At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a compassionate team to provide exceptional care for children in a therapeutic residential home.
- Company: Innovative service dedicated to high-quality care for children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, health programme, and on-site parking.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through trauma-informed care and strong leadership.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work, NISCC registration, and leadership experience in residential childcare.
- Other info: Join a supportive culture prioritising staff wellbeing and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 55000 £ per year.
Keenan Recruitment has been retained by a forward thinking and innovative service which aims to provide a high level, professional residential service for children and young people in care.
Our client is a therapeutic, trauma-informed children's home offering medium to long-term placements for up to two children aged 6-11. Their Dromore home provides a safe, stable, carefully structured environment where children can heal, grow, and thrive through nurturing relationships, consistent routines, and an integrated model of care rooted in attachment, trauma understanding, positive behaviour support, and multidisciplinary collaboration. They are proud of their excellent facilities, strong organisational culture, and their commitment to staff development, reflective practice, and child-centred care.
The Role
We are seeking an exceptional Registered Manager to lead our client's Dromore home and ensure the highest standards of care, compliance and safeguarding for the children they support. As Registered Manager, you will:
- Provide strong, compassionate, values-based leadership to a skilled staff team
- Ensure the home operates in line with The Children's Homes Regulations (NI) 2005, Minimum Standards for Children's Homes (2023), NISCC Codes of Practice and their organisational policies
- Maintain a safe, nurturing, trauma-informed environment consistent with our client's ethos and therapeutic model
- Work collaboratively with Social Workers, Trust personnel, families, schools, and their multidisciplinary team (including Clinical Psychology, OT, and therapeutic consultants)
- Lead on placement planning, reflective practice, staff supervision, and quality assurance
- Oversee the home's rota, reporting systems, budget management and regulatory documentation
- Drive continuous improvement and uphold a strong safeguarding culture
- Represent the service at LAC reviews, professional meetings and regional forums
- Ensure all staff uphold our organisational values and positive behaviour support approach, including TCI de-escalation and trauma-informed practice
This is a vital leadership role for someone who shares our belief that residential care, done well, changes lives.
What We're Looking For
Essential Criteria:
- Degree in Social Work
- NISCC registration
- Full UK valid Driving Licence
- Minimum 3 years post social work qualification
- Minimum 5 years experience working in residential childcare or a closely related social care setting
- Minimum 2 years experience in a leadership role (managing a team)
Additional Essential Criteria (to be demonstrated at interview):
- Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, safeguarding and positive behaviour support
- Experience supervising staff and leading teams
- Sound knowledge of regulation, inspection frameworks, risk management and quality assurance
- Ability to build relationships with Trust partners and external professionals
- Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience as Deputy Manager or Registered Manager in a children's home
- Experience delivering or participating in multidisciplinary planning
- Knowledge of TCI or similar behaviour support frameworks
Why Join?
Staff wellbeing and development are prioritised. You will benefit from:
- A supportive senior management and compliance structure
- Regular structured reflective practice facilitated by clinical psychology
- Comprehensive CPD pathway, including leadership development
- Access to wellbeing supports such as counselling and private medical care through Benenden Health
- A strong, values-led organisational culture and consistent operational support
Our client adheres to the Access NI Code of Practice; a copy of the policy can be made available to you upon request. An enhanced Access NI disclosure check will be required for this post. Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working within our client's unit. A copy of the Ex-Offenders Recruitment Policy can be made available upon request. A copy of our client's Secure Handling of Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information Policy is also available upon request.
If you are a motivated, child-centred leader who wants to shape a new, high-quality therapeutic service from the ground up, we would love to hear from you. Contact Aideen Duggan at Keenan Recruitment.
Registered Manager - Children\'s Residential in Dromore employer: Keenan Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Keenan Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Registered Manager - Children\'s Residential in Dromore
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, especially those who have experience in children's residential services. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation's ethos and values. Understand their approach to trauma-informed care and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission. This shows you're genuinely interested and a great fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Think of specific examples where you've led a team or made a positive impact in a residential setting. Being able to share these experiences confidently can really set you apart during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in children's lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Registered Manager - Children\'s Residential in Dromore
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for working with children and young people shine through. We want to see your commitment to creating a nurturing environment and how you can lead a team to make a real difference in their lives.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in residential childcare and leadership roles. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your understanding of trauma-informed practice and how you've successfully managed teams in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit for the role.
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 Keenan Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of trauma-informed practice and the regulations that govern children's homes. Brush up on The Children's Homes Regulations (NI) 2005 and the Minimum Standards for Children's Homes (2023). This knowledge will show that you're not just familiar with the role but also committed to providing the best care.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a difference, especially in a residential childcare setting. Highlight your experience in staff supervision and how you foster a positive environment for both staff and children.
✨Build Relationships
Demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships with external professionals, such as social workers and multidisciplinary teams. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated in the past to ensure the best outcomes for children. This is crucial for the role, so think of examples that showcase your communication skills.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement. Share any experiences where you've implemented changes based on reflective practice or feedback. This shows that you're proactive and dedicated to maintaining high standards in care.