We are looking for an experienced, passionate and highly motivated Responsible Individual (RI) to provide strong leadership, governance and oversight across our children’s residential services.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for ensuring our homes provide safe, effective and high-quality care to children and young people, including those with Learning Disabilities and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD).
The successful candidate will work closely with Registered Managers and the senior leadership team, providing appropriate support and challenge while ensuring that each home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose, relevant legislation, Ofsted requirements and organisational policies.
We are looking for someone who understands that excellent residential childcare requires more than regulatory compliance. You will be ambitious for children and young people, committed to continuous improvement and able to create a culture where safeguarding, accountability and positive outcomes are at the centre of decision-making.
- Act as the Responsible Individual for the organisation’s designated children’s homes and meet the requirements associated with the role.
- Provide effective oversight, support and challenge to Registered Managers.
- Ensure services operate in accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, associated Quality Standards and relevant statutory guidance.
- Maintain strong oversight of safeguarding, quality of care, staffing, incidents, complaints, notifications and outcomes for children and young people.
- Monitor the performance of each home and ensure areas requiring improvement are identified and addressed promptly.
- Ensure Registered Managers have the leadership, resources, supervision and support required to deliver high-quality services.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement and high expectations across the organisation.
- Maintain effective professional relationships with Ofsted, placing authorities, social workers, families, professionals and other key stakeholders.
- Ensure appropriate governance and quality-assurance systems are established and operating effectively.
- Escalate significant safeguarding, regulatory, operational or organisational risks to senior leadership and the provider.
- Provide strategic and operational oversight of designated children’s homes, ensuring that children and young people receive safe, effective, person-centred and outcomes-focused care.
- Ensure each home is managed effectively and operates consistently with its Statement of Purpose, organisational expectations and regulatory requirements.
- Provide leadership, professional challenge and support to Registered Managers while maintaining clear lines of accountability.
- Regularly review service performance using audits, management information, incidents, safeguarding information, complaints, feedback and outcomes for children.
- Ensure that identified shortfalls result in clear improvement actions which are appropriately owned, monitored and completed.
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding practice and ensure concerns are appropriately identified, reported, investigated, escalated and learned from.
- Ensure appropriate systems are in place for monitoring significant events and regulatory notifications and that required notifications are made within appropriate timescales.
- Maintain oversight of recruitment, staffing levels, workforce development, supervision, training and management performance.
- Ensure children and young people are listened to and that their wishes, feelings, experiences and outcomes influence service development.
- Monitor the quality and effectiveness of care planning, risk management and safeguarding arrangements.
- Review regulatory inspection findings and quality-monitoring reports and ensure resulting actions are completed and embedded into practice.
- Work with Registered Managers to prepare services for Ofsted inspections and maintain continuous inspection readiness.
- Contribute to the development and review of organisational policies, procedures, systems and quality standards.
- Develop effective relationships with local authorities, commissioners, safeguarding partners and other external professionals.
- Support the organisation in developing new services and ensuring new homes are appropriately prepared for registration and operation.
- Promote learning across services by identifying themes, trends, good practice and areas requiring organisational improvement.
- Ensure that organisational policies and procedures are not only in place but are understood and consistently implemented in practice.
- Significant leadership and management experience within Ofsted-regulated children’s residential care.
- Previous experience as a Registered Manager, Responsible Individual, senior operational leader or equivalentwithin children’s residential services.
- A relevant Level 5 leadership and management qualification, or equivalent qualification and experience appropriate to the role.
- Strong knowledge and practical understanding of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted inspection framework.
- Excellent understanding of safeguarding children and managing safeguarding concerns within residential care.
- Demonstrable experience of supporting, supervising and challenging Registered Managers and senior leaders.
- Experience of quality assurance, auditing, service improvement and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to analyse performance information, identify risks and translate findings into measurable improvement actions.
- Strong leadership, communication and decision-making skills.
- Ability to develop effective professional relationships with Ofsted, local authorities and other external stakeholders.
- A positive and approachable leadership style combined with the confidence to challenge poor practice and hold managers accountable.
- A commitment to achieving excellent outcomes for children and young people.
- Ability to meet the regulatory requirements applicable to the Responsible Individual role.
We are looking for someone who can combine supportive leadership with strong professional challenge.
You will be visible within our services and understand what is happening in practice, while maintaining the independence and senior-level oversight necessary to hold Registered Managers accountable.
You will be able to recognise good practice, identify emerging risks early and ensure that where improvement is required, actions are clear, measurable and followed through.
Above all, you will share our ambition to provide homes where children and young people are safe, supported, listened to and able to achieve positive outcomes.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure, satisfactory references and verification of employment and management history.
Please visit our company website for more information
