Children's Home Registered Manager

Location: Watford, Herfordshire
Job description: Children's Home Registered Manager
We are seeking a passionate, experienced and fully qualified Registered Manager to take the helm of our Ofsted-registered children's residential home in Hertfordshire. This is a rare opportunity to lead an exceptional team dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people with Learning Disability (LD), Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and complex needs.
As Registered Manager, you will be accountable for the day-to-day operational leadership of the home, maintaining full compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards, and ensuring the young people in our care are safe, loved, supported and empowered to reach their potential.
You will report directly to the Responsible Individual and be supported by the Leadership Team and a wider multi-disciplinary team — including in-house therapeutic support. Your leadership will set the culture, standards and ambitions of the home.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & People Management
* Provide strong, visible and compassionate leadership to build a stable, high-performing residential team
* Line manage the Team Leader and the full staff team; conduct regular, reflective supervisions
* Lead recruitment, induction, retention and ongoing professional development of all staff
* Foster a therapeutic, trauma-informed culture focused on positive outcomes for young people
* Manage staff rotas, deployment and absence to maintain safe and consistent staffing levels
Regulatory Compliance & Ofsted
* Maintain full compliance with the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and National Minimum Standards
* Lead and prepare the home for Ofsted inspections, targeting Outstanding or Good outcomes
* Ensure the Statement of Purpose is current and reflected in day-to-day practice
* Complete and act upon Regulation 44 and Regulation 45 reports in a timely manner
* Notify Ofsted of all notifiable events in accordance with statutory requirements
Safeguarding & Risk Management
* Hold ultimate responsibility for the safeguarding and child protection of all young people
* Ensure robust risk assessments, behaviour management plans and missing-from-care protocols are in place
* Oversee thorough recording, review and escalation of all incidents
* Work closely with LADO, Local Authorities, Police and multi-agency safeguarding partners
* Ensure all staff are trained to the required safeguarding standards and remain updated
Care Quality & Young People's Outcomes
Oversee delivery of child-centred, trauma-informed, outcomes-focused care for every young person
Monitor, review and update placement plans, care plans and risk assessments regularly
Drive measurable improvements in education, health, emotional wellbeing and social development
Ensure young people's voices, wishes and feelings are actively heard and shape their care
Maintain referral and occupancy management, ensuring appropriate placement matching
Financial & Operational Management
Support budgets for the home; manage resources efficiently
Maintain the physical environment to the highest health, safety and comfort standards
Monitor and report on KPIs for people, quality and performance to the Responsible Individual
Keep all policies and procedures current, reviewing in line with regulatory changes
Multi-Agency & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and sustain productive relationships with Local Authorities, commissioning teams and social workers
Liaise effectively with families, education providers, CAMHS and health professionals
Represent the home at statutory reviews, LAC meetings, professionals' forums and strategy meetings
Promote the home's reputation and ethos within the wider children's social care sector
Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement
Implement and maintain a robust quality assurance framework across all areas of the home
Analyse trends, incidents and feedback data to drive service improvement
Lead service development initiatives and champion innovation in care delivery
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
* Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare or working towards it
* Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent
* Minimum 2 years' experience in a senior/deputy/management role in a children's home
* Proven track record of achieving Good or Outstanding Ofsted ratings
* Experience conducting staff supervisions and managing a residential team
* In-depth knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
* Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection frameworks
* Experience working with children with EBD / complex needs
* Eligibility to become Ofsted Registered Manager
* Enhanced DBS check on the Update Service (children's workforce)
* Right to work in the United Kingdom (sponsorship is not available)
* Minimum age of 21 years (Equality Act occupational requirement)
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a supporting personal statement directly to (email address removed), CVs alone will not be accepted. Your statement should include specific examples demonstrating your leadership approach, Ofsted experience and commitment to outstanding outcomes for young people.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete an Enhanced Self-Declaration and Disclosure form prior to interview. All appointments are subject to satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to building an inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, ages, disabilities, faiths, orientations and gender identities.
Work Location: In person