Care home managers run care homes providing accommodation, meals and personal care for people who cannot live in their own homes because of issues such as age, illness, physical or learning disability, or mental health, family or behaviour problems.

The Work

You could be:

• organising the day to day running of the home, ensuring that the quality meets current government healthcare legislation
• interviewing and selecting staff, training and supervising them and arranging shift rotas
• developing clear policies which promote good practice within the home
• holding meetings with other professionals: social workers, doctors, therapists, dieticians
• discussing the progress of residents with members of their families
• helping residents to access local services such as shops, banks, leisure amenities and medical care
• organising programmes such as keep-fit training or entertainment
• dealing with any complaints from residents or their families and taking responsibility if any crisis occurs
• managing budgets and funding.

Pay

Figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates vary widely, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

Salaries for registered care home managers can range from around £25,000 to £35,000 a year. With several years' experience this can rise to between £50,000 and £55,000 a year, sometimes more. Senior managers, such as regional managers, can earn around £70,000 a year.

Conditions

• You work in an office within the home.
• You might have to live in the home, at least part of the time.
• You work 35 to 40 hours a week.
• You work shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• There will be periods when you are on call in case of emergencies.
• You might have to deal with difficult or aggressive behaviour.

Getting In

All care homes in Scotland must meet the new Health and Social Care Standards which are regulated by the Care Inspectorate (the national regulator for care services in Scotland). To qualify as a registered care home manager with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) you need to complete both a practice and a management qualification.

Acceptable practice qualifications include:

• the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 9
• a diploma or degree in social work or community education
• a nursing qualification
• a qualification in psychology, physiotherapy or another therapy discipline that is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Acceptable management qualifications include:

• the Modern Apprenticeship in Care Services Leadership and Management at SCQF Level 10
• any management award at SCQF Level 9 or above (minimum of 60 credits) that is mapped against the relevant National Occupational Standards.

You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.

As well as vacancies in public sector social care services there is growing demand within private healthcare companies. It is possible to enter with an SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 7 and work up to SCQF Level 9 and SSSC registration.

What Does it Take?

You need to be:

• good at managing a budget and negotiating prices
• assertive – good at managing and motivating others
• resourceful and good at planning
• observant
• able to assess the care and support needs of residents
• knowledgeable about regulations and local services
• responsible and reassuring
• a good communicator
• able to work well with residents and their families and other staff.

Training

• Training is mainly on the job.
• You can take professional development programmes with in-service training while you are working.
• You would study the relevant qualifications for registration with the SSSC.
• You must keep up to date with laws affecting residential care managers.

Getting On

• You could become a regional manager.
• You could move into training or consultancy work.
• You could also move into the inspectorate bodies, overseeing the maintenance of the new standards.

More Information

The SSSC can provide details of the purposes and value of registration for the social service workforce. Their website, listed below, also provides good career information about working in the social care sector.

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Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.