The Registered Manager of a Children's Home: A Practical Guide to Regulation 28, Leadership and Management
The Registered Manager is not simply the most senior person on the rota, they are responsible for leading a service where children live.
The Registered Manager leads the home and has day-to-day responsibility for its operation reflecting the Statement of Purpose, the Children's Homes Regulations, the Quality Standards, children's individual plans and needs, and the conditions of the home's Ofsted registration. The manager needs to understand children, lead staff, oversee safeguarding, ensure suitable staffing, monitor quality, challenge poor practice, work with other professionals and continuously improve the home. The manager is personally registered with Ofsted in respect of the specific home they manage.
In this guide
- What Regulation 28 requires, the experience needed, and the Level 5 qualification
- How manager registration works, the SC2 process, and what the interview covers
- How to lead the home through the Statement of Purpose and Quality Standards
- Safeguarding leadership, admissions, staffing and supervision
- Children's experiences, records, notifications, and Regulations 44 and 45
- Preparing for inspection, manager absence, and your first 90 days as manager
Regulation 27 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 requires the registered provider to appoint a person to manage the home where there is no registered manager in respect of the home and either the registered provider is an organisation or partnership, does not satisfy Regulation 28, or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. Where the provider appoints a manager, the provider must without delay notify HMCI of the person's name and the date the appointment takes effect. Regulation 28 requires the appointed manager to be fit to manage the home. The manager must have, within the last five years, worked for at least two years in a position relevant to the residential care of children, and have worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role. The manager must hold the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent), normally by the relevant date defined by Regulation 28. The Registered Manager is personally registered with Ofsted in respect of the specific home and is responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of the home.
What Regulation 28 requires and who can be a Registered Manager
The Registered Manager is the person registered with Ofsted to manage a specific children's home. The manager leads the home day to day, oversees compliance with the Regulations and Quality Standards, leads safeguarding, leads staff, and is accountable to Ofsted for the home's operation.
Regulation 28 requires the manager to be fit to manage the home. The manager must have, within the last five years, worked for at least two years in a position relevant to the residential care of children, and have worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role. The manager must hold the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma). A person appointed as the home's Registered Manager must apply for registration using the SC2 process and their registration is specific to that home. Current Ofsted guidance also provides for temporary interim-management arrangements where a home does not have a registered manager. If an interim manager is expected to remain in role for 90 days or more, they must submit an SC2 application for registration.
The experience requirements are statutory, not discretionary. Regulation 28 requires the manager to have, within the last five years, worked for at least two years in a position relevant to the residential care of children, and to have worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role. Ofsted assesses whether the applicant's experience meets these requirements and is sufficient to manage the home.
The Level 5 qualification and continuing professional development
The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare is the required qualification for Registered Managers. A new manager does not need to have completed the Level 5 before starting. For a person who starts managing a children's home after 1 April 2014, the relevant date is normally three years after the date on which that person started managing a children's home. The registered provider may defer the relevant date where the person does not manage, or has not managed, a home for a prolonged period, or where the person manages, or has managed, a home on a part-time basis.
Regulation 28 requires the manager to hold the Level 5 Diploma or a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent. The Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations explains that the qualification should normally be achieved by the relevant date — for a person who starts managing a children's home after 1 April 2014, normally three years after the date on which that person started managing a children's home. The registered provider may defer the relevant date in limited circumstances. Regulation 29 requires continuing professional development: an individual registered provider must undertake necessary CPD; where the provider is an organisation, the organisation must ensure the responsible individual undertakes necessary CPD; where the provider is a partnership, the partnership must ensure one partner undertakes necessary CPD; and the Registered Manager must undertake necessary CPD for managing the home. Staff CPD is separately required under Regulation 33(4)(a).
Once the Level 5 is achieved, the manager's qualification requirements are complete.
Regulation 29 requires continuing professional development: an individual registered provider must undertake necessary CPD; where the provider is an organisation, the organisation must ensure the responsible individual undertakes necessary CPD; where the provider is a partnership, the partnership must ensure one partner undertakes necessary CPD; and the Registered Manager must undertake necessary CPD for managing the home. Staff CPD is separately required under Regulation 33(4)(a). The Level 5 is the starting point, not the end. The manager should continue to develop their knowledge of the regulatory framework, safeguarding, and good practice throughout their career.
The manager registration process: SC2, references and the interview
The manager applies for registration using form SC2, which asks for personal details, employment history, qualifications, and references. Ofsted carries out checks including an enhanced DBS check, and normally interviews the manager before deciding whether to register them.
The interview is not a test of memory. Ofsted usually explores the manager's approach to care, safeguarding, leadership, and the regulatory framework. The manager should be able to discuss their home, the children, the Statement of Purpose, and how they will lead the home in line with the Quality Standards.
Registration relates to a specific home. If the manager moves to a different home, they need to apply for registration in respect of that home. The manager's registration is personal, but it is tied to the home they manage.
How to Register with Ofsted: SC1, SC2 and the Registration Visit
The full registration process for providers and managers.
Leading the home: the Statement of Purpose and Quality Standards
The manager leads the home in line with the Statement of Purpose and the Quality Standards. The SoP sets out what the home is for, who it is for, and how it will deliver care. The nine Quality Standards are in Regulations 6 to 14. Regulation 5 is a separate overarching duty concerning engagement with the wider system. The manager's job is to make these real, not just to have them on paper.
The SoP should drive the home. If the SoP says the home supports children aged 8 to 18 with emotional and behavioural difficulties, the staffing, activities, environment and approach should reflect that. CHH guidance: a home that has drifted from its SoP is a common inspection finding.
Regulation 16 requires the registered person to have a Statement of Purpose that sets out the matters in Schedule 1. The Registered Manager should be involved in developing and keeping the SoP under review, as it defines the home's model of care, admissions criteria and facilities. CHH guidance: a SoP that does not match actual practice is a common inspection finding.
The 9 Quality Standards
What each standard requires and how they fit together.
Safeguarding leadership
Safeguarding is the manager's most important responsibility (CHH commentary). The registered person must ensure the home has effective safeguarding policies, that staff are trained, that risks are assessed and managed, that allegations are handled correctly, and that serious incidents are notified to Ofsted. The Registered Manager normally oversees safeguarding operationally on a day-to-day basis.
The manager should not manage safeguarding one incident at a time. Patterns matter. If the same type of incident keeps happening, the manager should look at the underlying causes, not just the individual events.
The manager should also ensure that the home's safeguarding culture is open. Staff should feel able to raise concerns without fear of blame. A closed culture where concerns are suppressed is a serious risk.
Regulation 12: The Protection of Children Standard
Safeguarding, risk and the duty to protect children.
Admissions, staffing and supervision
Regulation 14 places the legal duty on the registered person to ensure that placements are planned and matched to meet children's needs. The Registered Manager normally has the operational role in assessing referrals and making admission decisions. The registered person should ensure the home only accepts children whose needs it can meet, as set out in the Statement of Purpose. The manager should assess each potential admission carefully, considering the child's needs, the needs of children already in the home, and the home's capacity.
Staffing is a management responsibility, not just an HR function. Regulation 13(2)(d) requires the registered person to ensure sufficient staffing. The registered person must follow safer recruitment (Schedule 2) and must ensure staff receive supervision and CPD (Regulation 33). The Registered Manager normally oversees these requirements operationally, including ensuring rotas respond to children's needs.
Regulation 13(2)(d) requires the registered person to ensure sufficient staffing to meet children's needs. Regulation 31 covers continuity of care during temporary staffing shortages, first aid qualifications and the employment of nurses where needed. Regulation 32 covers the fitness of workers, requiring staff to have integrity, appropriate experience, qualifications and skills. Regulation 33 covers the employment of staff, including CPD under Regulation 33(4)(a) and supervision. The monthly visiting requirement in Regulation 44 requires an independent person to visit the home at least once each month — this is not the same as the Responsible Individual visiting.
The registered person must
Good practice
Staffing: Ratios, Rotas and Qualifications
Staffing levels, qualifications and workforce planning.
Recruiting Staff: Safer Recruitment and DBS
Schedule 2, DBS checks and the recruitment process.
Children's experiences, progress and voice
The manager should know how each child is doing. This means understanding their progress, their relationships, their health, their education, their worries, and their hopes. The manager should not rely only on written reports but should spend time with children directly.
Children's voice should be genuine, not tokenistic. The manager should ensure children have real opportunities to influence the home, to raise concerns, and to be heard. This includes formal mechanisms like complaints and advocacy, and informal conversations.
Child-centred questionIf a child in this home wanted to change something about their daily life, would they know how to, and would anyone listen?
Records, notifications and Regulation 40
Regulation 36 places the legal duty to keep records on the registered person. Regulation 40 places the legal duty to make notifications on the registered person. The Registered Manager normally oversees these processes operationally. Records include daily logs, care plans, risk assessments, incident records, and staff records. Notifications include serious events under Regulation 40, and other notifications under the Regulations.
Regulation 36 requires the registered person to keep records set out in Schedule 3. Regulation 40 requires the registered person to notify the recipients specified for the particular event, without delay. HMCI is a required recipient under the Regulation, while other recipients vary according to the event. The registered person must ensure these requirements are met. The Registered Manager normally manages the notification process operationally.
Notifications should be made promptly and should include enough information for Ofsted to understand what happened and what the home did in response. CHH guidance: vague or delayed notifications are a common weakness.
Regulation 40: Serious Incident Notifications
What must be notified, when, and how.
Regulation 44 and Regulation 45
The manager has a role in both Regulation 44 and Regulation 45. Regulation 44(7) requires the independent person to provide the report to HMCI, the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager, among the prescribed recipients. The full statutory distribution is set out in the Regulation 44 guidance. The manager should respond to any actions identified. The Reg 45 quality review is the responsibility of the registered person, but the manager is usually closely involved in preparing for it and acting on its findings.
The manager should treat Reg 44 and Reg 45 as opportunities to improve, not as inspections to be prepared for. If the reports identify weaknesses, the manager should act on them openly, not defensively.
Regulation 44: Independent Visits
The monthly independent visit and reporting.
Regulation 45: Review of Quality of Care
The six-monthly quality review.
Preparing for Ofsted inspection
Ofsted inspects children's homes under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF). The manager should be ready for inspection at any time, not just when one is announced. This means keeping records up to date, knowing the home's strengths and weaknesses, and being able to talk about children's experiences and progress.
During inspection, Ofsted usually talks to the manager about the home, the children, the staff, safeguarding, quality assurance, and how the home is improving. The manager should be honest about weaknesses and clear about what is being done to address them.
The manager should know their own weaknesses before Ofsted tells them. Self-awareness is a sign of good management, not a weakness. CHH guidance: a manager who claims everything is fine when it is not is more likely to receive a poor inspection judgement than one who is open about challenges.
Manager absence, vacancies and managing more than one home
If the manager is temporarily absent, the home needs clear arrangements for who is in charge. The deputy manager or a senior member of staff should be able to cover short absences. For absence of 28 days or more, the provider must notify Ofsted using the current process. Planned absence requires at least one month's notice to Ofsted; emergency absence should be notified within one week of the absence starting. Where an interim manager is expected to remain for 90 days or more, current Ofsted guidance requires an SC2 application for registration. The provider must tell Ofsted when a new manager is appointed. A person may manage the home pending registration, but this should be a temporary arrangement and not a substitute for registration.
CHH guidance: a prolonged manager vacancy can affect inspection. Ofsted usually asks who is managing the home and whether the arrangements are adequate. The registered provider should appoint a new manager as soon as practicable and should not leave the home without clear leadership.
Ofsted's position is that a manager will usually manage one children's home. Ofsted may consider one manager for two homes belonging to the same provider where the person is sufficiently experienced and skilled, and can demonstrate capacity to be in full-time day-to-day charge of each home. Ofsted considers why the arrangement is proposed, the oversight and support available, the location and distance between the homes, and the arrangements for absences and vacancies. Each registration is considered separately, and separate SC2 applications are required for each home.
Your first 90 days as a Registered Manager
The first 90 days as a new Registered Manager are critical (CHH practical guidance — the 'first 90 days' is not a statutory period). The manager should focus on understanding the home, the children, the staff, and the current issues. This means spending time with children and staff, reviewing records, understanding the SoP and policies, and identifying priorities.
The manager should not try to change everything at once. Understanding the home before making changes is more effective than imposing a new approach without knowing what is already working. Build relationships first, then make changes based on evidence.
- Spend time with each child and each member of staff
- Review the Statement of Purpose and check it reflects the home
- Review recent Reg 44 and Reg 45 reports and their actions
- Review recent incidents, complaints and notifications
- Understand the staffing structure, rotas and any vacancies
- Review safeguarding arrangements and any open concerns
- Meet with the RI and agree the supervision and oversight arrangement
- Identify three priorities for the first six months
Common Registered Manager mistakes
Several mistakes are common among Registered Managers. Recognising them is the first step to avoiding them:
- Managing from the office instead of spending time with children and staff
- Treating the SoP as a document rather than the driving force of the home
- Managing safeguarding one incident at a time instead of looking at patterns
- Not challenging the RI or provider when the home is under-resourced
- Treating Reg 44 and Reg 45 as inspections to pass rather than tools for improvement
- Not developing the deputy manager to take on more responsibility
- Not knowing the home's weaknesses before Ofsted identifies them
The manager's question
If you were a child in this home, would you feel the adults around you understood you, kept you safe, and helped you move forward? That is the question the manager should be able to answer with confidence.
Key takeaways
- 01Registered Managers are personally registered. Their registration relates to the particular home they manage.
- 02Regulation 28 sets specific fitness and experience requirements: within the last five years, at least two years in a position relevant to residential childcare, and at least one year in a role requiring supervision and management of staff in a care role.
- 03The Level 5 must normally be achieved by the relevant date defined by Regulation 28 — for a person who starts managing after 1 April 2014, normally three years after the date on which they started managing a children's home. The registered provider may defer the relevant date in limited circumstances. Regulation 29 requires CPD for the registered provider (or RI/partner where applicable) and the Registered Manager. Staff CPD is required under Regulation 33(4)(a).
- 04The SoP should drive the home. CHH guidance: a home that has drifted from its SoP is a common inspection finding.
- 05Safeguarding is the manager's most important responsibility (CHH commentary). Patterns matter more than individual incidents.
- 06The manager should know their weaknesses before Ofsted tells them. Self-awareness is a sign of good management.
Related resources
Guides and tools that connect to this one.
Staff Induction, Supervision, Training and Development in Children's Homes
How to meet the workforce development requirements in the Children's Homes Regulations: induction, supervision, training, qualifications and appraisal…
The Deputy Manager Role in a Children's Home: Delegated Authority, Shift Leadership and Developing Towards Management
The Deputy Manager role in a children's home: delegated authority, shift leadership, staff supervision, acting in the RM's absence, professional bound…
Staff Wellbeing, Retention and Culture in Children's Homes
How workforce stability, wellbeing and team culture affect what children experience in residential care, and how leaders can create a culture where st…
Staffing a Children's Home: Ratios, Rotas, Qualifications & Workforce Planning
There is no universal Ofsted staff-to-child ratio. Regulation 13 requires sufficient staffing based on children's actual needs.
Recruiting Staff for a Children's Home: Safer Recruitment, DBS, References & Schedule 2
Regulation 32 requires children's home staff to be recruited using procedures designed to ensure children's safety.
What to do next
Sources and further reading
This guidance references the following official sources. Always consult the underlying legislation and official guidance where appropriate.
Legislation
Legislation · Legislation · Regulations 13, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 40, 44, 45, 46
Accessed 2026-08-10
Statutory guidance
Department for Education · Statutory Guidance
Accessed 2026-08-10
Ofsted guidance
Ofsted · Ofsted Guidance
Accessed 2026-08-10
Ofsted · Ofsted Guidance
Accessed 2026-08-10
Ofsted · Ofsted Guidance
Accessed 2026-08-10
About this guidance
The Children's Home Hub provides independent information intended to make children's-home regulation and operation easier to understand. Throughout this resource, regulatory requirements are separated from Hub practical guidance. Suggested daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly management routines are practical approaches only unless specifically identified as a regulatory requirement. This guidance does not replace the Children's Homes Regulations, statutory guidance or Ofsted guidance.