Job Description:

Registered Manager – Children’s Residential Home

Location: Hither Green, South East London
Salary: £65,000 per annum
Bonus: £1,000 on successful Ofsted registration + £6,000 upon full occupancy, subject to terms and conditions
Hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Sector: Children’s Residential Care / EBD / Ofsted-Regulated Services

About the Company

Our client is opening a new 6-bed Ofsted-regulated children’s residential home in Hither Green, South East London, supporting young people aged 11-17 with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and passionate Registered Manager to take ownership of a new service from the outset, developing the home, building the team and creating a safe, nurturing and child-centred environment.

The organisation is committed to delivering high-quality care, strong safeguarding practice and positive outcomes for children and young people.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Registered Manager to lead the opening, registration and ongoing development of a new children’s residential home.

As Registered Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the home operates in line with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted inspection framework.

You will provide strong leadership to the staff team, manage resources and budgets effectively, oversee care planning and ensure the home remains inspection-ready at all times. This role would suit a confident, values-led manager who is passionate about creating a stable, supportive and therapeutic environment for young people.

Key Responsibilities

As Registered Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the Ofsted Registered Manager for the home, ensuring full regulatory compliance.
• Leading the opening, registration and development of a new 6-bed children’s residential service.
• Recruiting, leading, supervising and developing your own staff team.
• Providing visible leadership and modelling professional standards and a child-focused culture.
• Ensuring staff receive the support, supervision and training required to deliver excellent care practice.
• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times, in line with statutory guidance.
• Overseeing personalised care plans for young people with complex needs, trauma and challenging behaviours.
• Embedding inclusive, anti-discriminatory and equal opportunities practice across the home.
• Auditing case files, monitoring standards and implementing recommendations to improve quality.
• Managing the home’s allocated budget, resources and staffing effectively.
• Overseeing rota planning to maintain safe and appropriate staffing levels.
• Preparing accurate management information, reports and forecasts.
• Monitoring KPIs and quality measures to ensure the service meets or exceeds expectations.
• Working closely with social workers, families, schools, health professionals, police and other agencies.
• Contributing to business planning, policy development, service improvement and user consultation.
• Ensuring the home remains Ofsted inspection-ready at all times.

Skills and Experience Required

The successful candidate will have:

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or equivalent.
• At least 4 years’ post-qualification experience, including 2+ years in a management role within a children’s residential setting.
• Strong knowledge of children’s homes regulations, safeguarding legislation and Ofsted inspection frameworks.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, staffing and rota planning effectively.
• Strong leadership, supervision, mentoring and team development skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation.
• The ability to work effectively in partnership with multi-agency professionals.
• Experience driving service improvement and working to KPIs and quality standards.
• Additional professional training in therapeutic or trauma-informed practice would be advantageous.
• Experience contributing to policy development and a full UK driving licence would be beneficial.

The Person

This role would suit an experienced Registered Manager who is passionate about children’s residential care and confident leading a new service from the ground up.

You will be a strong, supportive and visible leader who can build a positive team culture, maintain high standards and ensure young people receive safe, consistent and nurturing care.

The successful candidate will be organised, resilient and committed to delivering excellent outcomes for children and young people with emotional and behavioural needs.

What’s on Offer

Salary of up to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Bonus of £1,000 on successful Ofsted registration, plus £6,000 upon full occupancy, subject to terms and conditions.

33 days’ holiday, including bank holidays, plus on-site parking.

Paid DBS certificate, contributory pension scheme, discretionary company bonus scheme, annual salary review, comprehensive induction programme and staff appreciation days.

Apply

To apply for this Registered Manager – Children’s Residential Home role based in Hither Green, South East London, please submit your CV today.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with further details about the opportunity.