Registered ManagerFamily Assessment Service

Location: Reigate Salary: Up to -65,000 - -85,000 per annum (dependent on experience) Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Service

We are a specialist Family Assessment Service dedicated to supporting families through comprehensive parenting and parent capacity assessments. Our service provides evidence-based assessments for Local Authorities, Courts, and other professionals to determine a parent's ability to safely and effectively meet the needs of their children.

The Role

As the Registered Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, management, compliance, and operational performance of the Family Assessment Service. You will ensure assessments are completed to the highest professional standards whilst maintaining a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for families.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee assessment quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and work collaboratively with Local Authorities, Children's Services, Courts, Cafcass, and other stakeholders.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Management

• Provide effective leadership and management to the assessment team.
• Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, supervise, develop, and retain high-performing staff.
• Monitor staff performance through regular supervision and appraisals.
• Ensure all staffing levels and rotas meet operational requirements.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain registration requirements and ensure full compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and quality standards.
• Ensure robust safeguarding systems are implemented and adhered to.
• Oversee audits, inspections, and quality assurance processes.
• Maintain accurate records, policies, procedures, and operational documentation.
• Manage incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns, and investigations appropriately.

Family Assessment Delivery

• Ensure high-quality parenting and parent capacity assessments are completed within agreed timescales.
• Oversee assessment frameworks and methodologies to ensure consistency and defensibility.
• Quality assure assessment reports before submission to commissioning authorities and courts.
• Support staff in analysing risk, strengths, protective factors, and parenting capacity.
• Monitor assessment outcomes and identify opportunities for service improvement.

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or oversee safeguarding arrangements).
• Ensure children's welfare remains central to all assessment activity.
• Lead responses to safeguarding concerns and serious incidents.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop positive relationships with Local Authorities, Courts, Guardians, and Commissioners.
• Represent the service professionally at meetings and external forums.
• Manage referrals, placement matching, and service occupancy.
• Ensure commissioners receive regular updates and high-quality reporting.

Quality & Performance

• Monitor KPIs, occupancy, financial performance, and service outcomes.
• Lead quality assurance activities and service improvement initiatives.
• Analyse feedback from families, staff, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery.
• Maintain excellent inspection readiness at all times.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience within children's social care, family assessment services, residential family centres, or related settings.
• a minimum of 2 years experience as a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager or Service Manager or senior leadership role within the last 5 years
• Proven experience overseeing parenting assessments or parent capacity assessments.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, and risk management.
• Experience working with Local Authorities, Courts, Cafcass, and other statutory agencies.
• Excellent report-writing, analytical, and assessment skills.
• Sound understanding of relevant legislation, regulations, and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, or equivalent.
• Social Work qualification, Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Youth Work, Health & Social Care, or related discipline desirable.
• Safeguarding qualification/training at an advanced level.

Desirable Experience

• Managing a Residential Family Assessment Centre or Family Assessment Service.
• Completing or overseeing court-directed parenting assessments.
• Experience of quality assuring assessment reports.
• Working with parents who have:
  • Learning difficulties and disabilities
  • Mental health needs
  • Substance misuse issues
  • Domestic abuse histories
  • Complex safeguarding concerns
• Service development and growth experience.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary up to -80,000 per annum.
• Annual performance bonus.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Ongoing professional development and funded training.
• Career progression opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative senior leadership team.
• Opportunity to shape and develop a high-quality family assessment service.