Operational Assistant Homes Manager - Stable Loving Homes
| Posting date: | 13 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £45,024 to £50,686 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Includes 15% Shift Allowance |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 January 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | DOC0011 |
Summary
Be the Difference. Lead the Change.
Support Readings children to remain ‘Rooted in Reading
We are looking for an Assistant Homes Manager in one of our brand-new children’s homes. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Reading. We help families find long-term solutions, so children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
Reading Borough Council is opening three brand new children’s homes in spring/summer 2026, designed to provide safe, nurturing and therapeutic homes for children aged 11-17 years old.
We are seeking to fill the last management vacancy ahead of the homes opening for an Assistant Homes Managers in our small therapeutic children’s home.
Our New Homes:
Home 1 - A 2-bedroom therapeutic children’s home providing care for children aged 11-17 years old with complex social emotional and mental health needs.
Home 2 - A 4-bedroom mid/long-term children’s home for children aged 12-17 years old with emotional and behaviour difficulties.
Home 3 - A 3-bedroom assessment children’s home caring for children aged 12-17 years old and working alongside their families through a period of assessment to ascertain where the child’s needs should best be met in the longer term. We will be working closely with our excellent edge of care service.
As an Assistant Home Manager, you will:
Support the Registered Manager in leading the home and ensuring high-quality, child-centred care.
Provide strong, informed leadership and supervision to residential staff.
Deputise for the Registered Manager and take on delegated responsibilities.
Promote trauma-informed, restorative, therapeutic approaches to care.
Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
Lead on safeguarding, assessments, and performance monitoring.
Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.
Contribute to recruitment, staff development, and workforce planning.
Participate in the managers on call rota.
15% shift allowance on top of the basic salary includes sleep-ins, waking nights, and weekend shifts.
What we’re looking for:
Experience working in residential childcare settings.
Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
Knowledge of trauma-informed and therapeutic care approaches.
Ability to lead, motivate, and support a team.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Confidence in managing risk and making decisions under pressure.
Commitment to continuous professional development.
Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent); Level 5 Leadership qualification desirable.
Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a passionate, child-focused team making a real difference.
Opportunities for career progression and leadership development.
Access to high-quality training and reflective practice.
Supportive management and supervision structure.
Competitive salary and sleep-in/waking night enhancements.
Commitment to staff wellbeing and work-life balance.
Inclusive, values-driven culture.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
If you’re ready to lead with care and commitment, we want to hear from you.
Closing Date: Sunday 25th January 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
Support Readings children to remain ‘Rooted in Reading
We are looking for an Assistant Homes Manager in one of our brand-new children’s homes. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Reading. We help families find long-term solutions, so children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
Reading Borough Council is opening three brand new children’s homes in spring/summer 2026, designed to provide safe, nurturing and therapeutic homes for children aged 11-17 years old.
We are seeking to fill the last management vacancy ahead of the homes opening for an Assistant Homes Managers in our small therapeutic children’s home.
Our New Homes:
Home 1 - A 2-bedroom therapeutic children’s home providing care for children aged 11-17 years old with complex social emotional and mental health needs.
Home 2 - A 4-bedroom mid/long-term children’s home for children aged 12-17 years old with emotional and behaviour difficulties.
Home 3 - A 3-bedroom assessment children’s home caring for children aged 12-17 years old and working alongside their families through a period of assessment to ascertain where the child’s needs should best be met in the longer term. We will be working closely with our excellent edge of care service.
As an Assistant Home Manager, you will:
Support the Registered Manager in leading the home and ensuring high-quality, child-centred care.
Provide strong, informed leadership and supervision to residential staff.
Deputise for the Registered Manager and take on delegated responsibilities.
Promote trauma-informed, restorative, therapeutic approaches to care.
Ensure care plans and risk assessments are up to date and reflect the needs of each child.
Lead on safeguarding, assessments, and performance monitoring.
Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and partner agencies.
Contribute to recruitment, staff development, and workforce planning.
Participate in the managers on call rota.
15% shift allowance on top of the basic salary includes sleep-ins, waking nights, and weekend shifts.
What we’re looking for:
Experience working in residential childcare settings.
Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
Knowledge of trauma-informed and therapeutic care approaches.
Ability to lead, motivate, and support a team.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Confidence in managing risk and making decisions under pressure.
Commitment to continuous professional development.
Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent); Level 5 Leadership qualification desirable.
Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and nights.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a passionate, child-focused team making a real difference.
Opportunities for career progression and leadership development.
Access to high-quality training and reflective practice.
Supportive management and supervision structure.
Competitive salary and sleep-in/waking night enhancements.
Commitment to staff wellbeing and work-life balance.
Inclusive, values-driven culture.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
If you’re ready to lead with care and commitment, we want to hear from you.
Closing Date: Sunday 25th January 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.