Role Overview
Job Title: Registered Children’s Home Manager
Salary: Up to £53,300 per annum + £10,000 performance-related bonus
Location: Wincanton, Somerset
Home Type: Brand-new 3-bed home for young people aged 10–17
This is a rare opportunity to lead a children’s home from the ground up. You’ll be part of every decision that shapes this home from décor to staffing to culture and you’ll help prepare the space to welcome its very first young people.
About Homes2Inspire and Homes & Horizons
Homes2Inspire is part of Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest charities and a leading not-for-profit provider of public services. We opened our first home in Northamptonshire in 2007 and are now the UK’s largest charitably owned residential children’s home provider.
Today, we operate nearly 60 homes, two supported accommodation developments, and deliver high-needs foster care through Fostering2Inspire and Homes & Horizons.
We believe every child deserves the best possible start in life. Our homes are nurturing, warm, and welcoming, and our dedicated teams provide safe, well-planned care for children and young people who have often faced significant challenges. We invest heavily in training and support for our colleagues because when we create a great place for children to live, we also create a great place for adults to work.
In 2022, Somerset Council entered a strategic partnership with Homes2Inspire and Shaw Trust to create Homes & Horizons an innovative model of care designed for children and young people with complex needs. The partnership delivers:
- 11 residential homes (8 currently operational)
- High-needs foster care for approximately 20 children
- An associated therapeutic education service
This wraparound approach integrates care, education, and NHS support to prevent placement breakdowns and reduce the need for Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient provision.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the setup of a brand-new children’s home — environment, routines, and team culture.
- Recruiting, training, and developing a supportive, trauma-informed staff team.
- Creating a warm, nurturing space that reflects the needs and voices of young people.
- Building strong relationships with local services, schools, and community partners in and around Wincanton.
- Ensuring the home meets Ofsted requirements and is ready for registration.
- Embedding therapeutic, love-led practice from day one.
- Managing safeguarding, operations, compliance, and health and safety.
- Being a visible leader — someone the team and young people can rely on.
- Working closely with the Responsible Individual and wider strategic partners to shape the future of the home.
What We Offer
- A rare opportunity to shape a brand-new home from the very beginning.
- The chance to help build one of ten new homes across Somerset.
- An award-winning wellbeing package with 80%+ engagement.
- Competitive salary up to £53,300 + performance bonus up to £10,000.
- A comprehensive three-week induction.
- Ongoing training in trauma-informed, therapeutic practice.
- Collaboration opportunities across Somerset Council, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Homes2Inspire.
- Clear progression pathways across three organisations.
- 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays).
- Life assurance, retail discounts & a healthcare cash plan.
What You’ll Bring
- A genuine passion for creating brighter futures with Homes2Inspire, part of Shaw Trust.
- Level 5 Leadership & Management in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete).
- At least 2 years’ recent experience in a supervisory/management role within a registered children’s home.
- Strong understanding of legislation and Ofsted frameworks.
- Confident leadership and team‑building skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with the RI and key partners.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Enhanced DBS (provided by us).
Join us and help turn this house in Wincanton into a home where young people can finally feel like they belong.