More than just a job. A career path to transform your future.

In most cases you can begin your career as a residential childcare practitioner without any qualifications, as long as you’ve got the personal qualities, or some experience in a caring role (whether in your personal life or a different care setting).

As soon as you start, you’ll be supported to complete your Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare as the first step of your career development.

There are lots of opportunities to develop new skills and qualifications as a residential childcare practitioner. The main qualifications that will progress your career are the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, and the Level 5 Diploma for Leadership and Management in Residential Childcare. Both these qualifications can be completed while you work, and your employer will usually cover all costs.

It’s also possible to complete the Level 3 Diploma while volunteering or completing work experience, but it’s a hands-on qualification where all learning takes place in a residential childcare setting,

Once you’ve completed your Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, you’ll be ready to progress to a Team Leader, Shift Leader or Senior Residential Childcare Practitioner position in a children’s home.

In these positions, you’ll play a key role in creating a positive environment for your team and the children and young people in your care. You’ll also provide support to the Assistant/Deputy Manager and Registered Manager, bringing opportunities to expand your knowledge and experience.

If you are interested in progressing to a management role in a children’s home or residential childcare organisation, your next step will be to enrol on the Level 5 Diploma for Leadership and Management in Residential Childcare.

If you’re committed, it’s possible to progress to management as little 18-24 months after starting your first role in residential childcare.

Once you’ve gained experience as a Residential Childcare Practitioner, as long as you’ve enrolled for the Level 5 Diploma you can progress to an Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager position.

As an Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager, you’ll assist the Registered Manager in providing support, guidance and supervision to the team of Residential Childcare Practitioners in a children’s home.

• Supporting the home manager to provide professional support, guidance and supervision to a team of residential child care practitioners

• Responsibility for the day to day management of the home in the absence of the home manager

• Assisting the home manager to ensure the safety of all children and staff, and that safeguarding practice, procedures and recording meet all regulatory requirements and professional expectations

• Assisting the home manager with the implementation of the relevant plan for each child or young person, to monitor progress against the relevant plan and ensure it is reviewed as necessary

A Registered Manager is one of the most important roles within a children’s home, responsible for every aspect of care provided to children, as well as managing staff within the home. Every children’s home has a Registered Manager.

A Registered Manager provides day to day management of the children’s home and the care provided to children and young people, from budgeting to staff development, and ensuring a high quality of service in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.

Registered Managers in children’s homes have to lead by example, be passionate and engaged with the young people they work with and be effective leaders who can inspire their staff team. That’s why experience in leadership, management or working with people are valuable for those looking to transfer their skills from an entirely different career.

Being a Registered Manager is a challenging role with a large amount of responsibility, but many people say one of the most rewarding roles in residential childcare. Registered Managers enjoy excellent salaries as well as the opportunity to progress further in their career.

Those with extensive relevant experience can progress to the key leadership role of Responsible Individual.

In every children’s home, a designated Responsible Individual is required to oversee the entire service, ensure the home’s regulatory requirements are met and to hold overall responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in the home, the quality and effectiveness of the service provided in the home, and ensuring that appropriate staff are in place and suitably trained or qualified.

Unlike the Registered Manager, the Responsible Individual can hold responsibilities across a number of different children’s homes.

There are many different kinds of children’s homes organisations - some are smaller businesses running one or two children’s homes, others are larger businesses operating a number of different children’s homes in different locations. This means that for experienced managers, opportunities exist to progress to more senior management or operational roles.

At the same time, for those who are passionate about working with children, experience as a residential childcare practitioner or manager could lead to developing a more specialised profession, for example in therapeutic or clinical work, staff training or even expert consultancy.

Watch Karen’s story >