Registered Manager

Purpose

Lead a safe, warm therapeutic home for children aged 9-17 and coordinate continuity towards adulthood. Own day-to-day care quality, staffing and safeguarding within the home's statement of purpose.

Reporting line

Directors and the designated Responsible Individual

Working arrangements

One weekend on and two weekends off, coordinated with the deputy. An approved qualified relief manager covers the third weekend; neither post provides continuous or unpaid on-call cover.

England; specific location and weekly hours confirmed before appointment. Maximum eight-hour shifts include one hour of paid uninterrupted break with competent cover.

Key responsibilities

• Translate each child's care plan into daily practice, agreed goals and regularly reviewed risk assessments.
• Make safe admission and matching recommendations based on needs, compatibility and available competence; escalate unsafe capacity pressures.
• Lead safeguarding referrals, missing-child responses, complaints and notifiable-event decisions with the appropriate authorities.
• Recruit, supervise and appraise staff; maintain skill coverage, safe handovers and protected paid breaks.
• Work with qualified clinicians on CBT-informed practice; ensure staff deliver only interventions within their competence.
• Oversee medication systems, education attendance, family contact, health access and independent advocacy.
• Maintain accurate care records, financial controls and quality reviews, including regulation 44 and 45 arrangements.
• Manage budgets without compromising children's welfare; present quality, incident and workforce reports to directors.
• Build constructive relationships with placing councils, social workers, families, Ofsted and emergency services.

Experience

15-20 years of relevant experience, including at least 15 years of management experience. Evidence must also demonstrate the recent residential childcare and staff-supervision experience required by regulation 28.

Qualifications and registration

Relevant bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in health and social care or a related discipline. Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare or a demonstrably equivalent qualification, meeting the statutory timescale. Existing Ofsted registered-manager experience is essential; registration for the specific Astha home is required before undertaking its registered-manager responsibilities.

Essential capabilities

• Proven leadership of therapeutic children's homes and specialist CBT-informed services with evidenced outcomes.
• Detailed knowledge of children's homes regulations, safeguarding partnerships and inspection expectations.
• Warm, approachable and positive leadership with calm judgement under pressure.
• Ability to challenge poor practice, support whistleblowing and learn transparently from incidents.

Desirable experience

Experience improving a service after inspection, developing senior staff and supporting transitions to adulthood.

What good performance looks like

Children report feeling safe and heard; care plans guide daily practice; incidents receive timely review and staffing remains safe.

Benefits and safer recruitment

All employee benefits and recruitment standards apply, including 32 days holiday plus bank holidays, 8% employer pension, family medical and dental cover subject to insurer terms, and the clean driving licence criterion with reasonable adjustments where required. Required vetting is completed before a final contract.

Apply for AL01

Email hr@astha.org quoting this reference. HR will discuss the location, hours, secure application route and adjustments.