Recruitment that supports stability, safeguarding and timely openings
Recruitment in children’s residential care and specialist education is not a one-size-fits-all process. Different stages of growth require different levels of support. Our services are designed to give providers the right level of focus, pace and depth, without compromising on values or outcomes.
Contingent Recruitment
Flexible support for established services
Contingent recruitment is best suited to established services recruiting for lower-level roles such as Residential Support Workers and Senior Residential Support Workers. There are no upfront costs and fees are only payable on successful placement. This approach works well where roles are easier to fill and timelines are less critical. Contingent recruitment is reactive by nature, but our focus remains on placing professionals who are right for your setting and the children you support.
Best suited for:
- Residential Support Worker roles
- Senior Residential Support Worker roles
- Established homes with ongoing recruitment needs
Launch Support Recruitment – £499 + VAT
A low-risk way to build early momentum
(Most popular starting point for new services)
Launch Support Recruitment is designed for providers opening new services or preparing for registration.
This option includes a one-off £499 + VAT engagement fee, which allows us to prioritise initial search activity, engage suitable candidates early and build momentum beyond a purely speculative approach.
It provides more focus than contingent recruitment, without the commitment of a full priority search.
The £499 fee is credited against the final placement fee if a hire is made.
Best suited for:
- New services in early planning or registration
- Providers wanting early traction
- Roles where timing matters, but full priority is not yet required
Priority Search Recruitment – £999 + VAT
Focused support for time-critical openings
Priority Search Recruitment is designed for services working to fixed opening dates, Ofsted timelines or funding deadlines.
This service includes a £999 + VAT engagement fee, securing priority access to our time, network and resources. It allows us to work proactively and consistently on your roles, rather than reactively alongside contingent vacancies.
Priority Search significantly reduces the risk of delays caused by staffing gaps and supports faster, more stable service openings.
The £999 fee is credited against the final placement fee if a hire is made.
Best suited for:
- Services preparing to open
- Providers with fixed registration or opening deadlines
- Organisations where delays carry significant financial impact
Retained Search
Strategic recruitment for leadership and critical appointments
For senior leadership, specialist or hard-to-fill roles, we offer a fully retained recruitment service.
This approach includes a dedicated account manager, structured project plan and targeted engagement with both active and passive candidates. Retained search allows for depth, rigour and certainty where appointments are critical to compliance, culture and long-term stability.
Fees are structured in staged payments to support budgeting and commitment on both sides and include a delivery guarantee.
Best suited for:
- Registered Managers and senior leadership roles
- Specialist or niche positions
- Appointments critical to long-term success
Choosing the Right Level of Support
Recruitment in children’s residential care isn’t one size fits all. The right approach depends on the role, the urgency, and the level of risk attached to getting it wrong or getting it late.
Contingent recruitment carries no upfront cost and works well for roles where there is an existing talent pool and flexibility around timelines. Because this model is reactive and shared across multiple vacancies, it sits at the lowest cost point but also offers the least control over pace and priority.
Launch Support and Priority Search sit in the middle ground. These options introduce a modest upfront commitment to secure focus, momentum and proactive search activity, without the financial exposure of a fully retained search. They are designed to reduce risk while still protecting cash flow, particularly for new services or time-sensitive openings.
Retained search reflects the level of depth, structure and accountability required for senior, specialist or business-critical appointments. These roles demand targeted market mapping, discreet engagement with passive candidates and sustained senior-level input. The staged fee structure ensures commitment on both sides and provides certainty where leadership, compliance and long-term stability are at stake.
We’ll always advise you honestly on the most appropriate option based on your goals, timelines and the impact the role has on your service. Our priority is not to upsell a service, but to ensure you receive the right level of recruitment support to protect your service, your team and the children you support.