Registered Children’s Residential Manager

Registered Manager – Therapeutic Children’s Home
Location: Bristol
Salary: £55,000 – £65,000 per annum + Performance Bonus Scheme
About the Role
Resolve Recruitment Services are seeking an experienced and passionate Registered Manager to lead a newly established 3-bed therapeutic children’s home in Bristol, supporting children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong leader with a proven track record in residential childcare to shape and develop a high-quality therapeutic service from the outset. The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall leadership, management, and development of the home, ensuring children receive exceptional trauma-informed care within a safe, nurturing, and stable environment.
The role requires full compliance with:
The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
Quality Standards
Care Standards Act 2000
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
Ofsted regulatory requirements
Relevant safeguarding legislation and guidance
The successful Registered Manager will create a child-centred culture where young people feel safe, valued, supported, and empowered to achieve positive outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
– Leadership & Management
– Register with Ofsted as the Registered Manager and maintain registration requirements at all times.
– Lead and manage the day-to-day operation of the home in line with legislation, policies, and best practice.
– Develop and embed a positive therapeutic culture that promotes trauma-informed and child-centred care.
– Drive high standards of care and work towards achieving GOOD or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
– Promote a safe, structured, nurturing environment that supports emotional regulation and positive relationships.
– Ensure the Statement of Purpose remains current and reflects the ethos and practice of the service.
– Therapeutic & Trauma-Informed Practice
– Embed therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches throughout all aspects of care delivery.
– Support staff to understand the impact of trauma, attachment difficulties, adverse childhood experiences, and SEMH needs.
– Promote restorative and relational approaches to behaviour support.
– Work collaboratively with therapists, education providers, social workers, and other professionals.
– Ensure care plans, risk assessments, and behaviour support plans are individualised and regularly reviewed.
– Safeguarding & Compliance
– Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people at all times.
Ensure compliance with:
– Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
– Quality Standards
– Care Standards Act 2000
– Ofsted requirements
– Health & Safety legislation
– Safer recruitment practices
– Maintain robust safeguarding systems and respond appropriately to concerns, incidents, and allegations.
– Ensure staff receive regular safeguarding supervision and training.
– Maintain accurate records and documentation suitable for inspection and audit purposes.
– Staff Leadership & Development
– Recruit, supervise, and develop a skilled and motivated team.
– Conduct regular supervision, appraisals, and performance reviews.
– Ensure staff complete mandatory training and ongoing professional development.
– Promote reflective practice, continuous improvement, and staff wellbeing.
– Lead by example and maintain high professional standards.
Operational Responsibilities:
– Manage staffing rotas to ensure safe staffing levels and continuity of care.
– Oversee admissions, transitions, and placement matching processes.
– Monitor and manage budgets effectively.
– Ensure the home environment remains warm, welcoming, therapeutic, and maintained to a high standard.
– Participate in an on-call rota and provide management support outside normal working hours when required.
Person Specification:
– Essential Qualifications
– Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), or willingness to complete within required timescales.
– Relevant qualification in Health & Social Care, Childcare, Leadership, or a related field.
Essential Experience:
– Minimum 5 years’ experience within residential childcare.
– Minimum 2 years’ experience in a management role within a children’s residential home.
– Proven experience managing children’s homes rated GOOD or Outstanding by Ofsted (URN references required).
– Experience supporting children with SEMH needs and complex trauma.
Strong working knowledge of:
– Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
– Quality Standards
– Care Standards Act 2000
– Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
– Safeguarding and child protection legislation
Essential Skills & Attributes:
– Leadership
– Strong leadership and decision-making abilities.
– Ability to motivate, inspire, and develop high-performing teams.
– Experience driving service improvement and managing performance.
– Communication
– Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
– Strong report writing and record-keeping abilities.
– Ability to build positive relationships with children, families, professionals, and stakeholders.
– Therapeutic Practice
– Strong understanding of trauma-informed care and therapeutic parenting approaches.
– Ability to manage challenging behaviours using restorative and relational practice.
– Organisation & Compliance
– Excellent organisational and time management skills.
– Ability to prioritise effectively within a fast-paced environment.
– Strong understanding of safeguarding and regulatory compliance.
Desirable Experience:
– Experience opening or developing a new children’s home.
– Experience working within therapeutic or psychologically informed environments.
– Knowledge of PACE, attachment theory, and restorative practice.
– Experience supporting children affected by exploitation, self-harm, or neurodiversity.
Additional Requirements:
– Full UK Driving Licence.
– Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and participate in on-call duties.
– Enhanced DBS check suitable for working with children and young people.
What’s on Offer?
– Competitive salary of £55,000 – £65,000 per annum.
– Performance-related bonus scheme.
– Opportunity to lead and shape a new therapeutic service.
– Ongoing professional development and training.
– Supportive leadership environment focused on delivering outstanding outcomes for children and young people.
If you are an experienced Registered Manager with a passion for therapeutic childcare and a commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for young people, we’d love to hear from you