Registered Manager

Healthy Careers; Colchester; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's service provider is seeking a Registered Manager for a new children's residential home in Brightlingsea. The role involves managing the home, leading a dedicated team, and ensuring high-quality care for children with learning disabilities. The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar environment and a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership. This rewarding position includes a salary of £75,000 – £80,000 per annum and various benefits such as ongoing training and performance-related bonuses.

Benefits

Performance-related bonuses

Ongoing training and professional development

Supportive working culture

Company pension

Health & wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing a children's residential home.
• Strong understanding of Ofsted regulations and inspections.
• Proven ability to lead and develop staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage the operational aspects of the children's home.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and quality standards.
• Lead care planning and safeguarding initiatives.

Skills

Leadership skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Knowledge of safeguarding

Understanding of Ofsted regulations

Experience with budgeting

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare

Tools

Digital care systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Registered Manager – Children's Residential Service

Location: Brightlingsea

Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 per annum

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

We are recruiting on behalf of an organisation that is opening a new 8-10 bed children's home in Brightlingsea, supporting children with learning disabilities and complex needs. This is a rare opportunity to be involved from the very beginning – shaping the culture, values, and standards of a service designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment where young people can thrive.

About the Role

As Registered Manager, you will have full responsibility for the development, leadership, and day‑to‑day management of the home. You will lead a dedicated team, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver high‑quality, child‑centred care that promotes emotional wellbeing, independence, and positive outcomes.

The Role

• Full operational management of the children's home in line with Children's Homes Regulations and Ofsted requirements
• Leading on care planning, safeguarding, staffing, quality assurance, and service development
• Ensuring children receive high‑quality, personalised, and developmentally appropriate care
• Creating and maintaining a positive, professional, and trauma‑informed culture within the home
• Recruiting, mentoring, motivating, and developing staff to deliver consistent and outstanding care
• Acting as the main point of contact for Ofsted, local authorities, and multi‑agency professionals
• Advocating for the children and representing the service during inspections and reviews
• Managing budgets, rotas, risk, and administrative functions to ensure sustainability and growth

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a confident, experienced leader with a genuine commitment to improving the lives of children with learning disabilities.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience managing a children's residential home (ideally supporting children with learning disabilities, ASD, or complex needs)
• Strong understanding of Ofsted regulations, inspections, and quality frameworks
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop staff teams
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding, care planning, and multi‑agency working
• Experience with budgeting, rota management, and risk management
• Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or working towards)
• Competent using digital care systems and Microsoft Office

What's on Offer

• Salary of £75,000 – £80,000 per annum
• Performance‑related bonuses
• Supportive and inclusive working culture
• Ongoing training, professional development, and career progression
• The opportunity to open and shape a new service from the ground up
• A genuinely rewarding role where your leadership will have a lasting impact

Benefits

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free on‑site parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Referral programme
• Relocation assistance