Assistant Manager - Residential Children's Homes

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

Job summary

Join Wokingham Borough Council as an Assistant Manager for Residential Children's Homes. In this vital role, you will support the management of multi-building facilities dedicated to vulnerable children, ensuring compliance with regulations while fostering a safe, nurturing environment. Enjoy a competitive salary and an array of employee benefits, including generous leave and a local government pension scheme. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Benefits

31 days holiday (rising to 36 after 5 years)

Excellent local government pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Onsite gym access

Salary sacrifice car & cycle schemes

Qualifications

• Hold a Level 3 Residential Childcare or equivalent qualification.
• Extensive management experience in children's residential settings.
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989 & regulations.
• Experience working with children, parents, and partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Support the Homes Manager to meet statutory responsibilities.
• Assist in developing and supervising a professional team.
• Manage immediate welfare actions for children at risk.
• Work with Quality Assurance to maintain safeguarding standards.

Skills

Management

Child Welfare

Team Development

Safeguarding

Education

Level 3 Residential Childcare or equivalent

Job description

Assistant Manager - Residential Children's Homes

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 Children’s Home Assistant Manager to join our brand-new, multi-building Residential Children’s 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 children’s 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 Council’saim 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 children’s 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 it’s 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 Children’s 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 children’s 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.

We’re 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) [e-mail]

Victoria Wallace (Interim Residential Children’s Homes Manager) [e-mail]

Alix Williams (Recruitment & Retention, Children's Services) [e-mail]

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.

How to apply

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Further information on this vacancy

• Residential Childrens Home Assistant Manager