Recruitment & retention of Registered Managers/Heads of Care (RSS)

Commissioners, providers and government are concerned at the difficulties in recruiting Registered Managers in children’s homes and Heads of Care in residential special schools. Too many posts are vacant, in some settings managers do not register with Ofsted and providers comment they are unable to grow due to recruitment issues.

Completing this survey will make a difference. What we learn will be used to develop recommendations for providers and commissioners to inform recruitment, retention and growth strategies nationally to improve the current situation.

Click to start the survey

Who led the project?

An independent steering group came together to help focus this work on the things that matter most to children in residential care. This group was made up of:

  • The Department for Education
  • Ofsted
  • The South West Sufficiency Programme
  • The National Association of Special Schools
  • The Children’s Homes Association
  • Responsible Individual representatives from the South West
  • A local authority commissioner
  • Academics and researcher to ensure the validity of the work
  • dialogue

Who funded the project?

The following organisations funded the project although are not part of the steering group unless named:

  • The South West sufficiency programme, comprising South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Torbay
  • RWK Goodman, a specialist law firm which supports children’s services and specialist schools.
  • Hazlewoods, a specialist accountancy and business advisory firm with a dedicated Healthcare team, supporting operators in growing, acquiring, and selling children’s homes and SEND schools
  • The Caretech Charitable Foundation, an independent grant making corporate foundation aimed at meaningful change in the social care sector
  • the National Association of Special Schools, and
  • dialogue, an organisation delivering safeguarding and leadership training and consultancy to the sector.
Click to start the survey

What you need to know

The survey may be completed by Deputy Managers, Managers, Heads of Care, Directors of Care, Principals, Responsible Individuals or similar roles. The research is being focused on these roles to ensure we understand the barriers and opportunities for progression through leadership positions. The survey closes on Friday 23rd May 2025.

  • Each individual should complete the survey independently. If a role is job share then each person can fill in their own survey.
  • The survey should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete
  • Your answers are confidential … there is more information on the next page.
  • You can ask to be sent a copy of the final report so you can find out the results from what everyone has told us
  • A note on language: in this survey the term Registered Manager / Head of Care is used as the research covers both children’s homes and residential special schools as it is thought the vacancy challenges affect both sectors.
  • The survey asks you about:
    • Your setting
    • You and your role
    • Availability and vacancies for registered managers and Heads of care
    • Your views on the registration process
    • Your experiences and views on what attracts (and discourages) people to apply for these leadership roles

We are really keen to hear what you have to say and learn from your expertise and experience.

Thank you for your help.

If you have any questions about the survey or issues filling it in please contact admin@dialogueltd.co.uk

Click to start the survey