Hunter & Farmer
Not everyone should work with children.Every child deserves someone who should.
Safeguarding-led. Judgement-led. We assess, we understand, we recommend.
Not everyone should work with children.Every child deserves someone who should.
We help children’s residential care providers appoint professionals who should be trusted with that responsibility.
Building a team or building a career
01 / Employers
For employers
Assessed appointments for children’s homes — risk reduction and Ofsted readiness.Risk reduction and Ofsted readiness, delivered through carefully assessed professional appointments for children’s homes.
- Vetting quality over volume
- Matched to your home's culture
- Documentation you can defend
02 / Candidates
For candidates
Judgement-led assessment for permanent roles where safeguarding matters.A judgement-led assessment for people who want permanent roles where safeguarding and accountability matter.
- Three-stage assessment
- Honest guidance throughout
- Roles worth earning
Children's residential care
Focused solely on children’s residential care
Permanent appointments only — because stability and consistency change outcomes. We work across these roles:
Residential Support Worker
The foundation of stable, considered care.
Senior Residential Support Worker
Leading shifts and mentoring the team.
Team Leader
Holding the floor with calm accountability.
Deputy Manager
Supporting leadership without lowering the standard.
Registered Manager
Leadership with real accountability.
Responsible Individual
Governance and oversight across the service.
Children’s Residential Consultant
Quality, safeguarding and operational improvement.
The Hunter & Farmer Assessment Standard™
Structured assessment of judgement, safeguarding awareness, and long-term suitability — not availability. We recommend professionals we believe should be trusted to care for children.
- Stage 01
Professional assessmentStage One – Professional Assessment
- Behavioural questioning
- Real safeguarding scenarios
- Decision-making under pressure
- Stage 02
Pattern analysis™Stage Two – Professional Pattern Analysis™
- Employment history review
- Gap analysis
- Pattern identification
- Stage 03
Professional recommendation™Stage Three – Professional Recommendation™
- Full Schedule 2 checks
- DBS verification
- Support through probation
The Hunter & Farmer Standard™
Judgement-led work — not volume. Every recommendation is built around safeguarding, character and accountability.
Judgement over convenience
We assess professionals, not availability. Recommendations are made on suitability, not speed.
Safeguarding at the centre
Every stage of our assessment exists to protect young people, not to fill a search assignment.
Character before credentials
Experience and qualifications matter, but they do not always reveal the qualities children need.
Recommendations you can defend
Clear reasoning behind every recommendation, with documentation that holds up to scrutiny.
We don’t simply recruit.
We assess. We understand. We recommend.
Professional judgement is the heart of the work.
Judgement
We assess character, not just experience.
Standards
High standards protect children.
Trust
Judgement led. Standards driven.
Impact
Right people. Right homes. Better outcomes.
Ready when you are.
We review every enquiry personally.
Ready when you are.
Whether you’re strengthening a team or beginning an assessment, we review every enquiry personally.