City Family CIC's vision is to bridge and tackle the disparities that impact happy healthy childhoods. Our mission is to break down barriers to opportunity and empower families to raise happy, healthy children.
We are opening a Residential Family Centre in South Essex to improve short, medium and long term outcomes for children and their families.
Our Centre will have the mission to keep more babies safely with their families, break cycles of disadvantage, and give families the best chance to thrive—where they belong, in their own communities.
We are recruiting a Registered Manager, who will also be the new Project Lead and oversee our full suite of parenting assessments services
City Family CIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedure to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.
For an informal conversation about the role please email office@cityfamily.org.uk, for the attention of the CEO.
- To apply, please submit a covering letter, responding to the person specification (no more than 2 sides of A4) and a full CV to office@cityfamily.org.uk by Sunday 8th February 2026. Applications that do not meet the Essential criteria will not be progressed.
- Interviews, competency assessments ‘fit person’ conversations will take place towards the end of February
Location: South Essex (with occasional regional and national travel)
Reports to: Chief Executive / Responsible Individual
Salary: from £52,203 and dependent on experience and qualifications*
Contract: Continued employment in the permanent role is subject to successful Ofsted registration and confirmation of the postholder as Registered Manager
Start date: As early as possible during the pre-opening phase
1. Purpose of the Role
The Registered Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for a new Ofsted-regulated Residential Family Centre, ensuring safe, high-quality, trauma-informed assessment and support for families subject to care proceedings.
The postholder will lead the service through pre-registration, mobilisation, and inspection, and will be accountable for compliance with the Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards, Children Act 1989, and associated guidance.
In addition, the role will oversee City Family’s community-based parenting assessment offer and supervised contact provision, ensuring clear governance, consistency of practice, and proportionate pathways between residential and non-residential services.
2. Key Responsibilities
2.1 Pre-Opening Development & Registration
- Lead the preparation and submission of all documentation required for Ofsted registration, including Statement of Purpose, policies, staffing model, and quality assurance systems.
- Play a central role in property readiness, environmental risk assessments, and mobilisation planning.
- Develop staffing structures, rotas, induction and supervision frameworks aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Support recruitment and onboarding of residential and community-based staff.
- Work closely with the Responsible Individual to ensure the service is inspection-ready from day one.
2.2 Residential Family Centre Operations
- Provide day-to-day leadership of the Residential Family Centre, ensuring safe, dignified, and child-centred delivery of time-limited residential parenting assessments.
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding, risk management, staffing levels, and continuity of care.
- Ensure assessments are robust, evidence-based, proportionate, and meet court requirements.
- Promote a trauma-informed, relational approach that supports both child safety and parental capacity.
- Implement effective quality assurance, audit, and service improvement processes.
2.3 Community-Based Parenting Assessment & Supervised Contact*
- Lead the operational delivery of community-based parenting assessments, including step-down work following residential placements.
- Oversee the development and safe operation of City Family’s Supervised Contact Service, ensuring:
- Clear safeguarding procedures
- Court-compliant recording and reporting
- Consistent staff supervision and training
- Ensure strong governance arrangements that distinguish between residential and non-residential services while maintaining integrated pathways.
- Manage referrals, thresholds, and matching to ensure appropriate use of each service model.
2.4 Regulatory Compliance & Governance
- Ensure ongoing compliance with:
- Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards
- Children Act 1989
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Act as Registered Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Lead Ofsted inspections and implement any required actions or recommendations.
- Maintain accurate records, policies, and reporting systems suitable for inspection and court scrutiny.
2.5 Strategic Leadership & Partnership Working
- Build strong working relationships with local authority commissioners, social care teams, Cafcass, courts, and health partners.
- Represent City Family CIC within local safeguarding partnerships and relevant professional networks.
- Contribute to organisational learning, service development, and future replication of the model.
- Promote a culture of reflective practice, learning, and continuous improvement.
3. Person Specification
Essential
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
- At least 2 years’ experience managing residential or intensive family support services.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Care proceedings and parenting assessments
- Safeguarding and risk management
- Ofsted regulatory frameworks
- Experience leading teams and managing complex services.
- Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based practice.
- Project management experience
- Clean Driving license and full access to a road worthy vehicle
Desirable
- Social Work qualification and registration (highly desirable).
- Experience in:
- Residential Family Centres or parenting assessment services (PAMS or ParentAssess preferred);
- Supervised contact services; and/or
- Service development or pre-opening roles
- Background in social work, psychology, early years, health or family support.
Skills & Attributes
- Values-led, compassionate leadership style.
- Confident decision-maker able to manage risk and complexity.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to regulatory detail.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and family voice.
4. Terms & Conditions
- 37.5 hours per week (flexibility required, including evenings/weekends/on-call, particularly in the post opening phase).
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Pension scheme, regular supervision, and CPD support.
- Appointment subject to enhanced DBS, full references and ability to meet Ofsted ‘Fit person’ checks
- Appointment is made on a conditional basis. Continued employment and confirmation of the permanent post are subject to the successful registration of the Centre with Ofsted and the postholder being approved as Registered Manager
*Elements of this role description can only be carried out by someone with an active Social Work Registration, salary and role description may be altered depending on this.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.
