Job purpose

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Children Home Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and statutory compliance of an Amani residential children’s centre and essential services.

The post-holder ensures that every child in the centre’s care receives safe, nurturing, and individualised care in line with:

• The Law of the Child Act, 2009 (Cap. 13 R.E. 2019).
• The Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act (Cap. 61 R.E. 2002).
• Amani’s own child safeguarding and care standards.

The Children Home Manager leads caregivers, Nurse, Cooks, Gadners, Maintanance officer and security officers and represents the organization in social welfare meetings and local community meetings.

Key responsibilities

1. Centre leadership and daily operations

Provide overall day-to-day leadership and management of the residential centre, ensuring a safe, clean, structured, and nurturing environment for all children in care.

2. Statutory compliance and licensing

Ensure the centre operates in full compliance with the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act and the Law of the Child Act and its Regulations, including maintaining a valid operating licence issued by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and renewing it before expiry.

3. Child safeguarding

Lead implementation of Amani’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct at the centre, ensuring all staff, volunteers, and visitors are screened, trained, and supervised.

Ensure that any concerns, incidents, or allegations are reported and handled promptly in line with Amani’s reporting procedures and statutory obligations.

4. Staff supervision and rostering

Supervise, mentor, and roster house parents, caregivers, night staff, and support staff, ensuring the centre is under the care and supervision of at least one senior staff member at all times, in line with the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act.

5. Health, nutrition and welfare

Oversee children’s health, hygiene, and nutrition, ensuring medical examinations, immunisations, and health records are maintained.

Ensure that any illness, injury, or death is reported to the relevant authorities within the statutory timeframe.

6. Education and development

Ensure every child’s access to:

• Formal education
• Life-skills
• Recreation
• Psychosocial support

Monitor individual educational and developmental progress.

7. Records, reporting and statistics

Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential records for each child and staff member.

Prepare timely monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical and narrative reports for:

• The Executive Director
• The Social Welfare Officer
• The Commissioner for Social Welfare

This includes the annual return due by 31 March each year.

8. Budget and resource management

Manage the centre’s operating budget, supplies, and assets responsibly, working with the Finance and Administration teams to ensure value for money and donor accountability.

9. Stakeholder and community relations

Represent the centre before:

• Local government social welfare offices
• Police
• Health facilities
• The surrounding community

Support inspections or audits by government authorities.

10. Emergency response

Act as the first point of contact for emergencies at the centre, including:

• Medical emergencies
• Safeguarding incidents
• Child absconding

Ensure prompt and appropriate response and notification.

11. Quality assurance

Monitor and continuously improve the quality of care provided against Amani’s internal standards and national child-care guidelines.

Support external evaluations, inspections, and licensing reviews.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Psychology, Sociology, Child Development, Education, or a related field; a postgraduate qualification in social work, child protection, or management is an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience working with vulnerable children, including at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or managerial role within a residential childcare institution, NGO, or donor-funded child protection programme.
• Sound knowledge of the Law of the Child Act, 2009 (Cap. 13 R.E. 2019) and its Regulations, the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act (Cap. 61 R.E. 2002), and national guidelines on alternative care and the National Costed Standards of Care for Most Vulnerable Children.
• Demonstrated experience in case management, child protection casework, and family tracing, reunification, or reintegration processes.
• Demonstrated experience supervising residential care staff (house parents/caregivers), rostering, and managing a 24-hour care operation.
• Working knowledge of the Employment and Labour Relations Act (Cap. 366 R.E. 2019) and OSHA requirements as they apply to a residential care workplace.
• Proficiency in record-keeping, basic reporting, and standard office software (MS Office/Google Workspace).
• Minimum age of 18 years and Tanzanian citizenship (or a valid work and residence permit for non-citizens), in accordance with the Employment and Labour Relations Act (Cap. 366 R.E. 2019).
• A valid Police Clearance Certificate (Hati ya Polisi ya Tabia Njema) confirming no criminal record, and willingness to undergo enhanced reference, background, and vetting checks before and throughout appointment, given the frequent and unsupervised access to children this role involves.
• A medical certificate confirming good health and freedom from infectious or communicable disease, as required of all staff in a licensed children’s home under the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act, and willingness to undergo periodic medical checks thereafter.
• Willingness to sign and strictly abide by Amani’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct at all times, including mandatory reporting of any safeguarding concern.
• Willingness to reside on-site or within close proximity to the centre, and to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, and be on-call for emergencies, given the 24-hour nature of residential childcare.
• Fluency in Kiswahili and working proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
• Registration or membership with a relevant professional body (e.g., an association of social workers in Tanzania) is an added advantage.
• Valid driving licence is an added advantage.

Key skills and attributes

• Genuine compassion for vulnerable children, combined with firm, fair, and trauma-informed leadership.
• Strong knowledge of child development, child protection principles, and positive, non-violent approaches to discipline and behaviour management.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, able to build, motivate, and hold accountable a diverse residential care team.
• Excellent case management, problem-solving, and crisis-management skills, with the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and sound judgement in handling sensitive child and staff information.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build trust with children, families, staff, government officials, and community members.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, able to manage competing priorities in a 24-hour care environment.
• Ability to manage disagreements among children or staff calmly.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to work independently while keeping the Program Manager informed of key risks and decisions.
• Cultural sensitivity and a strong commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and the rights and dignity of every child.

• Centre leadership and daily operations: Provide overall day-to-day leadership and management of the residential centre, ensuring a safe, clean, structured, and nurturing environment for all children in care.
• Statutory compliance and licensing: Ensure the centre operates in full compliance with the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act and the Law of the Child Act and its Regulations, including maintaining a valid operating licence issued by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and renewing it before expiry.
• Child safeguarding: Lead implementation of Amani’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct at the centre, ensuring all staff, volunteers, and visitors are screened, trained, and supervised. Ensure that any concerns, incidents, or allegations are reported and handled promptly in line with Amani’s reporting procedures and statutory obligations.
• Staff supervision and rostering: Supervise, mentor, and roster house parents, caregivers, night staff, and support staff, ensuring the centre is under the care and supervision of at least one senior staff member at all times, in line with the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act.
• Health, nutrition and welfare: Oversee children’s health, hygiene, and nutrition, ensuring medical examinations, immunisations, and health records are maintained. Ensure that any illness, injury, or death is reported to the relevant authorities within the statutory timeframe.
• Education and development: Ensure every child’s access to formal education, life-skills, recreation, and psychosocial support. Monitor individual educational and developmental progress.
• Records, reporting and statistics: Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential records for each child and staff member. Prepare timely monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical and narrative reports for the Executive Director, the Social Welfare Officer, and the Commissioner for Social Welfare. This includes the annual return due by 31 March each year.
• Budget and resource management: Manage the centre’s operating budget, supplies, and assets responsibly, working with the Finance and Administration teams to ensure value for money and donor accountability.
• Stakeholder and community relations: Represent the centre before local government social welfare offices, police, health facilities, schools, donors, and the surrounding community. Support inspections or audits by government authorities.
• Emergency response: Act as the first point of contact for emergencies at the centre, including medical emergencies, safeguarding incidents, and child absconding. Ensure prompt and appropriate response and notification.
• Quality assurance: Monitor and continuously improve the quality of care provided against Amani’s internal standards and national child-care guidelines. Support external evaluations, inspections, and licensing reviews.

• Genuine compassion for vulnerable children, combined with firm, fair, and trauma-informed leadership.
• Strong knowledge of child development, child protection principles, and positive, non-violent approaches to discipline and behaviour management.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, able to build, motivate, and hold accountable a diverse residential care team.
• Excellent case management, problem-solving, and crisis-management skills, with the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and sound judgement in handling sensitive child and staff information.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build trust with children, families, staff, government officials, and community members.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, able to manage competing priorities in a 24-hour care environment.
• Ability to manage disagreements among children or staff calmly.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to work independently while keeping the Program Manager informed of key risks and decisions.
• Cultural sensitivity and a strong commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and the rights and dignity of every child.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Psychology, Sociology, Child Development, Education, or a related field; a postgraduate qualification in social work, child protection, or management is an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience working with vulnerable children, including at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or managerial role within a residential childcare institution, NGO, or donor-funded child protection programme.
• Sound knowledge of the Law of the Child Act, 2009 (Cap. 13 R.E. 2019) and its Regulations, the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act (Cap. 61 R.E. 2002), and national guidelines on alternative care and the National Costed Standards of Care for Most Vulnerable Children.
• Demonstrated experience in case management, child protection casework, and family tracing, reunification, or reintegration processes.
• Demonstrated experience supervising residential care staff (house parents/caregivers), rostering, and managing a 24-hour care operation.
• Working knowledge of the Employment and Labour Relations Act (Cap. 366 R.E. 2019) and OSHA requirements as they apply to a residential care workplace.
• Proficiency in record-keeping, basic reporting, and standard office software (MS Office/Google Workspace).
• Minimum age of 18 years and Tanzanian citizenship (or a valid work and residence permit for non-citizens), in accordance with the Employment and Labour Relations Act (Cap. 366 R.E. 2019).
• A valid Police Clearance Certificate (Hati ya Polisi ya Tabia Njema) confirming no criminal record, and willingness to undergo enhanced reference, background, and vetting checks before and throughout appointment, given the frequent and unsupervised access to children this role involves.
• A medical certificate confirming good health and freedom from infectious or communicable disease, as required of all staff in a licensed children’s home under the Children’s Homes (Regulation) Act, and willingness to undergo periodic medical checks thereafter.
• Willingness to sign and strictly abide by Amani’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct at all times, including mandatory reporting of any safeguarding concern.
• Willingness to reside on-site or within close proximity to the centre, and to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, and be on-call for emergencies, given the 24-hour nature of residential childcare.
• Fluency in Kiswahili and working proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
• Registration or membership with a relevant professional body (e.g., an association of social workers in Tanzania) is an added advantage.
• Valid driving licence is an added advantage.