Registered Homes Manager - Long-Stay Children's Home

Durham County Council is seeking an inspiring, compassionate, and values-driven Registered Manager to lead a brand-new, purpose-built Children's Home in Aycliffe. The home is designed specifically for children and young people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and complex health needs, this innovative service offers a unique opportunity to shape a home from its very beginning. This role requires a leader who is passionate about creating a culture where children feel safe, loved, respected, and empowered to achieve their potential. Through compassionate leadership, you will build trusting relationships with children, families, professionals, and staff, ensuring that every child receives exceptional care that is tailored to their individual needs, aspirations, and strengths. This is your opportunity to shape services, inspire others, and create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive. THE ROLE You will oversee all aspects of the management of a home, ensuring high-quality care and the individual needs of our children and young people are met to achieve positive outcomes. You will be committed to exceptional service delivery with our children and young people at the heart of everything we do. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of a Children's Home.
• Lead and develop a team caring for some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
• Ensure compliance with Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and deliver outstanding care.
• Manage complex risks and make key decisions to safeguard and protect young people.
• Drive service improvements, quality assurance, and prepare for regulatory inspections.
• Oversee budgets, resources, and staff development to maintain high standards.
• Work flexibly across the service, including evenings and weekends as part of a management rota.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference. You will play a key role in training and developing the team, driving innovation and ensuring continuous service improvement.


• Proven leadership and management experience in a residential childcare setting, managing teams, safeguarding, and partnership working.
• Strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Ofsted inspections, and Regulation 44.
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and risk management skills, plus the ability to motivate and develop others.
• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or willingness to work towards within 18 months).
  
  Salary: £51,928 - £56,293 (dependent on experience for external candidates).
Plus £2,500 temporary recruitment/retention allowance and £3,500 temporary Market Supplement (monthly payments). Potential earnings up to £62,293 per annum (at top of the grade).