Children'S Home Manager

Registered Manager – New Children's Residential Home (EBD & SEMH)

Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire (OX26)
Salary: £58,000 - £62,000 per annum (dependent on experience) plus performance-related bonus

Connective Careers Pathways is recruiting on behalf of a newly established children's residential care provider seeking an experienced Registered Manager to lead the registration and opening of a brand-new 3-bed Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) Children's Home in Bicester.

This is a rare opportunity to build a service from the ground up, recruit and develop your own team, establish the culture and standards of the home, and play a key role in the organisation's future growth.

Please note: This position is only suitable for experienced Registered Managers and is not intended for Deputy Managers seeking their first registration.

Why Join This Provider?

The organisation was founded with a genuine passion for improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people and creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments where they can thrive. Significant investment has been made to ensure the home has the resources, systems, and support needed from day one.

You will receive ongoing support from an experienced Responsible Individual with more than 40 years of residential childcare experience and a leadership team committed to high standards, staff development, and achieving outstanding outcomes. The role offers genuine autonomy to shape the home while benefiting from strong professional guidance and mentoring.

The Role

As Registered Manager, you will lead the Ofsted registration process and oversee the successful launch and operation of the home. You will be responsible for recruiting, developing, and inspiring your staff team, ensuring compliance with Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, leading safeguarding and quality assurance processes, developing policies and procedures, and building strong relationships with local authorities and professional partners to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

Therapeutic Approach

The service is being established as a fully trauma-informed and therapeutic environment. Alongside the internal leadership team, the home will have access to specialist external support, including a Clinical Psychotherapist who will provide guidance to both young people and staff.

The focus will be on trauma-informed practice, attachment-based care, emotional wellbeing, reflective practice, placement stability, positive behaviour support, and achieving sustainable long-term outcomes for children.

Children Supported

The home will support children and young people presenting with a range of needs, including EBD, SEMH, attachment difficulties, trauma and complex needs, missing from care behaviours, Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) risks, emotional dysregulation, risk-taking behaviours, ADHD, ASD, challenging behaviours, and placement instability.

Essential Requirements

The successful candidate must have previous experience as a Registered Manager within a Children's Residential Home, together with a proven track record of achieving Good and/or Outstanding Ofsted outcomes under their own registration.

Applicants must have completed a minimum of two Ofsted inspections as the named Registered Manager and possess strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, behaviour management, safeguarding, and residential childcare leadership.

You will hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) and either hold or be willing to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare within the required timescales. A full UK driving licence is also required.

Desirable Experience

Experience supporting new service development, leading registration projects, opening children's residential homes, and holding a DBS on the Update Service would be advantageous.

If you are an experienced Registered Manager looking for the opportunity to establish and lead a new therapeutic children's home with strong leadership support and long-term growth opportunities, we would love to hear from you.