Residential Operations Manager / Responsible Individual

Location: Covering Frome, Verwood, Warminster, Fordingbridge and Sway
Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 per annum

About the Role

Joneshouse Recruitment is recruiting for an experienced Residential Operations Manager / Responsible Individual to oversee a portfolio of five Good and Outstanding Ofsted-rated children’s homes.

This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape high-quality residential childcare services, support Registered Managers to achieve excellence, and ensure children receive outstanding, therapeutic, child-centred care. The successful candidate will also act as the Responsible Individual with Ofsted and lead safeguarding across the organisation as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across five children’s residential homes.
• Support and develop Registered Managers to maintain high standards of care and regulatory compliance.
• Promote a positive culture focused on outstanding outcomes for children and young people.
• Ensure homes operate in line with Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
• Monitor the performance of each home, driving continuous improvement and best practice.

Child-Centred Care

• Ensure high-quality, therapeutic care is delivered in line with each child’s individual care plan.
• Promote approaches such as PACE and DDP within everyday practice.
• Monitor children’s progress, wellbeing and educational achievements.
• Support Registered Managers in delivering positive outcomes for every child.
• Ensure safeguarding remains the highest priority across all services.

Safeguarding

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) across all homes.
• Manage safeguarding concerns, allegations and referrals appropriately and within statutory guidance.
• Liaise with Ofsted, Local Authorities and other relevant agencies where required.
• Ensure safeguarding policies, procedures and training remain current and embedded throughout the organisation.

Leadership & People Management

• Provide leadership, supervision and support to Registered Managers.
• Promote professional development and continuous learning.
• Identify and address areas of poor or unsafe practice.
• Ensure teams work in line with organisational policies, procedures and professional standards.
• Foster a positive, collaborative working culture across all homes.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure homes consistently meet regulatory and legislative requirements.
• Monitor Statements of Purpose, risk assessments, staffing arrangements and operational documentation.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure statutory reporting requirements are met.
• Drive continuous quality improvement across all services.

Resources & Environment

• Oversee budgets and ensure expenditure is effectively managed.
• Ensure homes provide safe, welcoming and well-maintained environments.
• Monitor the upkeep of buildings, grounds and company vehicles to maintain high standards.

Strategic Development

• Support the growth and development of residential services.
• Contribute to the opening of new homes and the expansion of existing services.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with placing authorities, regulators and external professionals.
• Identify opportunities to improve service quality and operational performance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in the senior management on-call rota.
• Keep up to date with legislation, research and best practice within residential childcare.
• Champion continuous professional development and reflective practice.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience within children’s residential care.
• Previous experience managing multiple residential children’s homes or operating at senior management level.
• Strong knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
• Experience leading safeguarding within children’s services.
• Eligible to act as an Ofsted Responsible Individual.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• A proven ability to develop teams and improve service performance.

Desirable

• Experience overseeing homes rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
• Knowledge of therapeutic care models, including PACE and DDP.
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
• Full UK driving licence.

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Outstanding leadership and people management skills.
• A strong commitment to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children.
• Strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to operational management.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• A passion for delivering exceptional, child-centred care.

Safeguarding

This position is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be expected to share this commitment.

Apply

If you are an experienced senior leader in residential childcare looking for your next challenge, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today through Joneshouse Recruitment.

Ref: SOL2