At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a small children's home, driving improvement and creating a positive culture.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on transforming children's lives in Manchester.
- Benefits: Earn £50,000–£60,000 plus a £5,000 bonus for achieving Ofsted goals.
- Other info: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, ongoing training, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping your own team and improving inspection outcomes.
- Qualifications: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare preferred.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
The home: 2-bed children's residential home in Whalley Range, Manchester.
Current position: Rated Requires Improvement at our last inspection — we're open about that, and this role exists to change it.
The team: largely a new team — you will recruit and shape your own staff group, including your senior/deputy.
Salary: £50,000–£60,000 (top of band for a current or former RM with a track record of improving inspection outcomes).
Bonus: £5,000 on achieving a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
On-call: phone/remote on-call included in salary; paid at your hourly rate if you're called out to the home.
Annual leave: 25 days + bank holidays, rising by one day for each year of service.
You report to: Jeremy Farrar, our Responsible Individual, who is hands-on in supporting the improvement plan.
An honest pitch: Our home in Whalley Range was rated Requires Improvement at its last inspection. We're not hiding from that — we're hiring because of it. This is a small, 2-bed home, which means the turnaround is focused and achievable: two children, a team you build yourself, and a clear post-inspection action plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
Turnarounds aren't for everyone. But if you're the kind of manager who wants a home you can genuinely call your own — your team, your culture, your standards — with a £5,000 bonus and a rating improvement with your name on it at the end, there are few better opportunities to prove what you can do. You will not be scapegoated for problems you inherited: the plan, timescales and resourcing are agreed together, and the RI works alongside you, not just above you.
What you'll do:
- Hold overall responsibility for the home, leading it from Requires Improvement to Good and sustaining it.
- Recruit, develop and lead your own staff team — selection, supervision, culture and training.
- Own safeguarding, care planning, and compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
- Lead Regulation 44/45 monitoring and inspection preparation, delivering the action plan with RI support.
- Work with placing authorities, schools, health and other agencies to get the right outcomes for our children.
What we offer:
- £50,000–£60,000 depending on experience and track record.
- £5,000 Ofsted outcome bonus on achieving Good or Outstanding.
- Fully funded Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare if not yet held, plus ongoing funded training and CPD.
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, rising by one day per year of service.
- Phone/remote on-call included in salary; call-outs paid at your hourly rate.
- Company pension.
Who we're looking for:
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare — held, or willing to complete within 2 years of appointment (fully funded).
- At least 2 years' experience relevant to residential childcare within the last 5, including at least 1 year supervising staff — in line with the fit-person requirements.
- Registered Manager or Deputy Manager experience with Ofsted; experience of improving an inspection outcome is highly valued, but a strong Deputy ready to step up with our support will be seriously considered.
- A safeguarding-first, child-centred leader who is resilient, honest, and wants accountability with genuine backing.
- Enhanced DBS check required. Exertive Care Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; this post is subject to safer recruitment checks.
Children's Registered Manager in Manchester employer: Exertive Care Group
Exertive Care Group is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for a Children's Registered Manager to lead a small, focused team in Whalley Range, Manchester. With a commitment to professional development, including a fully funded Level 5 Diploma and ongoing training, we foster a supportive work culture that values accountability and collaboration. Our competitive salary, performance bonuses, and generous annual leave reflect our dedication to employee well-being and growth, making this a rewarding environment for those passionate about improving children's lives.
