Children's homes are among the institutions of institutional education under the authority of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. These are institutions that play an irreplaceable role in the care of children at risk in the Czech Republic. Educators in these institutions work on a daily basis with children who, for various reasons, cannot grow up in the environment of their biological family. Their role in the educational process is particularly crucial in the context of preparing children for independent life after leaving institutional care. Considering the importance and social significance of the issue, the paper aims to identify selected specifics of the personality and professional skills of educators in children's homes. The research investigation has a qualitative design and is carried out through semi-structured interviews. The research sample consists of educators working in children's homes in the Czech Republic. The collected data are analysed using open coding. The results suggest that an educator in this type of educational institution should possess specific personality traits and skills, which include empathy, psychological resilience, mental maturity and patience. Flexibility and the ability to communicate openly are also fundamental to their educational role. These characteristics are one of the basic prerequisites for building a trusting relationship between the educator and the child. The findings provide a starting point for further research into the authority of the educator in the children's home.

Keywords: Educator, personality, professional competencies, children's home.