Registered Manager – Children’s Residential Home in Peterborough

Help shape and lead Rivan’s first children’s home

Rivan Residential Care Ltd is developing its first children’s home in Peterborough, offering a solo placement for one child or young person aged 5-18 within a stable and nurturing residential environment.

We are seeking an experienced Registered Manager to lead the home through development, Ofsted registration and opening. We also welcome applications from accomplished Deputy or Acting Managers who can demonstrate that they are ready to take responsibility for registering and leading a new home.

Our approach will be grounded in safeguarding, consistent care, positive relationships and a clear understanding of the child’s individual needs, experiences, strengths and aspirations.

Joining Rivan before the home opens gives you the opportunity to establish its culture, influence working practices and recruit and develop your own staff team. Working closely with the Responsible Individual and company directors, you will help translate Rivan’s values into the everyday experiences of the child in our care.

About the role

The home is currently in development, and this appointment will play a central role in preparing it for Ofsted registration and opening.

Working with the Responsible Individual and company directors, you will contribute to the development and implementation of the home’s Statement of Purpose, policies, care systems, safeguarding arrangements and workforce plans. We will discuss progress to date, the work outstanding and the proposed opening timetable during the recruitment process.

Once the home is registered and operational, you will take responsibility for its leadership and day-to-day management, combining nurturing, individualised care with strong safeguarding, clear accountability and effective oversight.

You will support staff to understand the child’s needs, respond thoughtfully to challenges and recognise the importance of ordinary childhood experiences alongside education, health, emotional wellbeing and personal development.

Key responsibilities

As Registered Manager, you will:

• Lead the development, registration and opening of the home, working closely with the Responsible Individual and company directors.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and ongoing review of the home’s Statement of Purpose, ensuring practice reflects its aims and registration conditions.
• Provide effective day-to-day leadership in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards and relevant legislation and guidance.
• Embed safeguarding throughout the service, ensuring concerns, allegations, incidents, complaints and statutory notifications are managed promptly and appropriately.
• Recruit, induct, supervise and develop a skilled, compassionate and stable staff team through safer recruitment, regular supervision, appraisal and training.
• Maintain an effective workforce development plan, ensuring staff have the skills, qualifications and support required to meet the child’s needs.
• Establish a culture of professional curiosity, openness and accountability in which staff feel supported, understand expectations and can confidently raise concerns.
• Plan staffing and rotas around the child’s assessed needs, maintaining safe care and continuity of relationships.
• Assess referrals and lead placement-matching decisions, ensuring the home’s staffing, skills, environment and resources can safely meet the child’s needs.
• Oversee individualised care and placement plans, risk assessments, positive behaviour-support strategies and admission and transition arrangements.
• Ensure the child’s wishes, feelings and views influence their care, with access to advocacy and a clear understanding of how to raise concerns.
• Promote education, health, emotional wellbeing, friendships, interests and enjoyable everyday experiences, alongside independence and preparation for adulthood appropriate to the child’s age and development.
• Build constructive relationships with families, placing authorities, social workers, education providers, health professionals and other relevant agencies.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date and confidential records that support safe care and effective oversight.
• Lead quality assurance and continuous improvement, including Regulation 45 reviews, responding to independent Regulation 44 reports and acting on feedback, incidents and inspection findings.
• Contribute to the review of the home’s location assessment, ensuring emerging local risks and safeguarding considerations are reflected in practice.
• Oversee the safety and suitability of the home’s environment and manage resources and the delegated budget responsibly.
• Prepare for and participate in Ofsted inspections, demonstrating the impact of the home’s care on the child’s experiences and progress.
• Participate in management on-call arrangements, provide leadership during emergencies and maintain effective escalation, handover and management cover.

About you

You will be a thoughtful, confident and child-focused leader who understands the importance of stable relationships, consistent care and strong safeguarding practice.

You will combine sound regulatory knowledge with a warm, practical and relationship-based approach to leadership. You will be comfortable making difficult decisions, challenging poor practice and supporting staff through the demands and rewards of residential childcare.

You will have:

• Experience as a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Acting Manager or equivalent senior leader within an Ofsted-regulated children’s residential home, with the knowledge, experience and leadership capability to obtain Ofsted registration and lead this home.
• At least two years’ experience within the previous five years in a position relevant to the residential care of children.
• At least one year’s experience in a role involving the supervision and management of staff working in a care role.
• A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England), or a qualification assessed as equivalent; alternatively, you must be working towards, or willing and able to complete, the required qualification within the applicable regulatory timescale.
• Experience supporting children and young people with emotional, social or mental health needs, including those who may communicate distress through behaviour requiring skilled and consistent support.
• A strong understanding of trauma-informed, relationship-based and child-centred care.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards, with the ability to translate requirements into effective everyday practice.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, safer recruitment, care planning, risk management and safe placement decisions.
• Experience of leading and developing residential childcare teams, including supervision and performance management.
• Experience of quality assurance, inspection preparation and improving practice.
• Strong communication, organisational and decision-making skills, including the ability to work constructively with children, families and professionals.
• The ability to meet Ofsted’s fitness requirements and obtain registration to manage this home.
• A full driving licence valid in the UK and the ability to drive as part of the role, subject to reasonable adjustments.
• The right to work in the United Kingdom.

We would particularly welcome applicants with:

• Previous successful experience as an Ofsted Registered Manager.
• Evidence of contributing to positive Ofsted inspection outcomes.
• Experience of opening or developing a new children’s home, including involvement in Ofsted registration.
• Experience of managing solo placements or highly individualised residential care.
• Experience of recruiting and building a residential childcare team.
• Experience of placement matching, referrals and transition planning.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources while maintaining high standards of care.

What Rivan offers

• A salary of £55,000-£60,000 per annum, with salary within the range determined by relevant management experience, qualifications and demonstrable track record.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Company pension scheme.
• Enhanced DBS check paid for by the company.
• Ongoing training and continuing professional development.
• Support from the Responsible Individual and company directors throughout registration, opening and ongoing operation.
• The opportunity to shape the home’s culture, care practices and staff team from the pre-registration stage.
• Direct access to senior decision-makers within the organisation.
• On-site parking.
• The opportunity to contribute to Rivan’s future service development.

Working arrangements

This is a full-time role based in Peterborough, working 40 hours per week. Flexibility will be required to meet the needs of the home, including occasional evening and weekend work and participation in management on-call arrangements.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

Rivan Residential Care Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check, satisfactory references, verification of qualifications, identity and right-to-work checks, and scrutiny of your full employment history, including explanations for any gaps. Additional checks relevant to the role and Ofsted registration will also apply.

The successful candidate will be required to complete Rivan’s recruitment documentation and obtain Ofsted registration to manage the home.

Rivan Residential Care Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds that meet the requirements of the role and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.