Operations Director - Residential Childrens Services
Location: London
Salary: £90k to £105k (doe)
Our client has secured Ofsted registration for its Supported Accommodation service and recruited a dedicated team, including a Service Manager who leads the service in London.
Now they are preparing for their next major step: opening a new Children’s Residential Home and growing their children’s services at pace. They are seeking an ambitious, experienced Operations Director to help lead this expansion and, for the new home, undertake the Responsible Individual role.
This is an opportunity to shape a growing organisation, build strong services and help deliver safe, positive outcomes for children and young people.
The role
Working closely with the Managing Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the organisation’s children’s services. You will oversee the existing Supported Accommodation service and lead the development and opening ofs new Children’s Residential Homes.
As Responsible Individual for the new home, you will provide effective oversight of the Registered Manager and the quality, safety and performance of the service. You will also help create the infrastructure, teams and partnerships needed to support the organisation’s growth.
Your responsibilities will include:
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Providing operational leadership across the existing Supported Accommodation service and the development of the new Children’s Residential Home.
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Acting as Responsible Individual for the new home, subject to Ofsted’s suitability assessment.
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Supporting, challenging and developing the Service Manager and future Registered Manager.
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Leading plans to establish and open the new home, including recruitment, service development, quality assurance and inspection readiness.
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Building effective relationships with local authority commissioners, brokerage teams, placing authorities and other stakeholders.
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Recruiting and developing strong management and staff teams as the organisation expands.
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Ensuring services meet relevant legislation, Ofsted requirements, safeguarding duties and quality standards.
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Monitoring service quality, performance, budgets, audits and improvement plans.
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Promoting placement stability and positive outcomes for children, including their safety, education, health and wellbeing.
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Keeping the organisation’s growth plan focused on safe, sustainable and high-quality care.
About you
You will be a confident senior leader with at least five years’ experience in a similar leadership role within children’s residential care, supported accommodation or a closely related children’s services setting.
You will also have:
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A relevant Level 5 qualification in leadership and management for residential childcare, or an equivalent qualification, is preferred.
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A degree or professional qualification in social care, social work, childcare or a related field would also be an advantage.
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A strong record of leading, developing or expanding children’s services.
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Experience working with local authority commissioners, brokerage teams and placing authorities.
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Experience recruiting, managing and developing service managers and staff teams.
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A sound understanding of safeguarding, Ofsted regulation, quality assurance and service improvement.
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The capacity, experience and skills to provide effective oversight as Responsible Individual.
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Strong commercial awareness and the ability to manage growth while maintaining safe and effective services.
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Excellent communication, leadership and decision-making skills.
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A clear commitment to children’s safety, rights, wellbeing and positive outcomes
Apply today
