Registered Manager

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension

Annual leave 28 days rising to 32

Flexible working: 5 days over 4

Job summary

Gateshead Council is seeking a skilled Children’s Registered Manager to lead and safeguard residential homes for looked-after children. You will foster a child-centred, trauma-informed environment and oversee day-to-day operations, staff development, and regulatory compliance.

You will ensure effective risk management, quality assurance, and strong partnerships with families, social care colleagues and external agencies, as part of a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Strong safeguarding and commitment to high-quality residential care.
• Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
• Experience leading homes through Ofsted inspections.
• Understanding of Children Act, Care Act, Liberty Safeguards and related guidance.
• Experience with looked-after children and families.
• Experience in a management/leadership role.
• Analytical and report-writing skills.
• Reflective supervision and staff development experience.
• Experience in multi-agency safeguarding partnerships.
• Budget and financial oversight experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage residential homes to ensure safeguarding and quality care.
• Develop a child-centred culture rooted in trauma-informed practice.
• Coordinate multi‑agency safeguarding partnerships and care teams.
• Deliver reflective supervision, appraisals and staff development.
• Oversee budget and financial management for children’s homes.
• Ensure robust record-keeping and monitoring using technology.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Ofsted experience

Legislation knowledge

Risk management

Child protection

Leadership

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management of Residential Childcare

Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare

Safeguarding training

Job description

£61,008 - £64,736 (Inclusive of a temporary R & R allowance).

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encouraging creativity and passionately advocating a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

“Lead a home. Set the Standard. Change children's lives”

Our Children’s Social Care team work to provide and further develop services to children and families across Gateshead, offering a focused and joined-up approach to ensure young people have the very best possible start in life. This includes early help and prevention, assessment, intervention and safeguarding, services for children in and leaving our care, fostering, residential and adoption services, support for vulnerable adolescents, children with disabilities, and more.

This is challenging but incredibly rewarding work, driven by our commitment to helping Gateshead children to thrive.

Gateshead Council is investing in the future of our cared-for children through a growing network of residential homes. With four established homes and two more opening, we provide safe, nurturing environments where young people can rebuild trust, re-engage with education, and develop the skills they need for independence.

You will have the opportunity to work 5 days over 4, Monday to Friday, offering a great work life balance. A rota arrangement will be implemented across our residential estate to agree and coordinate non-working days, ensuring appropriate Registered Manager cover and operational continuity at all times.

Deputy Managers are not included within the RCCO rota. This is to ensure they remain available on site to provide day‑to‑day operational oversight, staff support, and leadership presence within their designated home, to ensure our young people get the best support available.

Our homes are supported by a dedicated therapeutic team, including a residential mental health practitioner and psychologist, Speech and Language and OT and are grounded in trauma-informed, strength‑based care. We are proud that all of our children’s homes are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

“Be the Registered Manager who shapes stability and futures.”

Due to the expansion of our in-house residential estate, we are looking to appoint a Children’s Registered Manager. You will join an experienced, supportive group of Registered Managers who are passionate about ensuring children are safeguarded, cared for, and supported by confident, skilled teams.

We are seeking an experienced Registered Manager or someone ready to take the next step in their career. We understand the pressures involved in managing a home and leading a team, which is why we offer strong peer support, leadership oversight, wellbeing support, an excellent training offer, and access to our in‑house therapeutic service.

If you believe in residential care, are passionate about children and young people, and have the skills to shape, lead and support a team to be their best, we would love to hear from you.

What You’ll Bring

You will bring exceptional knowledge and a strong commitment to safeguarding and high-quality residential care, including:

• Exceptional knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, with a clear understanding of your statutory responsibility as Registered Manager.
• In-depth knowledge of the SCIFF and experience of leading homes through Ofsted inspections.
• Sound knowledge of key legislation influencing practice, including the Children Act, Care Act, Liberty Safeguards, and relevant statutory guidance.
• A strong understanding of best practice, research and policy relating to children who are looked after and their families.
• A deep and current understanding of child protection within a residential setting, including safeguarding thresholds and practice standards.
• Proven experience of working directly with children and young people who present high levels of risk, including significant risk‑taking behaviours and complex safeguarding needs.

You Will Be an Experienced Practitioner And Leader With

• Relevant experience of working directly with children and young people in a residential setting.
• Experience of working with families and significant others, ensuring children feel loved, secure and cared for through strong relationships.
• Experience in a management or leadership role, delivering service improvement and developing a culture rooted in child‑centred values and trauma‑informed care.
• Experience of leading and managing complex needs, promoting placement stability and effective risk management.
• Strong analytical and report‑writing skills, including quality assurance and regulatory reporting.
• Experience of delivering reflective supervision, appraisal processes and developing others.
• Experience of working within multi‑agency safeguarding partnerships and care teams.
• Strong financial management skills, ensuring effective oversight of the children’s home budget.
• Confidence in using technology to support good practice, effective record‑keeping and monitoring.

You Will Hold

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management of Residential Childcare (or completion within 18 months of appointment).
• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare.
• Up‑to‑date safeguarding training and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

All care staff working in a Children's home must be at least four years older than the oldest child accommodated.

If successful you will have to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience. £61,008 - £64,736 (Inclusive of a temporary R & R allowance)
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible working: A 5 day over 4 working pattern over Monday - Friday with a rota arrangement across our residential estate to agree and coordinate non‑working days.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. At Gateshead Council we are an employer who embraces, and welcomes diversity, who's truly inclusive and who demonstrates equality for all. We'll go the extra mile so that our approach is representative of the communities we serve and each other. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Please note:

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high‑volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.