Registered Manager - Children's Residential Home

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Registered Manager to lead a children’s residential home in East Sussex. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the home, lead and develop the staff team, and ensure high standards of care, safeguarding and regulatory compliance. This role would suit an experienced Children’s Home Registered Manager or an established Deputy Manager with significant residential childcare management experience who is ready to progress.

The Registered Manager will have overall responsibility for the operational leadership of the home and ensuring children and young people receive safe, nurturing and high-quality care. Key responsibilities include:

• Managing the day-to-day operation of the children’s residential home.
• Leading, supervising, motivating and developing the staff team.
• Creating a positive, stable and child-centred culture.
• Ensuring staffing levels meet the needs of the children and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining high standards of safeguarding and child protection.
• Responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, allegations and significant incidents.
• Completing required Ofsted and regulatory notifications accurately and within required timescales.
• Ensuring compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
• Ensuring the home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose.
• Maintaining accurate records, care plans and documentation.
• Preparing for and participating in Ofsted inspections.
• Working with the Responsible Individual and quality/compliance function on service performance and improvement.
• Implementing improvement plans and driving continuous development.
• Ensuring safer recruitment practices are followed.
• Managing staff supervision, appraisals, performance and development.
• Identifying training needs and promoting reflective practice.
• Ensuring individualised care plans are implemented and regularly reviewed.
• Championing children’s rights, wishes and participation.
• Monitoring education, health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, independence and personal development.
• Ensuring the voice of each young person remains central to decision-making.

Safeguarding will be at the heart of the role. The Registered Manager will take operational responsibility for safeguarding within the home, ensuring concerns are identified, escalated and responded to appropriately. They will promote a culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and ensure staff have the knowledge, confidence and support to maintain safe practice.

The Registered Manager will lead by example, set clear expectations and maintain high professional standards. They will be responsible for:

• Building a positive, supportive and accountable team culture.
• Conducting regular supervision and appraisals.
• Managing performance effectively.
• Promoting staff development and progression.
• Ensuring training and competencies remain up to date.
• Encouraging reflective, professional and child-focused practice.

The Registered Manager will ensure the home remains compliant with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements. They will work alongside the Responsible Individual and quality/compliance function, responding positively to audits and monitoring and ensuring agreed actions are completed effectively.

The Registered Manager will participate in the senior on-call and escalation rota, taking responsibility for operational decisions and escalating significant safeguarding, regulatory or operational matters when required.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience within children’s residential care and strong leadership, safeguarding and regulatory knowledge.

Essential

• Significant experience within a children’s residential home / residential childcare setting.
• Previous management or senior leadership experience within children’s residential care.
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or actively working towards this qualification.
• Strong knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
• Good working knowledge of the Quality Standards and Ofsted framework.
• Strong safeguarding and child protection knowledge.
• Proven experience leading and developing staff teams.
• Ability to manage performance and drive service improvement.
• Strong decision-making, communication and organisational skills.
• A genuinely child-centred approach.

Desirable

• Previous experience as an Ofsted Registered Manager.
• Experience managing an SEMH children’s home or provision.
• Experience leading a home through an Ofsted inspection.
• Experience improving or developing a residential service.
• Experience supporting a home through change, improvement or turnaround.

Salary: £58,000 – £62,000 per annum. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List check, satisfactory references and verification of employment history and qualifications. Right to Work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available.