Service Manager, Children’s Homes Service

Durham County Council; Middlestone Moor; On-site; GBP 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Middlestone Moor is seeking a dedicated Service Manager for its Children’s Homes Service. The successful candidate will lead the development and improvement of care services, ensuring high standards of care are delivered. This role requires deep expertise in residential care, quality assurance, and compliance with Ofsted regulations. Applicants should possess a Level 5 management qualification and have a proven track record in leadership and service improvement. Competitive salary offered, along with extensive support for professional development.

Benefits

Comprehensive training program

Access to rewards and benefits

Potential relocation assistance

Qualifications

• Proven track record in overseeing quality assurance and service improvement.
• Experience as a Registered Manager or Responsible Individual registered with Ofsted for at least 2 years.
• In-depth knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead service development and empower staff to deliver outstanding care.
• Drive quality assurance through audits and improvement projects.
• Manage budgets and workforce planning to deliver value for money.

Skills

Quality assurance

Service improvement

Change management

Leadership

Understanding of Children's Homes Regulations

Safeguarding expertise

Education

Level 5 management qualification or equivalent

Job description

Service Manager, Children’s Homes Service

Lead with Purpose, Inspire Change and Transform Lives.

Salary: £56,554 - £60,680 plus £2,500 temporary recruitment/retention allowance. Potential earnings up to £63,180 per annum (at top of the grade).

Location: Your normal place of work will be Green Lane Offices in Spennymoor, but you may be required to work at any Council workplace within County Durham.

Your Next Chapter Starts Here

Are you passionate about making a real difference for children and young people? Do you believe in the power of compassionate leadership, high standards, and continuous improvement? Join us as a Service Manager for Children’s Homes and lead the way in creating safe, supportive, and inspiring environments where every child can thrive. This is your opportunity to shape the future of residential care and drive excellence across our growing service.

The Role

As our Service Manager, you will be at the heart of a service that’s not just about care, it’s about hope, growth, and transformation. You will take the lead in delivering high‑quality care and driving improvement across our growing Children’s Homes Service. You’ll work closely with Registered Managers and their teams to ensure outstanding standards, safeguarding, and positive outcomes, ensuring every child receives the nurturing, stability, and opportunity they deserve.

• Leading service development as we expand our homes and build strong, stable staff teams, providing strategic leadership to our Registered Managers, empowering them to deliver outstanding care and ensuring compliance with Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted standards.
• Driving quality assurance through robust audits, reviews, and impactful improvement projects.
• Overseeing admissions, inspections, and regulatory practice.
• Managing budgets, workforce planning, and service projects to deliver value for money and innovation.
• Representing the service at strategic meetings and working collaboratively with partners to achieve the best outcomes.

This is a role where your leadership will directly impact lives and help shape a culture of excellence, ensuring our homes are not only compliant but are beacons of best practice in children’s residential care.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone who brings deep expertise in children’s residential care and regulatory frameworks. We are looking for someone who has:

• A proven track record in quality assurance, service improvement, and change management.
• A Level 5 management qualification (or equivalent) and experience as a Registered Manager or Responsible Individual registered with Ofsted for the last 2 years.
• In‑depth knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, and Ofsted frameworks.
• A strong track record in residential care, safeguarding, and service improvement.
• Able to lead with clarity, compassion, and courage and the ability to manage change, inspire teams, and deliver outstanding results.
• A commitment to putting children and young people at the heart of everything you do.

This is more than a job, it’s a calling, if you are ready to lead with purpose and be part of a service that’s transforming lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Values

Our service is built on the ‘Durham’ values – Dignity, Unity, Responsibility, Heart, Aspiration, and Mindset which are at the heart of everything we do for both our young people and our teams.

Our offer to you

You will benefit from a comprehensive programme of training to support you to develop in your role. As well as access to a wide ranging rewards and benefits offer, take a closer look via Rewards and Benefits.

If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to help lead the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application. To further your interest in the role, please review the full details of the role, supporting information and details of how to apply.

Contact us and apply now

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact our resourcing partners at The Resourcing Solution:

Leanne Auton by emailing [e-mail] or calling 07815 028 548
Charlotte Wilkinson by emailing [e-mail] or calling 07483 103 301.

To apply please provide us with your CV including a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document. Your supporting statement should outline your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for the role. These should be emailed to The Resourcing Solution at [e-mail]. Please do not send PDFs. Please note candidates must complete an application form if being interviewed.

Removal and Lodgings

Removal, lodging and separation expenses may be available to the successful candidate if at the time of application for appointment their place of residence is outside the administrative area of County Durham and more than 30 miles in a straight line from their new administrative centre, along with several other criteria for eligibility.

We’re also hiring for the role of Registered Manager, Children’s Homes Service. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please view the full job advert here.

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