Children’s Residential Home – South East London
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum + Performance Bonus
Permanent | Full Time
About the Role
We are recruiting an experienced and passionate Registered Manager to lead an established 3-bedroom children’s home in Abbey Wood, South East London. This is a fantastic opportunity for a values-driven leader to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people aged 8–17 with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD).
This is an established, well-regarded home with a committed staff team already in place. You will join an organisation that puts the welfare of its young people at the heart of everything it does, providing strong operational and senior management support to enable you to lead with confidence.
Key Details
- Location:South East London
- Home type: 3-bed residential children’s home
- Young people: Ages 8–17, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD)
- Contract: Permanent, full time
- Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum, dependent on experience
- Bonus: Performance-related bonus scheme
- Registration: Ofsted-registered home
Key Responsibilities
* Hold full Ofsted registration as Registered Manager for the home
* Provide strong, visible leadership to the staff team, fostering a positive, child-centred culture
* Ensure the home operates in full compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards
* Lead and prepare for Ofsted inspections, maintaining a Good or Outstanding judgement
* Develop, implement and review individual care plans and risk assessments for each young person
* Champion safeguarding across the home, acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead
* Manage referrals, admissions and placement planning in partnership with placing authorities
* Oversee staff recruitment, supervision, appraisal and professional development
* Manage budgets and resources effectively, reporting to the Responsible Individual (RI)
* Build and maintain positive relationships with young people, families, social workers and external professionals
* Ensure all records, reports and documentation meet regulatory and organisational standards
* Respond appropriately to incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns in line with policy
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is at the core of this role. The Registered Manager will be expected to:
* Act as the home’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
* Ensure all staff receive up-to-date safeguarding training appropriate to their role
* Lead on safeguarding investigations, referrals to children’s services and liaison with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where required
* Maintain a thorough understanding of current safeguarding legislation, including Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Children Act 1989 and 2004
* Ensure the home’s safeguarding policy is current, embedded in practice and regularly reviewed
* Promote a culture where young people feel safe, heard and respected
Ofsted Experience
The successful candidate will have direct, demonstrable experience of Ofsted inspection at a management level, including:
* Previous experience as a Registered Manager or Deputy Manager with direct responsibility during an Ofsted inspection
* Strong working knowledge of the Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF) for children’s homes
* Ability to prepare the home, staff team and documentation to inspection-ready standard
* Track record of achieving positive inspection outcomes (Good or Outstanding preferred)
* Confidence in engaging with Ofsted inspectors and articulating the home’s practice and outcomes clearly
Essential Requirements
* Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) – OR actively working towards this qualification with a clear timeline to completion
* Minimum 2 years’ experience in a senior leadership role within children’s residential care
* Thorough knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and associated Quality Standards
* Experience working with young people with EBD and complex needs
* Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply)
* Strong written communication skills – able to produce high-quality reports, care plans and correspondence
* Full UK driving licence (desirable)
Desirable
- Experience managing a home through an Ofsted inspection as the Registered Manager of record
- Knowledge of therapeutic care models and trauma-informed practice
- Established relationships with placing authorities across London and the South East
What’s on Offer
- Salary up to £65,000 per annum, dependent on experience and qualifications
- Performance-related bonus scheme
- Genuine senior leadership autonomy within a supportive organisational structure
- An established, stable home – not a start-up situation
- Committed, experienced staff team
- Strong RI and senior management support
- Investment in your continued professional development
How to Apply
This vacancy is being managed exclusively by YourRecruit Ltd, specialist recruiters in children’s residential care.
To apply or to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact our social care team directly. We welcome applications from candidates who hold the Level 5 qualification or who are currently working towards it.
YourRecruit Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and right to work verification.
YourRecruit Ltd | Specialist Recruitment | HR, Admin & Children’s Residential Care
For your information:
*Interested? Please send your CV in as a Word format only
**Please only apply if you are already eligible to work in the UK (indefinitely & without sponsorship)
***Not for you but you know someone suitable? Take advantage of the YourRecruit paid referral fee.
Due to the large numbers of responses we receive, despite our best efforts it is not possible to respond to every application. Therefore, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for this particular role and if you haven't heard from us within 7 days please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please feel free however to apply for further roles and we will certainly keep your details on file and contact you with suitable vacancies. YourRecruit Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender or disability and complies with all relevant UK legislation.
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Salary description
£65000.00 - £65000.00 per year