Action for Children
Registered Manager
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Registered Manager
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Location: Penicuik, Midlothian
Contract/Hours: Permanent / Full Time – 37 hours per week
Closing date for applications is midnight of Sunday 9th August
Benefits
- Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave
- Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
- Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
- Up to 7% employer contribution and life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
Action for Children
Action for Children isn’t just about fostering and employment — we’re a leading provider of specialist residential care for young people with complex needs, including intellectual disabilities.
Our teams create tailored environments where every young person receives individualised support shaped around their social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive needs.
A bit about the role
As the Registered Manager, you’ll provide strong, child-centred leadership for a warm, lively home supporting young people with a learning disability, ASD and behaviours that can be challenging at times. You’ll ensure the home remains a safe, stable and nurturing environment where each young person is understood, valued and supported to thrive. This includes helping staff recognise and respond to individual communication styles, routines and preferences, and creating opportunities for meaningful activities both indoors and outdoors.
You’ll hold overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the service, ensuring high-quality practice, regulatory compliance and consistently strong safeguarding. You’ll lead, coach and develop your team so they feel supported, confident and motivated to deliver excellent care. Working closely with families, colleagues and external partners, you’ll build joined-up, personalised support that reflects each young person’s needs and aspirations.
By modelling reflective practice, encouraging learning and driving continuous improvement, you’ll help the service grow while maintaining the warm, positive culture that makes Pentland Way a great place to live and work.
About the Service
Pentland Way is a well-established, specialist residential service in Penicuik, Midlothian, currently operating on behalf of Midlothian Council. From October 2026, the service will become part of Action for Children, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both the young people we support and our dedicated team.
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Providing a warm and welcoming home for up to three young people aged 16–21 with learning disabilities and autism, Pentland Way focuses on supporting young people through the important transition from children's services into adulthood. Our aim is to ensure every young person experiences a meaningful, positive, and empowering journey towards greater independence.
With a small, highly personalised setting, we’re able to build strong, trusting relationships and deliver tailored support that reflects each young person's unique needs and goals. By working closely with families and professional partners, we create individualised support plans that promote stability, routine, personal growth, and life opportunities.
Joining Pentland Way at this exciting time means becoming part of a team that is committed to maintaining continuity, providing exceptional care, and helping shape the future of a service where young people can feel safe, supported, and optimistic about what lies ahead.
What you do could make a difference
As Registered Manager, you’ll play a central role in creating a safe, nurturing and joyful home where children and young people can grow, learn and feel understood. Some of your key responsibilities will include:
- Making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people every day.
- Supporting, guiding and encouraging your staff team so they feel confident and equipped in their roles.
- Creating a safe, welcoming environment where children can spend time with friends and enjoy positive experiences.
- Providing direct care and support across all areas of each child’s needs, helping them feel secure, valued and happy.
- Ensuring children have a positive, enriching experience of being away from home.
- Supporting children in all aspects of daily life, promoting their wellbeing, independence and overall happiness.
Let’s talk about you
We’re looking for someone who brings compassion, leadership and a strong commitment to high quality care. Ideally, you’ll have:
- Scotland SVQ Level 4 Management & Leadership — however, we’re also open to applicants with solid management experience in a residential or social care setting.
- Experience leading a large team towards shared goals and positive outcomes.
- A good understanding of regulatory requirements, including CQC, Ofsted or (in Scotland) the Care Inspectorate.
- The ability to meet the requirements of a fit person interview with Ofsted or the Care Inspectorate.
- Experience supporting young people who have faced adversity and need help with social, emotional and behavioural needs.
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Why Action for Children?
Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters.
We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here.
Will you join us?
Contact: Please submit an application via our careers page. If you have any further questions, you can contact Laura McCarthy at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13463.
Diversity, equality and inclusion
We work hard to create an inclusive environment. One where individuality is celebrated and where everyone feels valued and supported. Because when we come together, with skills like yours, we’re capable of amazing things.
We actively encourage applications from people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with a disability, as these groups are under-represented within Action for Children.
Want to get to know Action for Children better?
Job description [https://actnforchildren.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/Employee_Recruitment_Information/IQD0uQ26zphjQ5o_0b7AWsI9Acv41CBETB363EySCT3ZR_Y?e=cFGsyC]
Action for Children Employee Benefits
AfC Commitment Statement
Find us on Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
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