Registered Manager Children's Residential Home
Location: Westfield Home, Westfield Close, Waltham Cross, EN8 7EY
Salary: £55,000 per annum + Bonuses linked to home profitability/performance
Contract Type: Full-time, permanent.
Reporting to: Responsible Individual / Director
Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility to meet operational needs and participate in on-call arrangements as required.
Following 3 to 6 months, and subject to the home being stable, fully operational, and meeting required standards, there may be scope for limited hybrid working for administrative and management tasks, subject to service needs and organisational approval.
About the Role
Haven Rise Care Ltd is seeking an experienced, committed, and child-centred Registered Manager to lead a new therapeutic children's home with a maximum of 3 placements in Waltham Cross.
This is an opportunity to lead a small, high-quality service from registration through to full operation, shaping the culture, standards, and therapeutic practice from day one. The home will provide stable, nurturing, trauma-informed care for children and young people with complex needs, with a strong focus on safeguarding, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and positive outcomes.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the leadership, management, development, and day-to-day running of the home, ensuring compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, the Quality Standards safeguarding legislation, and internal policies and procedures.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the home through Ofsted registration and into full operation
- Ensure the home operates in line with legislation, regulations, safeguarding guidance, and company policy.
- Maintain accurate, robust, and inspection-ready records, care plans, risk assesssments behaviour support plans, and placement documentation. Provide strong, visible leadership to the staff team and set high standards of practice, accountability, and professionalism.
- Recruit, induct, supervise, and develop staff to build a stable, skilled, and motivated team.
- Embed a therapeutic, trauma-informed, child centred model of care across the home. Ensure children and young people's wishes, feelings, and voices are central to care planning and day-to-day practice. Lead safeguarding practice, including responding to concerns, incidents, allegations, and serious events in line with procedure
- Liaise effectively with Local Authorities, Ofsted, LADO, police, health professionals, education providers, therapists, and families
- Oversee matching decisions, admissions, placement stability, and outcomes for children and young people
- Manage rotas, staffing arrangements, absence, performance, and disciplinary matters in line with company policy
- Monitor staffing costs, agency use, maintaining issues, and operational spend. Carry out audits and implement action plans to support continuous improvement and inspection readiness.
Person Specification Essential:
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or willingness to complete within required timescales.
- Experience working within children’s residential care
- Experience in a leadership, senior, or deputy management role within children’s residential services.
- Strong knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, safeguarding procedures, and Ofsted requirements Experience managing safeguarding concerns, incidents, and complex behaviours.
- Strong understanding of trauma-informed and therapeutic practice Excellent leadership, communication recording, and organisational skills.
- Ability to lead teams, drive improvement, and make sound decisions under pressure
- Full UK driving licence
- Enhanced DBS suitable for working with children
Desirable:
- Previous experience as an Ofsted-registered manager Experience leading a home through registration or inspection.
- Experience supporting children and young people with trauma, emotional and behavioural difficulties, or complex needs.
- Experience in service development or opening a new home.
- Knowledge of safer recruitment, staff development, and quality assurance systems.
Why Join Us
- Opportunity to lead a new therapeutic children’s home with a maximum of 3 placements
- Chance to shape culture, standards, and practice from the ground up
- Strong leadership backing and a clear vision for high-quality car
- Smaller home model with a strong focus on relationships, stability, and therapeutic practice
- Clear performance bonus structure
- Clear performance bonus structure
- Potential for limited hybrid working after 3 to 6 months, subject to home stabilisation and service needs
- Opportunity to grow with the organisation as it expands
