Registered Manager – Children's Residential

Location: Ilford, Essex – IG1 area
Salary: Negotiable for the right candidate
Home: Established 3–5 bed Children's Residential Home
Provision: EBD
Hours: Full-time

The Opportunity

Ashford Recruitment are proud to bring to the market an opportunity for an experienced Registered Manager to join an established and growing children's residential provider in the Ilford area.

The provider currently operates seven children's homes, with six located within approximately a 4–5 mile radius of Ilford. The homes provide care and support for young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and behaviours that may challenge.

Six of the seven homes are currently rated Good by Ofsted, with one home currently rated Requires Improvement.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Registered Manager to take responsibility for their own home while benefiting from a strong management, quality and compliance infrastructure around them.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

The Registered Manager retains ownership, responsibility and final decision-making for their home, but has access to a wider support structure designed to reduce the additional administrative burden that can often fall on Registered Managers.

You will have support from:

A dedicated Quality Assurance Team.
A Service Delivery Manager.
Dedicated governance and compliance support.
An experienced Responsible Individual.
Directors and senior management.
The provider's own staffing agency for temporary staffing requirements.
Dedicated support with recruitment.
Compliance and quality support.
Wider operational support when required.

This structure allows the Registered Manager to remain focused on what matters most — leading their team, managing the home and achieving positive outcomes for the young people in their care.

Leadership & Support

The provider's Director is actively involved and accessible without taking a micromanagement approach.

There is a strong emphasis on understanding the challenges faced by Registered Managers and working collaboratively to find practical solutions.

The successful candidate will have the autonomy to manage their home while knowing that there is an experienced senior team available when additional support is required.

Key Responsibilities

As Registered Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the management and performance of your allocated children's home.

Your responsibilities will include:

Taking overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the home.
Ensuring the home operates in accordance with Ofsted requirements, Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
Maintaining strong safeguarding practices.
Ensuring the welfare and best interests of young people remain the priority.
Leading, managing and developing the staff team.
Providing regular supervision, support and performance management.
Ensuring staff receive appropriate training and development.
Maintaining high standards of care planning, risk management and record keeping.
Ensuring safeguarding concerns, incidents and allegations are managed appropriately.
Working closely with social workers, local authorities, education providers, healthcare professionals and other external agencies.
Building positive working relationships with placing authorities and professional networks.
Ensuring the individual needs, wishes and feelings of young people are reflected in their care.
Promoting positive outcomes for young people.
Monitoring the quality of care and identifying areas for improvement.
Working closely with the Quality Assurance Team and Service Delivery Manager.
Preparing for and supporting Ofsted inspections and monitoring visits.
Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and company procedures.
Managing staffing levels, rotas and resources effectively.
Managing incidents, complaints and safeguarding matters appropriately.
Working closely with the Responsible Individual and senior management team.
Maintaining a positive culture within the home.
Taking ownership of the home's continued development and performance.

What We Are Looking For

The successful candidate will ideally have:

Previous experience as a Registered Manager within children's residential care.
Strong experience working with young people with EBD and behaviours that challenge.
A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or equivalent.
Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations, Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
Strong safeguarding knowledge and experience.
Experience managing and developing residential childcare teams.
Experience with care planning, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures.
Experience working with Ofsted and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organisational and leadership skills.
The ability to make confident decisions and take ownership of the home.
A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

Personality & Leadership Style

This provider is looking for someone who will fit well within their existing management culture.

You will be:

Open and transparent in your communication.
Personable and approachable.
A strong communicator.
Honest and professional.
Someone who operates with integrity.
Confident enough to take ownership and make decisions.
Comfortable asking for support when required.
A strong team player.
Child-focused and committed to achieving positive outcomes.
Able to build positive relationships with staff, young people and external professionals.
Comfortable working with autonomy while making effective use of the support available.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Established provider with seven children's homes.
Six homes currently rated Good by Ofsted.
Strong geographical presence around Ilford.
Dedicated Quality Assurance Team.
Service Delivery Manager support.
Governance and compliance support.
Experienced Responsible Individual.
Accessible Directors and senior management.
Access to the provider's own staffing agency.
Additional recruitment and compliance support.
Genuine autonomy for the Registered Manager.
A leadership structure designed to provide support without micromanagement.
Opportunity to focus more time on leading the home and achieving outcomes for young people.

The Opportunity

This role would suit an experienced Registered Manager who wants the autonomy and responsibility of running their own home, but does not want to feel isolated when dealing with the challenges that come with managing a children's residential service.

With dedicated quality, compliance, operational and senior management support around you, the aim is to give the Registered Manager the space to lead, while providing practical support when it is needed.

If you are an experienced Registered Manager who values integrity, open communication, autonomy and strong senior support, Ashford Recruitment would be keen to hear from you.

Ashford Recruitment – Built in people, rooted in growth.