At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a children's home, supporting young people and managing a dedicated staff team.
- Company: Essex County Council, committed to child welfare and community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, on-call allowance, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with a focus on collaboration and positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in residential care and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 69241 - 69241 £ per year.
Job Description £55,892 to £69,241 per annum + 8% on call allowance
- Working
- Style: Fixed-base worker
- Closing
Date: Wednesday 23rd September
The Opportunity
Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity, and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse.
Essex County Council is investing in and expanding its portfolio of internal children's residential homes.
We are excited to announce the opening of a new children's homes in Chelmsford, anticipated to open in 2027.
It will be a 2-bedded children's home.
This role will manage the home and be responsible for recruiting the residential staff teams and supporting them through their training.
This home will serve as safe havens, offering stable, short-term, and supportive placements for children aged 11 - 17 years who, for the time being, are unable to live with their birth families.
The Registered Children's Home Manager is a pivotal role within the Children and Families service.
This role involves managing a short-term children's home and working closely with children, young people, their families, and partner agencies.
The goal is to meet the needs of the children and young people, protecting them from neglect and abuse, and enabling a brighter future.
This role requires an experienced manager with expertise in residential care for children and young people.
The manager must build strong relationships with partners to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children and young people under their care.
This is a challenging yet rewarding role that truly makes a difference in the lives of children and young people.
The Home Manager is the person appointed by Essex County Council to manage the regulated activity on our behalf.
As a registered person, the Home Manager has legal responsibilities in relation to that position as laid out by OFSTED.
The Registered Manager is the leader of that service; they set the tone and standards and inspire the staff team.
This role is also the designated safeguard lead within the Children's Home.
The Registered Manager will pass the Fit Persons Interview.
- Accountabilities
- Manage a Short-Term Children's Home; deal with complex issues and challenging behaviours and make decisions 24/7, on an on-call basis along with other Managers within the home.
- Lead a skilled staff team to create a safe living and working environment within the home; balance opportunity and risk within a therapeutic, progressive culture and deliver a high-quality service to children and young people.
- Be accountable for compliance with legislative frameworks, policies, and regulations, utilise quality assurance tools and methodologies to support practice and ensure robust processes are in place to monitor risk, and meet required outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with internal partners e. g. placement services, out of hours service, in-house and therapeutic fostering teams to ensure individual care packages meet needs and deliver the wider vision of the service.
- Build strong partnerships e. g. with Divisional Based Intervention team (DBit) and Youth Offending Team, to explore interventions which create change within families.
- Support family reunification when safe and possible.
Where this is not possible, support children with longer term care plans into fostering, full time educational settings or longer-term residential care.
- Act as a subject matter expert and apply professional knowledge of care within a residential setting, to ensure effective management and delivery of services to children, young people, and their families.
- Develop and strengthen relationships with the local community and identify opportunities for children and young people living in the residential environment to become part of their community.
- Line manage and supervise the deputy manager and three specialist roles; a social worker, teacher, and psychotherapist.
- Attend strategy meetings, work alongside the Risk in the Community (RIC) team and understand and implement the responsibilities of the service in relation to s20, s31 and s38 of the Children Act.
- Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
Skills and Knowledge
- A professional care qualification at RQF level 5 (Diploma) or ability to undertake and pass within timeframes, evidence of post qualification training and development, or a relevant degree e. g.
Social Work, Teaching, Nursing, Youth and Community Diploma, and evidence of post qualification training and development.
A Registered Manager award with OFSTED is desirable.
- Significant management experience in a residential setting with children and young people, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant regulation, guidance, and legislation.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area, to include knowledge of a broad range of childcare theories and practices and how trauma affects the behaviour of children and young people.
- Knowledge and experience of keeping children safe, and an ability to keep child protection at the forefront of practice within the Children's Home.
- Strong leadership skills which drive a highly performing and motivated multi-disciplinary team from diverse backgrounds, to effect lasting positive change for children and young people.
Experience of undertaking professional supervision.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong working relationships with partners, social workers, and families, often in sensitive circumstances.
- Ability to manage cultural and operational change across the service, partner agencies and within families.
- Ability to make effective contributions to implement and evaluate policy and practice.
Residential Childrens Homes Manager in Chelmsford employer: Jobbydoo
Sanctuary Care is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where every team member can thrive. As a Lifestyle and Wellbeing Coordinator at Highcroft Hall Residential Care Home in the West Midlands, you'll benefit from a supportive culture that prioritises employee growth and wellbeing, alongside competitive rewards such as health support and generous leave. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of our residents while being part of an award-winning team that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Residential Childrens Homes Manager in Chelmsford
✨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 Jobbydoo.
✨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 Jobbydoo!
✨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 Jobbydoo, 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 Jobbydoo 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 Residential Childrens Homes Manager in Chelmsford
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 Jobbydoo:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Jobbydoo! 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 Jobbydoo
✨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.
