Children's Home Manager
Apply to the role at Suffolk County Council.
* Address: Ipswich Children’s Home – On-site working
* Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
* Contract: Permanent
At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Registered Children’s Home Manager in Ipswich Children’s Home, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.
Suffolk County Council are actively recruiting a Registered Children’s Home Manager with a passion for driving positive change for young people in our care.
Ipswich Children’s Home is a mixed gendered home for up to 4 children aged 11-17 years old who may experience some social, emotional, and mental health difficulties and who may have suffered from severe trauma. We provide support for the children in our care to achieve the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives, including education, health, and social and fun activities, as well as supporting them to build positive and appropriate relationships.
Your Role and Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the Children’s Home to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people
* Ensure safeguarding and risk management, maintaining compliance with Ofsted and statutory regulations
* Recruit, supervise, and develop staff to deliver high quality care and support
* Oversee quality assurance, complaints, and accurate reporting for continuous improvement
* Build strong partnerships with families, agencies, and the wider community to enhance service delivery
* Provide cover and manage the out of hours on call service, which is based in the grounds of the home
Your Experience and Qualifications
* Within the last 5 years, worked at least two years in a position relevant to the residential care of children and worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role
* Must have or be willing to work towards gaining a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare
* Must be flexible to undertake on‑call duties
* Must have experience within the EBD sector
* Hold a Full UK Driving Licence with access to your own transport
To enhance your development, full training will be provided regularly as well as monthly supervision with your line manager to ensure you feel supported within your role.
In addition to this, the home provides virtual clinical supervision by a seasoned professional.
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation.
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Beth Fletcher, Deputy Residential Service Manager by calling 07732603793.
You will be required to attend a Warner Interview for this position as part of the recruitment process.
How To Apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). Use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
* Can you describe a time when you led a team through a period of change or improvement in a children’s care setting? What strategies did you use to ensure high quality outcomes for children and young people?
* Give an example of how you have recruited, supervised, and developed staff to deliver high quality care. How do you support staff wellbeing and professional growth in your team?
* Describe your experience in monitoring quality assurance, handling complaints, and ensuring accurate reporting. How have you used feedback or audit findings to drive continuous improvement in your service?
* If an Ofsted inspection highlighted an area for improvement in your home, how would you lead your team to address it?
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process, contact our Recruitment Team by email recruiting@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 5 November 2025
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
Benefits and Development
* Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
* Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
* Performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase
* Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
* A variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
* Diverse and active staff networks
* Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
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