At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a new children's home, focusing on individualised care for two children with autism.
- Company: Join a purpose-led community interest company dedicated to improving lives of autistic individuals.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, autonomy in shaping the home, and specialist development opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity to build a supportive team and culture from the ground up.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by creating a nurturing environment tailored to each child's needs.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's residential care and knowledge of Ofsted regulations required.
The predicted salary is between 46202 - 52100 £ per year.
Some children’s homes are built around occupancy. This one is being built around two children. We're partnering with a community interest company supporting autistic people and their families through early intervention, crisis prevention, specialist support and environments designed around the individual. They are now looking for a Registered Manager to lead a new children’s home in Sunderland for a maximum of two children with autism, learning disabilities and behaviours of concern. This is an opportunity for a manager who still believes that children’s care should be led by need, compatibility, safety and long term outcomes, not pressure to fill beds.
Why this role is different: Experienced managers are frequently approached with the same offer. A larger home. More responsibility. Occupancy pressure. Another provider talking about values while measuring success through filled beds and margins. This opportunity offers something different. You will be joining a purpose led community interest company whose wider work is built around improving the lives of autistic people, supporting families and creating environments in which people can feel understood and succeed. The home will support no more than two children. That creates the space to build support around each child, recruit the right team and make placement decisions based on compatibility rather than commercial pressure. The organisation’s existing CQC regulated service is rated Good across all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. CQC found that staff and leaders went above and beyond to help people build confidence, overcome barriers, increase their independence and achieve their goals. Those are not simply values written on a website. They are outcomes already being delivered.
The opportunity: The home is currently progressing towards Ofsted registration following the departure of the previous manager. You will take ownership of the registration journey, shape the home’s culture and build a team capable of providing safe, consistent and specialist support. You will have the opportunity to influence the service from the beginning rather than inherit a culture, team or operating model that is already fixed.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading the home through the Ofsted registration process
- Creating a safe, nurturing and autism informed environment
- Recruiting, developing and retaining a values led staff team
- Maintaining strong safeguarding, governance and quality assurance systems
- Developing individualised care plans and behaviour support strategies
- Embedding trauma informed practice and Positive Behaviour Support
- Reducing restrictive practice wherever safely possible
- Building positive relationships with children, families, professionals and commissioners
- Ensuring placement decisions remain centred around compatibility and the needs of each child
- Creating a culture in which staff feel supported, developed and accountable
Who this role is for: This role may suit an experienced Registered Manager who has become frustrated with providers where commercial pressure has started to override professional judgement. It may also suit a strong Deputy Manager who is ready to step into their first registration and can demonstrate the leadership, regulatory knowledge and resilience required to build a home properly.
You will need:
- Experience within children’s residential care
- Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and the Children’s Homes Regulations
- Experience supporting children with autism, learning disabilities or behaviours of concern
- A clear understanding of safeguarding and safer recruitment
- The confidence to build and lead a new staff team
- The ability to create structure without losing compassion
- A commitment to reducing restrictive practice and improving quality of life
- The judgement to challenge decisions that are not in the best interests of the children
- A relevant Level 5 qualification, or a commitment to completing it within the required timeframe
What you will receive:
- A salary of £55,000 to £60,000 depending on experience
- The autonomy to shape a new children’s home
- Specialist autism and leadership development
- Support from a senior team with extensive experience of autism and behaviours of concern
- The opportunity to build a stable, specialist team around a maximum of two children
- A purpose led environment where quality, safety and individual outcomes remain central
This is not a role for someone who simply wants another Registered Manager title. It is for someone who wants to build a home they can be proud of. A home where two children are known properly. Where staff are selected because they are right for the children. Where professional judgement matters. Where the organisation’s purpose is visible in the decisions it makes. Applications and initial conversations will be treated confidentially. To discuss the opportunity, contact Daniel Monem at Ignis Care Solutions.
Children's Home Registered Manager in Sunderland employer: Ignis Care Ltd
As a Registered Manager at this community interest company in Sunderland, you will be part of a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to improving the lives of autistic children and their families. With a focus on individualised care and a supportive work culture, you will have the autonomy to shape a new children's home while receiving specialist training and development opportunities. This role offers a unique chance to lead with compassion and professional judgement, ensuring that the needs of the children remain at the heart of all decisions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children's Home Registered Manager in Sunderland
✨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 Ignis Care Ltd.
✨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 Ignis Care Ltd!
✨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 Ignis Care Ltd, 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 Ignis Care Ltd 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 Registered Manager in Sunderland
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 Ignis Care Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Ignis Care Ltd! 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 Ignis Care Ltd
✨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.