations and performance. You will be transparent, values-driven, and deeply committed to achieving high standards of care and quality. Your presence will bring stability, direction, and renewed motivation to a workforce that is ready for change but needs to see it delivered consistently.
Why Oakdene?
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a complex, high-impact turnaround within a supportive, well-established organisation. Oakdene has the foundations, the space, and the potential. What it needs now is the right leader.
About Care Concern Group
Oakdene Care Home is part of Care Concern Group, a family-owned provider operating over 130 homes across the UK. We are committed to investing in our people, supporting our leaders, and delivering high-quality, person-centred care. Our Values: Trust | Respect | Passion | Kindness | Inclusivity
Apply today and lead Oakdene into its next chapter of success.
Home Manager in Wimborne Minster employer: Care Concern Group
Contact Detail:
Care Concern Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Home Manager in Wimborne Minster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the care sector, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Oakdene Care Home and its current challenges. Show that you understand their needs and how your experience can help turn things around. Tailor your answers to highlight your leadership style and commitment to quality care.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Home Manager role. Focus on your track record of turning around services and how you can bring stability and improvement to Oakdene.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Care Concern Group family.
We think you need these skills to ace Home Manager in Wimborne Minster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for care shine through! We want to see how much you care about improving lives and leading teams. Share your experiences that highlight your commitment to high-quality care.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application specifically for the Home Manager role at Oakdene. Highlight your relevant experience in turning around underperforming services and your understanding of both care quality and commercial performance.
Be Authentic: We value authenticity, so be yourself in your application! Share your leadership style and how you plan to rebuild trust and morale within the team. We’re looking for someone who is genuine and values transparency.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Care Concern Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Home Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of financial performance. Brush up on occupancy rates, fee structures, and how to optimise workforce deployment. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've used in the past to improve these metrics.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires a leader who is calm, credible, and systematic. Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style, especially how you've rebuilt trust and morale in previous roles. Think about times when you empowered your team and drove change effectively.
✨Understand Regulatory Compliance
With Oakdene currently rated Requires Improvement, it's crucial to show your knowledge of governance and compliance. Familiarise yourself with CQC standards and be prepared to discuss how you've successfully led teams through inspections and recovery processes.
✨Emphasise Your Clinical Awareness
Being clinically aware is key for this position. Prepare to talk about your experience in managing risk and ensuring high standards of care. Share specific instances where your clinical insight has positively impacted service delivery and resident satisfaction.