Children’s Residential Home | South East London

Up to £70,000 per annum + Performance Bonus
Permanent | Full Time

This is not a turnaround project or a home in crisis.

This is an established children’s home with a settled structure, experienced team, and strong operational support already in place. We are looking for an experienced Registered Manager who can bring leadership, stability, and high standards to a home supporting young people aged 8–17 with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD).

The successful candidate will be a visible and confident leader who understands how to create a safe, nurturing, and structured environment where young people can build trust, develop resilience, and achieve positive outcomes.

You will have the autonomy to lead the home properly while being supported by an experienced senior leadership team that understands the realities of residential childcare.

The Role

You will hold full responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, safeguarding, compliance, and operational management of a 3-bed children’s residential home.

This role requires someone who is child focused, emotionally intelligent, and confident managing both people and performance. You will lead from the front, support and develop your team, and ensure the home consistently operates to a high standard in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.

You will also play a key role in creating a positive culture within the home where safeguarding, accountability, consistency, and relationship-based care sit at the centre of practice.

Responsibilities

• Hold full Ofsted registration for the home
• Lead and inspire the staff team through strong and visible leadership
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, care, and compliance throughout the home
• Ensure the home remains inspection ready at all times
• Lead on care planning, risk management, behaviour support, and placement stability
• Support young people with emotional regulation, structure, boundaries, and positive outcomes
• Manage referrals, admissions, and relationships with placing authorities
• Oversee staff recruitment, supervision, performance management, and development
• Ensure rotas, staffing structures, and resources meet the needs of the home effectively
• Build strong relationships with families, social workers, education providers, and external professionals
• Monitor incidents, safeguarding concerns, missing episodes, and behavioural trends to continually improve practice
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and regulatory documentation
• Work closely with senior leadership and the Responsible Individual to drive quality and continuous improvement

Safeguarding

Safeguarding sits at the heart of this role.

The Registered Manager will act as the home’s safeguarding lead and will be responsible for ensuring safeguarding practice is embedded throughout the culture of the home, not simply treated as a compliance exercise.

You will lead on safeguarding concerns, liaise with external agencies where required, and ensure all staff understand their responsibilities in protecting children and young people.

We are looking for someone who creates an environment where young people feel safe, listened to, respected, and supported.

About You

You will already understand the pressures and responsibilities that come with residential childcare leadership.

You may already be a Registered Manager or an experienced Deputy Manager ready to take the next step into registration.

Most importantly, you will bring strong leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of children and young people.

Essential Requirements

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or working towards)
• Minimum 2 years’ experience within a senior leadership role in children’s residential care
• Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and Quality Standards
• Experience supporting young people with EBD and complex needs
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and risk management experience
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop residential care teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Enhanced DBS or willingness to obtain one
• Full UK driving licence preferred

Desirable Experience

• Experience leading or supporting an Ofsted inspection
• Track record of achieving Good or Outstanding outcomes
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and therapeutic care models
• Understanding of attachment-based and restorative approaches

What’s on Offer

Salary up to £70,000 depending on experience

Performance-related bonus scheme

Established and stable home environment

Strong senior management and Responsible Individual support

Experienced staff team already in place

Genuine autonomy to lead the home effectively

Ongoing professional development and progression opportunities

Opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable young people

This vacancy is being managed exclusively by YourRecruit, specialists in children’s residential recruitment. Applications are welcomed from experienced Registered Managers as well as strong Deputy Managers ready to take the next step into registration.

We operate a refer a friend scheme relating to our social care Manager roles of up to £1000 in Amazon vouchers, if you know of anyone please put them in touch.

Important Information:
• Please submit your CV in Word format only
• Applicants must already hold the unrestricted right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this role
• Know someone suitable? Ask about the YourRecruit referral scheme and receive a paid referral bonus for successful introductions

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond individually to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within 7 days, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, we will retain your details for future suitable opportunities.

YourRecruit Ltd is committed to equal opportunities and does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability or any other protected characteristic in accordance with UK legislation.

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