Registered Manager – New 2-Bed Therapeutic Children’s Home
Location: Sutton, Surrey
Salary: £55,000–£65,000 per annum, depending on experience
Job Type: Full-time
Employer: Gray Matter Ltd
Gray Matter Ltd is developing a new 2-bed therapeutic children’s residential home in Sutton, Surrey, providing high-quality, trauma-informed care for children and young people with complex needs.
We are looking for an experienced Registered Manager to lead the home through its registration and opening phase and take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the service once operational.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced children's residential professional who wants to help build and develop a new home from the ground up, rather than simply take over an established service.
The Role
As Registered Manager, you will work closely with the Responsible Individual and Director to establish a safe, nurturing and high-quality environment for the children we support.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading the home through the Ofsted registration and opening process
- Managing the day-to-day operation of the children's home
- Ensuring compliance with Ofsted requirements, the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards
- Developing and maintaining effective policies, procedures and systems
- Recruiting, inducting, supervising and developing the staff team
- Ensuring high standards of safeguarding and child protection
- Developing and reviewing care plans, risk assessments and placement plans
- Promoting a trauma-informed and therapeutic approach to care
- Supporting children with EBD, complex needs and challenging behaviours
- Working closely with social workers, education, health professionals, CAMHS and other agencies
- Managing incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and notifications appropriately
- Maintaining accurate records and ensuring strong governance and quality assurance
- Preparing the home and staff team for Ofsted inspections
- Monitoring staff performance, training and professional development
- Ensuring the home provides a stable, safe and child-centred environment
- Building positive relationships with children, families and professionals
- Driving continuous improvement across the service
About You
We are looking for someone with:
- Significant experience working within children’s residential care
- Previous experience as a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager or Senior Manager within a children's home
- Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
- Strong safeguarding knowledge
- Experience managing and developing staff teams
- Experience with care planning, risk management and safeguarding
- Understanding of EBD, trauma and complex needs
- Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills
- Relevant qualifications in residential childcare/leadership and management
- Level 5 Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or willingness/eligibility to meet the relevant qualification requirements
Desirable
Experience of:
- Taking a new children's home through Ofsted registration
- SC1/SC2 applications and Fit Person processes
- Setting up a children's home from the ground up
- Working with Ofsted during registration and inspection
- Therapeutic or trauma-informed children's services
- Supporting children with complex trauma, CSE/CCE, self-harm or challenging behaviour
What We Offer
- £55,000–£65,000 salary, depending on experience
- Opportunity to lead a brand-new 2-bed children's home
- Significant input into the development and culture of the service
- Support from the Director and Responsible Individual
- Opportunity to build and develop your own team
- A genuinely child-centred and therapeutic approach
- Long-term opportunity to grow with the organisation
If you are an experienced children's residential professional who is ready to take ownership of a new service and help build something from the ground up, we would like to hear from you.
