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Care home manager

Care home managers are responsible for the leadership and day-to-day running of residential care homes.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£54,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

39 to 41 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become a Care home manager

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • working towards this role

College

If you're new to the job, it's recommended that you start the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services within three months of taking up your role, with a view to completing it within two to three years.

The diploma has six pathways to choose from, including:

  • Management of Adult Services
  • Management of Adult Residential Services
  • Practice in Adult Services
  • Management of Children and Young People's Services
  • Management of Children and Young People's Residential Services
  • Practice in Children and Young People's Services

The two qualifications previously required for this role are no longer offered by training providers but are still valid and can be used to work as a care home manager. They are the Registered Manager's Award and the NVQ Level 4 in Leadership and Management for Care Services.

If you already have these two awards, you would not normally be expected to take the Level 5 Diploma as well, although some organisations may offer it as part of professional development training.

You would be expected to already have qualifications relevant to the care services your home provides, for example:

  • NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care
  • nursing, physiotherapy or occupational therapy qualification and registration
  • social work qualification and registration

See the Skills for Care advice on meeting workforce regulations for more details.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More information

Work

It's common to move into this job after experience as a deputy manager.

More information

Further information

You can get more information about careers in adult care from Skills for Care. 

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
  • knowledge of psychology
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • knowledge of English language
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • Being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a care home manager, your duties may include:

  • meeting legal requirements including health and safety
  • providing information, advice and support to residents, families and staff
  • promoting residents' rights and duties and encouraging them to join activities
  • helping residents to access local services and take part in the local community
  • monitoring business performance and quality of care
  • agreeing contracts, budgeting and fundraising
  • developing policies and practices and keeping confidentiality
  • recruiting, training and supervising staff

As a children’s home manager your duties may include:

  • looking after the welfare of children in your care
  • making sure that quality standards are met
  • enabling access to local education, health and other services
  • promoting children's rights and duties
  • taking part in care planning, statutory case reviews and conferences
  • developing positive behaviour and discipline
  • responding to child protection concerns and complaints

Working environment

You could work at an adult care home or at a children's care home.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to regional manager within a large healthcare company or charity. You could also become a freelance consultant or a care home inspector.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a Care home manager right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care

  • Provider: Green Inc (Eu) Ltd
  • Start date: 09 January 2019
  • Location: Swindon

Leadership for Health and Social Care and Young People's Service Level 5 Diploma CACHE

  • Provider: Barnsley College
  • Start date: 04 September 2019
  • Location: Barnsley
Find courses near you

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