At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a solo children's home, ensuring high-quality care and compliance.
- Company: Reopening children's home in NW1, London, focused on emotional and behavioural support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses for inspections, generous annual leave, and car allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape a new service with strong values and routines.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a young person's life while leading a dedicated team.
- Qualifications: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management required; 2-3 years in senior leadership.
The predicted salary is between 44236 - 54066 £ per year.
Location: NW1, London
Salary: Base salary £52,000 with the potential to earn up to £58,600 through bonuses
Hours: Full-time, permanent
The Home
This is a solo-bed children’s home supporting a young person with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). The service is reopening, providing the opportunity to help establish strong routines, consistent practice, and a stable, values-led staff team from the outset.
Ofsted Rating: N/A (Reopening)
Beds: 1 (Solo)
Service Type: EBD
Who We’re Looking For
This role would suit an experienced Registered Manager or a strong Deputy Manager ready to step up, who can provide clear leadership, maintain strong safeguarding practice, and drive quality and compliance. Candidates should be able to demonstrate senior leadership experience within an Ofsted-regulated children’s home for a minimum of 2–3 years in line with Ofsted expectations.
Essential Requirements
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- At least 2–3 years’ experience in a senior leadership role within an Ofsted-regulated children’s home (Registered Manager or Deputy Manager level)
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and confident understanding of SCCIF and the Children’s Homes Regulations
- Track record of contributing to Good or Outstanding inspection outcomes (reports may be reviewed where applicable)
- Experience must be within children’s residential homes (supported living experience is not considered suitable)
- No disciplinary issues or failed Fit Person matters to declare
- Able to travel to the home within a commutable distance
Key Responsibilities
- Overall operational leadership of the home, ensuring safe, consistent, high-quality care
- Recruiting, leading, supervising and developing the staff team through inductions, supervisions, appraisals and CPD
- Maintaining compliance with legislation, Quality Standards, SCCIF and internal policies and procedures
- Overseeing admissions, care planning, risk management and quality assurance processes
- Managing relationships with placing authorities, professionals and Ofsted
- Driving continuous improvement and ensuring the service is inspection-ready
Package and Benefits
- Annual Leave: 32 days including bank holidays, increasing by 1 additional day per year for the first 3 years
- Ofsted Bonus: £3,000 for an Outstanding inspection and £1,500 for a Good inspection
- Occupancy Bonus: £300 per month when the home maintains full occupancy
- On-Call: Included within salary and shared with the Deputy Manager depending on service need (rarely required)
- Car Allowance: £3,000 per year or a company car with an equivalent value of £5,400 per year
Registered Manager - Solo Children's Home employer: Sgscare
Sgscare in Burgess Hill is an exceptional employer dedicated to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both staff and the children they care for. With competitive pay, a comprehensive pension scheme, and free training opportunities, employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills while making a meaningful impact in the lives of young people facing challenges. The collaborative work culture fosters teamwork and respect, making it a rewarding place to build a career in children's residential care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Registered Manager - Solo Children's Home
✨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 Sgscare.
✨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 Sgscare!
✨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 Sgscare, 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 Sgscare 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 Registered Manager - Solo Children's Home
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 Sgscare:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Sgscare! 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 Sgscare
✨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.
