Care home manager
Care home managers lead and run residential homes for adults or children.
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£55,000 a year
- Typical hours39 to 41 a week
What you'll do
As an adult care home manager you may:
- provide information, advice and support to residents, families and staff
- help residents access local services
- monitor business performance and quality of care
- agree contracts, budgeting and fundraising
- develop policies and keep private information confidential
As a children's home manager you may:
- look after the children in your care
- make sure that wellbeing standards are met
- help children access local education and health services
- take part in care planning, statutory case reviews and conferences
- respond 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.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- customer service skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to understand people's reactions
- to enjoy working with other people
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- knowledge of psychology
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a care home manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in health and social care management.
With your degree you can apply for graduate schemes .
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You may be able to do a higher apprenticeship in adult care or children, young people and families manager.
You could then find work and train more on the job.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
If you work in social care, you can apply to join a manager course.
We recommend you start the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services within 3 months of starting your job. You'll need to complete it within 2 to 3 years.
You'll choose a pathway relating to either adults or children and young people.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- manage several care homes for a large company or charity
- freelance as a consultant or a care home inspector
- teach in further education , such as a college
Guides for this industry
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