Children's Home Manager - Nucleus Horizons Ltd
Job Posted: 9 September 2026
- Contract Term: Permanent
- Location: East Cowes, Isle of Wight
- Contract Type: Full time
- Salary: £50.000 to £55.000
- Industries: Childcare Health & Social Care Social Work
Registered Children's Home Manager
New Children's Home | Isle of Wight
£50,000 to £55,000
Lead something special from day one.
Nucleus Horizons is seeking an exceptional Registered Children's Home Manager to lead the opening of our new therapeutic children's home, Nucleus Haven, on the Isle of Wight.
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a brand-new home designed to provide safe, nurturing and therapeutic care for up to four children and young people.
Unlike many providers, you won't be expected to do this alone.
You'll be joining an established and growing organisation with experienced leadership, including an accomplished Responsible Individual with over 20 years' experience in health and social care, social work, safeguarding and service leadership. You'll also have the support of a dedicated Deputy Manager and a carefully recruited team, allowing you to focus on creating an outstanding service and achieving exceptional outcomes for children.
About Nucleus Horizons
Nucleus Horizons is an established provider of specialist children's and family services across the South of England.
Founded by experienced social care professionals, our mission is simple:
To create safe, stable and nurturing environments where children and families can thrive.
Our values underpin everything we do:
- Child-centred practice
- Safeguarding first
- Therapeutic and trauma-informed care
- Positive relationships
- Dignity and respect
- High aspirations for children and young people
As we continue to grow, we are looking for leaders who share our vision and want to build services recognised for quality, stability and positive outcomes.
About The Home
Nucleus Haven is a newly approved children's home located on the Isle of Wight - At Regis Stage
The home will provide:
- A family-style therapeutic environment
- Care for up to four children
- Trauma-informed and relationship-based practice
- Strong focus on education and emotional wellbeing
- Support for independence and personal development
- A collaborative multi-agency approach
What Makes This Different?
Many new-home opportunities involve managers inheriting staffing shortages, compliance concerns and operational challenges.
At Nucleus Haven, our aim is different.
You will be supported by:
- Experienced Responsible Individual and senior leadership team
- Dedicated Deputy Manager
- Fully recruited, values-led care team
- Strong safeguarding and governance support
- Ofsted registration and operational support
- Direct access to decision-makers
- Opportunity to shape the culture from the very beginning
We are looking for a leader who wants to build an outstanding service, not simply manage one.
The Role
As Registered Manager, you will:
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the home
- Promote exceptional safeguarding practice
- Develop and inspire a high-performing team
- Ensure full compliance with Children's Homes Regulations
- Build positive relationships with children, families and professionals
- Oversee care planning and placement matching
- Drive quality, improvement and positive outcomes
- Prepare the home for registration and inspection
- Participate in the management on-call rota
What We're Looking For
We would love to hear from:
- Experienced Registered Managers
- Deputy Managers ready for their first registration
- Leaders with a passion for therapeutic childcare
- Individuals who can inspire, motivate and develop teams
- Professionals committed to achieving outstanding outcomes for children
Essential
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or working towards)
- Significant residential childcare experience
- Strong safeguarding knowledge
- Full UK Driving Licence
- Excellent leadership and communication skills
Salary & Benefits
£50,000 to £55,000 per annum
- Supportive senior leadership team
- Opportunity to shape a brand-new children's home
- The chance to genuinely change children's lives
Apply Today
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and help create an outstanding children's home on the Isle of Wight, we'd love to hear from you.
Lead a Home. Inspire a Team. Change Lives.
Nucleus Horizons Supporting brighter futures for children, young people and families
