You've probably heard that managing a children's home means drowning in paperwork and losing touch with why you started in this work. But what if the role was genuinely different? We're looking for a Registered Manager who can lead a small, tight-knit team and actually spend real time with the young people you're supporting - not just manage crises from behind a desk
This is a role where you'll spend your day doing real leadership work: morning handovers with your team, supervising staff who actually listen, attending Child Looked After reviews that shape each young person's future, and then - crucially - having time to sit with the kids themselves. You'll see the impact of your decisions playing out in real moments, not just in reports
You'll manage a small, established team in a setting that's fully Ofsted registered and stable. That means less time firefighting and more time building something sustainable. When a young person has a school problem, you're not just updating risk assessments - you're the person who sits with them and explains why education matters. That's the work that actually changes lives
The team here values managers who roll up their sleeves. Your Deputy Manager has your back. Your Operations Manager is a phone call away. And yes, you'll have a proper to-do list - but you'll also have the space to prioritise the work that matters most and the support to get through it
What you will be doing
- Lead and supervise a small residential care team, holding regular one-to-ones and group handovers to keep everyone focused and supported
- Represent the home at Child Looked After reviews, multi-agency meetings and school liaisons, then translate those conversations into updated risk assessments and care plans
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the home, from staffing and rotas to health and safety compliance and maintaining our Ofsted registration
- Spend regular time directly with the young people - not as a task to tick off, but as a core part of your role and your understanding of what's working
Why you will love working here
- A salary and benefits package that reflects the responsibility and demands of the role (full details on application)
- A genuinely manageable team size where your leadership actually makes a difference, not just more pressure
- Access to ongoing training and professional development to keep your practice sharp and your registration current
- A workplace where you're expected to spend time with the young people - because everyone here knows that's where the real management happens
Is this you?
- You're a qualified social worker, children's nurse, or have equivalent experience managing a residential setting with young people
- You hold (or are eligible to obtain) registration with the appropriate professional body and have your Registered Manager qualification or willingness to work towards it
- You have real experience leading a small team and the emotional intelligence to support staff through the complexity of this work
- You understand child development, safeguarding and trauma-informed practice - and you can translate that into everyday conversations with both staff and young people
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.