Registered Manager

About the role

Achieving for Children (AfC) is seeking Registered Managers to lead its children's residential homes in Surbiton, Teddington, and Old Windsor, with potential vacancies across all three sites. Each home delivers therapeutic, child-centred residential care for young people with complex needs, including trauma-driven behaviours.

As the Ofsted Registered Manager, you will hold legal responsibility for your home and ensure full compliance with The Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015. You will lead and develop a dedicated frontline team, working closely with internal departments, partner agencies, families, and commissioners to ensure every care plan gives young people a genuine voice. Safeguarding is central to the role: you will uphold all child protection policies and escalate concerns immediately in line with statutory duties. Multi-site travel across the wider AfC footprint is an essential part of the role.

This role is shift-based, working approximately 156 hours per month, with pay calculated pro rata. Candidates should expect a pattern that includes evenings, weekends, and bank holidays in line with the operational demands of a residential home.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of a high-quality therapeutic residential service that improves long-term outcomes for young people and their families
• Managing, developing, and line managing a residential team, including navigating change management processes
• Ensuring all care plans are child-centred, regularly reviewed, and reflective of young people's expressed views
• Maintaining a calm, therapeutic environment during high-stress incidents and supporting the team to do the same
• Building and sustaining partnerships across health, education, therapeutic services, families, and commissioners

To find out more about this opportunity, contact Ricky Degun at ricky.degun@achievingforchildren.org.uk. To apply, click Apply Now and complete the application form in full, including a supporting statement that addresses the requirements set out in the About You section below.

About You

AfC is looking for an experienced residential childcare leader who brings a track record of delivering high-quality, regulated care and who understands the demands of managing a home through Ofsted scrutiny. You will be someone who leads with clarity, stays grounded under pressure, and builds trust with both your team and the young people in your care.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare or an equivalent qualification, or be currently enrolled on the programme
• Have significant experience as a Registered Manager, with a demonstrable record of achieving a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement
• Have strong working knowledge of The Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015, and direct experience of Ofsted inspections
• Have experience supporting children with complex needs, including behaviour management and the completion of risk assessments
• Have proven team leadership skills, including line management and the ability to lead teams through change
• Be able to build effective partnerships with professionals across health, education, therapeutic services, families, and commissioners
• Demonstrate personal resilience and the ability to remain calm and therapeutic in high-stress situations
• Work independently and communicate with confidence and influence across a range of stakeholders
• Be committed to AfC's values of trust, value, and respect, and to equality and diversity in practice

AfC particularly welcomes applications from sections of the community currently underrepresented within its teams. It is committed to making recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and is proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment is conditional upon a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check against the barred list. Safer recruitment practices apply, including verification of work and education history and online searches. Please provide references covering the most recent five years, including your most recent employer. It is a criminal offence for a barred person to seek to work in activities from which they are barred. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Achieving for Children's Offer to You

AfC is a Community Interest Company with a public sector ethos, owned by three local authorities: Windsor and Maidenhead, Kingston, and Richmond. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, it combines the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. Managers work as part of a peer network across all three sites, providing professional support and shared learning across the footprint.

AfC is focused on creating a positive, supportive environment with a wide range of resources and a competitive salary. Staff have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, rising to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years, plus an additional day off in your birthday month
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• And more, including tailored induction sessions commencing on your first day