Children'S Home Manager in Bicester

Children'S Home Manager in Bicester

Bicester Full-Time 62000 - 62000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Connective Career Pathways

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the launch of a new children's home and inspire your team.
  • Company: A passionate provider dedicated to improving lives of vulnerable children.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-related bonus, and ongoing professional support.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive, trauma-informed setting.
  • Why this job: Shape a nurturing environment and make a real difference in children's lives.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a Registered Manager with strong knowledge of childcare regulations.

The predicted salary is between 62000 - 62000 £ per year.

Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire (OX26)

Salary: £58,000 - £62,000 per annum (dependent on experience) plus performance-related bonus

Connective Careers Pathways is recruiting on behalf of a newly established children's residential care provider seeking an experienced Registered Manager to lead the registration and opening of a brand-new 3-bed Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) Children's Home in Bicester. This is a rare opportunity to build a service from the ground up, recruit and develop your own team, establish the culture and standards of the home, and play a key role in the organisation's future growth.

Please note: This position is only suitable for experienced Registered Managers and is not intended for Deputy Managers seeking their first registration.

Why Join This Provider?

The organisation was founded with a genuine passion for improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people and creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments where they can thrive. Significant investment has been made to ensure the home has the resources, systems, and support needed from day one. You will receive ongoing support from an experienced Responsible Individual with more than 40 years of residential childcare experience and a leadership team committed to high standards, staff development, and achieving outstanding outcomes. The role offers genuine autonomy to shape the home while benefiting from strong professional guidance and mentoring.

The Role

As Registered Manager, you will lead the Ofsted registration process and oversee the successful launch and operation of the home. You will be responsible for recruiting, developing, and inspiring your staff team, ensuring compliance with Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, leading safeguarding and quality assurance processes, developing policies and procedures, and building strong relationships with local authorities and professional partners to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

Therapeutic Approach

The service is being established as a fully trauma-informed and therapeutic environment. Alongside the internal leadership team, the home will have access to specialist external support, including a Clinical Psychotherapist who will provide guidance to both young people and staff. The focus will be on trauma-informed practice, attachment-based care, emotional wellbeing, reflective practice, placement stability, positive behaviour support, and achieving sustainable long-term outcomes for children.

Children Supported

The home will support children and young people presenting with a range of needs, including EBD, SEMH, attachment difficulties, trauma and complex needs, missing from care behaviours, Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) risks, emotional dysregulation, risk-taking behaviours, ADHD, ASD, challenging behaviours, and placement instability.

Essential Requirements

The successful candidate must have previous experience as a Registered Manager within a Children's Residential Home, together with a proven track record of achieving Good and/or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes under their own registration. Applicants must have completed a minimum of two Ofsted inspections as the named Registered Manager and possess strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, behaviour management, safeguarding, and residential childcare leadership. You will hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) and either hold or be willing to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare within the required timescales. A full UK driving licence is also required.

Desirable Experience

Experience supporting new service development, leading registration projects, opening children's residential homes, and holding a DBS on the Update Service would be advantageous. If you are an experienced Registered Manager looking for the opportunity to establish and lead a new therapeutic children's home with strong leadership support and long-term growth opportunities, we would love to hear from you.

Children'S Home Manager in Bicester employer: Connective Career Pathways

Join a passionate and dedicated team at our newly established children's residential care provider in Bicester, where you will have the unique opportunity to build a service from the ground up. With significant investment in resources and ongoing support from experienced leaders, you will enjoy a nurturing work culture that prioritises staff development and the well-being of vulnerable children. This role not only offers autonomy in shaping the home's environment but also provides access to specialist guidance, ensuring you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people.

Connective Career Pathways

Contact Details:

Connective Career Pathways Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Children'S Home Manager in Bicester

Dive into Local Community Groups

Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Connective Career Pathways.

Attend Social Work Events and Workshops

Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Connective Career Pathways!

Showcase Your Passion and Expertise

Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Connective Career Pathways, will notice your enthusiasm!

Leverage Your Network

Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Connective Career Pathways or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.

We think you need these skills to ace Children'S Home Manager in Bicester

Registered Manager experience
Ofsted registration process
Children's Homes Regulations knowledge
Quality Standards compliance
Safeguarding procedures
Policy and procedure development
Team recruitment and development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.

Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!

Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!

Tailor Your Application to Connective Career Pathways:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Connective Career Pathways! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Connective Career Pathways

Understanding the Role of Empathy

In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.

Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks

Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.

Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills

In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.