Job Introduction
About Us
Together, we’re shaping children’s social care for the future. Every day, our staff are helping to transform the lives of the Children of Oxfordshire.
In our children’s homes, Children Education and Family Directorate, we’re committed to delivering lasting change, by helping the children, and their families of Oxfordshire to thrive and succeed. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational and SLT based practice.
Everyday you’ll be challenged in a new way, by supporting our children, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps Children achieve their ambitions.
We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself – while raising the bar for the future of children’s social care.
The children’s homes work in line with the Family Safeguarding Plus model. It is designed to improve the main statutory children’s social work services from the assessment of vulnerable children through and those children who first come into care.
About the Role
We’re looking for a new Manager to play an integral role working alongside our dedicated team during this exciting time of growth as we open new Children’s Homes in 2026 with the aim to enable more Oxfordshire children to remain in Oxfordshire when they become Children We Care For.
This is a rare opportunity for you to make this role your own and to create a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive, with the support from our leadership team to be creative and bold in how you bring our homes to life, as we continue to live into our value of daring to do it differently!
Partnering with the children’s homes, you will work with the most vulnerable children and families, including those on the edge of care, within the Children We Care For system and those preparing for independence.
This is an amazing opportunity to join us to deliver integrated and individualised interventions to promote the best outcomes for children and their families.
About you
As an enthusiastic and highly motivated Registered Manager, you will have:
- within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children.
- worked for at least 1 year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a residential childcare setting.
- Knowledge of managing residential the Children’s Homes Regulations.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) or equivalent or be willing to work towards this and complete within the first 18 months of working for OCC.
Rewards and benefits
- Rewards and benefits
- Salary: £59,008-£62,422, which includes salary, annual leave, employer pension, annual pay award increase, employee volunteering scheme, and sick pay. When you are unwell and unable to work, we provide occupational sick pay.
- Relocation Support: Up to £8,000 to assist with your move when joining us.
- Generous Annual Leave: Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. (pro rata), plus bank holidays - Option to ‘buy’ additional days.
- Flexible Working: We cultivate a flexible working culture to help you balance your work and personal life and offer technology to support agile working (where role permits). We are open to discussing your needs and how we can accommodate them, so please feel free to reach out.
- Good to Outstanding OFSTED Rating: We are proud to maintain high standards in our services.
- Comprehensive Pension Scheme: A generous local government pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 19.9%, ensuring your financial security for the future.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to telephone advice and support for a wide range of issues related to work, personal, and family life.
- Health and Wellbeing Support: 24/7 access to health and wellbeing resources.
- Enhanced Family Friendly Policies: A full range of family-friendly policies, including generous maternity, paternity, and adoption entitlements. You can also access childcare vouchers and a cycle-to-work scheme.
- Training and Development: A wide range of learning and development opportunities, including continuous professional development to enhance your skills and career progression.
- Local and National Discounts: Discounts on shopping, travel, insurance, food, health, and leisure activities.
- Management Training: A 12-module training programme for all managers.
- Access to Resources: Full access to Oxfordshire County Council resources to ensure a child-centred service, including psychologists and clinical and medical interventions.
- Secondment Opportunities: Opportunities for secondment within the local authority to further develop your professional career.
Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to:
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to:
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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