Assistant Manager - Residential Children's Homes

Wokingham Borough Council; South Shields; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Wokingham Borough Council is seeking a dedicated Residential Childrens Home Assistant Manager to oversee operations at new residential homes for children. This role requires a professional with a Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare and extensive experience in children's residential management. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulations, supporting staff, and maintaining high standards of care.

Benefits

31 days annual leave, rising to 36 after 5 years

Enrolment to local government pension scheme

24/7 wellbeing helpline

Local & lifestyle discounts

Free onsite gym

Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

Qualifications

• Hold Level 3 Residential Childcare qualification.
• Extensive experience in management roles in children's homes.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operations of residential children's homes.
• Ensure compliance with Children's Home Regulations.
• Provide supervision and development for a team of support staff.

Skills

Knowledge of Children Act 1989

Management experience in children's residential setting

Working effectively with children

Education

Level 3 Residential Childcare or equivalent

Job description

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council

Salary: £44,711 - £49,764 Per Annum, Plus Benefits

Location: Wokingham

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time

Hours: 37 hours per week.

DBS Check: Enhanced

Closing Date: 24/08/2025 at 23:00

Reference: 712799 & 712800

We have fantastic opportunity available for a Residential Childrens Home Assistant Manager to join our brand-new, multi-building Residential Childrens Homes within the borough.

As the Assistant Manager, you will play an active role in the day-to-day operation and provide key support to the Residential Homes Manager in their responsibilities for the effective management of the residential childrens homes. You will support the provision of a professional, child centred service, ensuring its accordance with the relevant regulations, legislation, codes of practice, policy, and procedures.

Wokingham Borough Councils aim is to enable our most vulnerable children and young people in care to live close to the things they hold dear close to family, friends, community, and those who care for them most. This service comprises a multi-building childrens home including a 4-bedroom Emotional Behaviour Disorder/Difficulties (EBD) home and the addition of a smaller Complex home.

These homes will enable more children with complex needs to remain in or return to Wokingham and to avoid the use of unregistered placements and children living away from their communities and networks.

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but its a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days (rising to 36 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays
• Enrolment to an excellent local government pension scheme
• An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline
• A range of local & lifestyle discounts
• Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)
• Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes
• And much more!
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Homes Manager to ensure that the service meet its statutory responsibility and is compliant with the Childrens Homes Regulations (2015).
• Assist in the development of a professional team that performs to the highest standards, ensuring effective supervision, staff development and training.
• Support the Homes Manager to exceed expectations at Inspection and Regulation 44 visits in terms of delivering positive outcomes for young people.
• Work openly with Quality Assurance to ensure good safeguarding standards and high-quality information recording are maintained.
• Line management for 8/9 members of staff over a working week, including 2 Senior Support workers, 4/5 Support workers and 1/2 Waking night staff.
• Take immediate management action when the welfare or safety of children or young people is as risk.
  
  

Candidate Requirements

• Hold a professional qualification in Level 3 Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• Extensive professional work experience in a management position in a childrens residential setting.
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989 & CH regulations and good standards of practice.
• Demonstrate experience of working effectively with children, parents, colleagues, and partner agencies.
  
  

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

Were home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!

Alternatively, For An Informal Discussion Please Contact

Holli Blackburn (Responsible Individual for Residencial Children's Homes)

Victoria Wallace (Interim Residential Childrens Homes Manager)

Alix Williams (Recruitment & Retention, Children's Services)

Closing date: Sunday 24th August 2025, 11pm

Interview date: TBC

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.

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