Job Description

A Care Home Manager will oversee the day to day management of a care home making sure that the residents receive a good standard of care, they will ensure that their staff are all fully trained, co-ordinate medical care and provide support for the residents, they will also be responsible for managing budgets and ensuring that the quality of the services provided meets national care standards.

Entry Requirements

You can get this job through:

Apprenticeship

You may be able to start on a higher apprenticeship for children, young people and families managers, or care leadership and management, then do further on-the-job training.

You could do a leader in adult care higher apprenticeship.

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.

Click here to search for an apprenticeship.

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like health and social care management before applying for a place on a graduate trainee scheme.

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

Work

You can apply for training if you're working in social care, for example as a deputy manager.

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 3 months of taking up your job. You'll need to complete it within 2 to 3 years.

There are 6 pathways to choose from, which are:

• 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 previous qualifications required to work as a care home manager are still valid if you have them but are no longer available to study. Your employer will now support you to do the Level 5 Diploma.

You'll 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

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

Career Tips

You'll need to pass enhanced background checks.

Also, you can get more advice about working as a care home manager from Think Care Careers.

Career Path and Progression

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

Related careers you may be interested in:

• Accommodation warden
• Nurse
• Healthcare assistant
• Learning disability nurse
• Mental health nurse

Required Skills

• Strong leadership and motivational skills
• good communication and people skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• good observational skills
• the ability to build good relationships with the patients and their families

Salary Range

£20,000 to £54,000