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- Tasks: Lead and improve a children's residential home, ensuring safety and high-quality care.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on child welfare and impactful change.
- Benefits: Negotiable salary, trusted leadership role, and opportunity for lasting impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while driving positive change.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing children's homes and strong safeguarding knowledge required.
- Other info: Supportive leadership with opportunities for professional growth and development.
About The Company
Turnaround Manager – Children’s Residential Home (OFSTED)
Location: County Durham
Basis: 3 month Fixed-term contract, with possibility to extend
Salary: Negotiable
Are you an experienced children’s residential leader who thrives in challenge and change? We are seeking a Turnaround Manager to take decisive leadership of a children’s residential home requiring stabilisation, improvement, and strong safeguarding oversight. This is a pivotal role for a confident, resilient professional who can quickly establish operational grip, drive regulatory compliance, and embed high-quality, child-centred practice.
You will be trusted with significant responsibility and autonomy to lead improvement at pace, while maintaining a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach that places children’s safety, welfare, and voice at the heart of everything you do.
About The Role
As Turnaround Manager, you will:
- Act as the senior safeguarding lead, ensuring children and young people are safe, protected, and supported at all times
- Take immediate responsibility for addressing regulatory shortfalls, inspection outcomes, and improvement plans
- Provide strong, visible operational leadership, stabilising staffing, rotas, supervision, and day-to-day decision-making
- Lead, motivate, and challenge staff through change, setting clear expectations and professional standards
- Embed robust quality assurance, governance, and recording systems
- Work confidently with Ofsted, placing authorities, social workers, and partner agencies
- Ensure improvements are sustainable, with clear succession planning and a structured handover
This role reports to the Responsible Individual / Interim Children’s Lead / Head of Children’s Services.
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- Significant experience leading or managing children’s residential homes
- Proven experience of turnaround, improvement, or post-inspection recovery in regulated services
- Strong working knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, and Ofsted frameworks
- Demonstrable safeguarding expertise and confident decision-making under pressure
- Ability to lead teams through change, challenge poor practice, and drive accountability
- Excellent communication, report-writing, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Resilient, decisive, and able to work at pace in complex environments
- Experience using PACE and therapeutic parenting models
Desirable
- Registered Manager status or eligibility to register
- Experience supporting homes rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate
- Experience working with complex needs, trauma, SEMH, or high-risk behaviours
- Level 5 Leadership and Management (or equivalent)
Key Attributes
- Strong moral compass and unwavering child-focused values
- Calm, authoritative, and credible leadership style
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Solution-focused, outcomes-driven, and emotionally intelligent
Why Join Us?
- Opportunity to make a real, immediate impact on children’s lives
- Trusted leadership role with delegated operational authority
- Supportive senior leadership and clear governance
- Chance to leave a lasting legacy of sustainable improvement
Safeguarding Commitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including enhanced DBS clearance.
Turnaround Manager employer: Salutem Shared Services
Contact Detail:
Salutem Shared Services Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Turnaround Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's residential sector. Let them know you're on the lookout for a Turnaround Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted frameworks. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led teams through change and improved services in the past. We want to see that confidence and expertise shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've motivated staff and tackled challenges head-on. Highlight your ability to maintain a child-focused approach while driving accountability and improvement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let's make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Turnaround Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in children's residential homes. We want to see how your skills match the specific requirements of the Turnaround Manager role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, emphasise your leadership style and how you've successfully led teams through change. We’re looking for someone who can motivate and challenge staff effectively, so share relevant examples!
Highlight Your Safeguarding Expertise: Since safeguarding is a key part of this role, be sure to detail your experience and knowledge in this area. We want to know how you’ve ensured the safety and welfare of children in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Salutem Shared Services
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarise yourself with the Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted frameworks before the interview. Being able to discuss these in detail will show your expertise and confidence in managing a children's residential home.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led teams through change and improved services in the past. Highlight your calm, authoritative approach and how it has positively impacted staff and children alike.
✨Demonstrate Safeguarding Expertise
Be ready to discuss specific safeguarding scenarios you've encountered and how you handled them. This will illustrate your decision-making skills under pressure and your commitment to child welfare.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would work with Ofsted, social workers, and partner agencies. Prepare to share your strategies for effective communication and collaboration, as this is crucial for the role.
