Community jobs in United Kingdom

Lead. Shape. Inspire. Build a home that transforms lives.

Salary: £45,000-£70,000 + performance bonuses

Locations: Northern Hertfordshire (exact locations shared at interview)

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Monday-Friday with on-call duties

We are preparing to open five new Ofsted-registered Children's Homes across Hertfordshire, in close collaboration with our Local Authority partners, with all services scheduled to launch from July 2026.

We welcome applications not only from experienced Registered Managers who are ready to lead with heart, create homes from a standing start, and build therapeutic environments where children and young people with complex needs can heal, stabilise and thrive, but also from senior children's professionals with the right experience, ambition and values. If you are ready to progress, we will help you take the next step.

• Senior Residential Practitioners
• Deputy Managers
• Social Workers
• Youth Justice professionals
• Senior Family Support Workers
• Supported Accommodation Team Leaders
• CAMHS / SEN / ASD practitioners
• And other senior professionals who understand children, trauma and care

• Two or more years' professional experience supporting children or young people
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading others
• A genuine passion for creating safe, nurturing and therapeutic environments

we will fully fund your Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare and support you at every stage of your development. Ofsted allows Registered Managers to be appointed while completing their Level 5, meaning you can grow confidently into the role from your very first day.

This is a rare opportunity to take genuine ownership of your home, shape its culture from day one, co-design practice frameworks with our clinical governance team, and join an organisation where children always come first and where Registered Managers are deeply valued.

Whether you are best suited to a single home or a dual-home, semi-detached model, you can apply through this one advert.

• Two neighbouring homes (2 beds each), supporting children aged 7+ with complex emotional, behavioural and developmental needs.
• One Ofsted registration covering both properties.

Children aged 7-14 with:

• Trauma and attachment needs
• Neurodevelopmental conditions (ADHD/ASD)
• Mental health needs including hospital step-down
• Substance misuse vulnerabilities
• CCE/CSE risk
• Highly challenging behaviours requiring intensive support

Children aged 7+, often requiring:

• Intensive, trauma-informed care
• Complex mental health support
• ADHD/ASD care
• Substance misuse interventions
• High-risk behaviour management
• Support for CYP subject to, or at risk of, Deprivation of Liberty Orders

Children aged 7+ with:

• Trauma and attachment disruptions
• Mental health needs (including step-down from inpatient care)
• Neurodevelopmental conditions
• CCE/CSE risk management
• Structured therapeutic interventions

Two semi‑detached homes supporting 11‑18‑year‑olds with:

• Neurodevelopmental conditions
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health needs
• Challenging behaviour
• Complex communication needs
• One Ofsted registration covering both properties.

We are part of Aetheria Group , headquartered at Sopers House in Hertfordshire. We believe wholeheartedly that great homes are built by great leaders, and our Registered Managers are given the authority, support and trust to run outstanding services.

You will shape the home from its very foundation, from décor and layout to rotas, team culture, community networks and therapeutic practice. Your vision becomes the heart of the home.

• HR & safer recruitment
• Training & qualification pathways
• Policy development & compliance
• Rotas, payroll and admin
• Property compliance
• Mock inspections & quality assurance

So you can spend your time where it matters most: with staff, children, young people and families.

From January-July 2026, you will:

• Co‑lead the six‑month Ofsted mobilisation plan
• Build your team
• Shape therapeutic practice
• Prepare for the home's first inspection
• Work closely with Local Council's partners including SCP, PALMS, Virtual School, CAMHS, and local police
• Ensure full compliance with regulations and the Quality Standards

This is a true opportunity to design a home you are proud of.

As a Frontline Social Care Registered Manager, you will:

• Lead a home that achieves excellent outcomes for children using trauma‑informed, therapeutic, relationship‑based practice.
• Build, inspire and develop a high‑performing team including Deputies, Seniors and Residential Support Workers.
• Ensure Ofsted regulatory excellence; you will lead the home to Good or Outstanding, supported by our Responsible Individual and Quality Assurance Lead.
• Work confidently with complex needs including trauma, attachment difficulties, neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health needs, exploitation risks, self‑harm, aggression and high‑risk behaviours.
• Develop strong professional partnerships across Local Authorities, health, education, police, SCP, CAMHS, PALMS, Virtual School, and wider community organisations.
• Promote CYP voice and participation, ensuring every child is heard, respected and included in decisions about their life.
• Champion safeguarding and risk‑aware practice, ensuring robust oversight, risk assessment and safety planning at all times.

We want you to feel valued, supported and excited to come to work.

As part of the Aetheria Group, you will never be alone in your role. Our Hertfordshire headquarters underpins a range of specialist brands, teams and resources, giving you access to a truly multidisciplinary support network. From late‑night rota management and onboarding to compliance, quality assurance and governance oversight, our central team is always by your side.

These homes are delivered in partnership with Local Councils, which means occupancy, referrals and commissioning are not your responsibility, your focus is on care, leadership, quality and creating a safe, therapeutic environment.

• £45,000-£70,000 package
• Ofsted bonus: £1,500 for Good
• Ofsted bonus: £3,000 for Outstanding
• Company pension
• Company car (after probation)
• Blue Light Card scheme

Flexible working (where appropriate)

Casual dress

Free onsite parking

Gym access at our Hertfordshire HQ ( Sopers House )

Cycle‑to‑Work scheme

Team bonding and wellbeing sessions

Opportunity to build long‑term career progression within Aetheria Group

• Competitive annual leave
• Sick pay
• 24/7 wellbeing support
• Reflective supervision and coaching
• Access to clinical consultation for complex cases

You will also contribute to building local networks for children and young people, such as:

• Local sports clubs and community groups
• Youth mentoring programmes
• Vocational and employment pathways
• SEN/ASD therapeutic networks
• Partnerships with local colleges, employers and activity providers

You will be an experienced children's professional with the skills, values and resilience to lead a therapeutic home. You may already be a Registered Manager, or you may be a senior practitioner ready to step up with our full support.

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care - Children & Young People's Residential Management (or be enrolled and actively working towards it, fully funded for progressing applicants)
• At least 2-3 years' experience supporting children or young people, ideally within residential care, social work, youth justice, CAMHS/SEN, supported accommodation, family support or another closely related setting
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading others (including shift‑leading, team‑leading, case‑managing or holding keyworker responsibilities)
• Strong safeguarding knowledge, including multi‑agency working and risk management
• Experience of trauma‑informed, attachment‑aware and relationship‑based practice
• Excellent leadership, communication and relational skills, with the ability to inspire and stabilise staff teams
• A deep passion for building homes where children feel safe, loved, and truly valued
• A full driving licence and the right to work in the UK

Many of our team members bring lived experience, personal journeys through social care or backgrounds supporting young people through adversity. This makes our work not just a profession, but a calling.

You will join a warm, committed, values‑led team who believe in children wholeheartedly, refuse to give up on them, and show up every day with compassion, consistency and courage.

Apply Today

• Build a home from the ground up
• Lead a team that changes lives
• Create a safe, nurturing environment
• Shape the culture, practice and outcomes
• And make a lifelong difference for children

Then we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and help us build Hertfordshire's most inspiring children's homes.