Registered Manager - Specialist Solo Children's Home

Trigon Recruitment Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Trigon Recruitment Ltd is seeking a highly experienced Registered Manager to lead a new specialist solo children's home in Nottingham. This role focuses on delivering a therapeutic, trauma-informed environment for one young person at a time, with a staffing ratio of up to 3:1 and strict safeguarding controls.

The successful candidate will have proven Ofsted track records, comprehensive regulatory knowledge and the leadership skills to mobilise the home from its inception to Good or Outstanding

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and management experience in children’s residential settings.
• Strong knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted frameworks.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills with multi-agency partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the registration, mobilisation and ongoing management of the children’s home.
• Maintain safeguarding, risk management and child-centred therapeutic care.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and drive quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Education

Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent)

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or currently working towards)

Job description

Job Role: Registered Manager Specialist Solo Children's Home

Location: Nottingham

Salary: £60,000 £65,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Role Overview

We are recruiting an exceptional and highly experienced Registered Manager to lead a new specialist solo children's home in Nottingham. This unique service will support one young person at a time and has been specifically designed for children with highly complex emotional, behavioural and safeguarding needs. Staffing levels will operate at up to 3:1 support, depending on the young person's assessed risks and requirements. The successful Registered Manager will be responsible for establishing and leading a high-quality therapeutic environment that promotes stability, safety and positive outcomes for young people with significant vulnerabilities. This is a critical leadership role requiring an experienced manager who can confidently oversee complex care arrangements, work within robust safeguarding frameworks, and ensure the service achieves and maintains excellent regulatory standards. This position is ideally suited to an established Registered Manager with a proven track record of managing high-acuity placements and delivering positive Ofsted outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Home Management

• Lead the registration, mobilisation and ongoing management of the children's home
• Hold overall responsibility for the safe and effective operation of the service
• Develop and maintain a high-performance culture focused on positive outcomes
• Lead, motivate and develop residential care staff operating within a 3:1 staffing model
• Ensure the home operates in line with all regulatory and legislative requirements
• Promote a child-centred, trauma-informed and therapeutic approach to care

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Maintain the highest standards of safeguarding practice
• Oversee complex risk assessments, behaviour support plans and care planning processes
• Ensure restrictive practices are lawful, proportionate and compliant with agreed care arrangements
• Monitor and review safeguarding concerns, incidents and risk management strategies
• Support placement stability through proactive and responsive leadership

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with:
  • Children's Homes Regulations
  • Quality Standards
  • Ofsted requirements
  • Safeguarding legislation and guidance
• Lead on inspections, audits and quality assurance activity
• Maintain robust systems for monitoring and improving service quality
• Drive continuous improvement and best practice across the home
• Work towards achieving and maintaining Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes

Partnership Working

• Develop strong relationships with:
  • Social Workers
  • Commissioners
  • Clinical Teams
  • Local Authorities
  • Education Providers
  • External Professionals
• Attend and contribute effectively to reviews, planning meetings and multi-agency forums
• Act as the key point of contact for all placement-related matters

People Management & Development

• Recruit, supervise and develop a specialist residential team
• Deliver regular supervision, appraisals and performance management
• Ensure training and development plans are implemented effectively
• Promote staff wellbeing, resilience and professional development
• Maintain staffing structures that support consistent, high-quality care

Essential Criteria

• Current or previous experience as a Registered Manager within a children's residential setting
• Proven track record of achieving Good or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes
• Significant experience supporting young people with:
  • Complex emotional and behavioural needs
  • Challenging behaviours
  • High safeguarding risks
  • Trauma and attachment-related difficulties
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Children's Homes Regulations
  • Quality Standards
  • Ofsted inspection frameworks
  • Safeguarding legislation and best practice
• Experience managing complex placements requiring enhanced staffing models
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable Criteria

• Experience establishing or mobilising a new children's home
• Experience supporting solo placements
• Experience managing court-approved care arrangements or highly complex safeguarding plans
• Therapeutic, trauma-informed or attachment-based training
• Experience working alongside clinical and psychological professionals

Qualifications

• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or currently working towards)
• Relevant safeguarding and management training

Additional Information

• New specialist solo children's home supporting one young person at a time
• Staffing ratio of up to 3:1 depending on assessed needs and risks
• This is not considered a suitable opportunity for a first-time Registered Manager
• Enhanced DBS and all relevant safeguarding checks required
• Opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and leading a highly specialist service from its inception