Responsible Individual – Children’s Residential Services
Location: Multi-site Surrey / Berkshire
Hours: 40 hours per week (flexibility required)
Salary: up to £80k DOE
Our client is seeking an experienced and passionate Responsible Individual to lead their children’s residential services across Surrey and Berkshire. The company is continuing to grow, investing heavily in quality. This is a fantastic opportunity for a proven leader to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people, providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they can thrive.
Main Purpose of the Role
- To act as the Ofsted-registered Responsible Individual, ensuring all children’s homes under the organisation’s registration operate in full compliance with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
- To provide strong, strategic, and values-driven leadership across the service, promoting excellence in safeguarding, care delivery, and regulatory compliance.
- To ensure that Registered Managers and operational teams are well-supported, monitored, and challenged to achieve and sustain high standards, ensuring outstanding outcomes for children and young people
Line Management Responsibilities
- Direct line management of:
o Registered Managers
- Responsible for ensuring:
o Regulatory compliance and Ofsted inspection readiness
o Leadership supervision and development of home managers
o Oversight of safeguarding and quality assurance across services
o High standards of care, safety, and governance across all children’s homes)
Key Responsibilities
1. Organisational Leadership and Strategic Oversight
- Provide clear and effective leadership to ensure the organisation’s children’s homes operate safely and in accordance with legislation, regulation, and company policy
- Embed the values, mission, and strategic priorities of the companies Homes across all operational areas
- Promote a culture of transparency, learning, and continuous improvement
2. Ofsted Registration and Regulatory Compliance
- Maintain registration with Ofsted as the Responsible Individual and ensure all homes consistently meet or exceed Quality Standards
- Oversee and guide Registered Managers through Ofsted inspections, audits, and regulatory visits
- Monitor organisational compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and relevant national guidance.
3. Safeguarding and Risk Management
- Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation, ensuring robust safeguarding systems are in place and adhered to
- Lead or oversee serious safeguarding investigations, allegations, and referrals in line with LADO protocols
- Promote a culture of safety, protection, and accountability across all services
4. Management Supervision and Development
- Supervise, appraise, and mentor Registered Managers, ensuring high levels of leadership competence and regulatory knowledge
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes for senior staff
- Foster leadership development and succession planning across the organisation
5. Quality Assurance and Service Improvement
- Lead on internal audits, quality assurance reviews, and performance monitoring across all homes
- Analyse inspection outcomes, incident reports, and feedback to identify patterns and areas for development
- Drive implementation of service improvements and innovation in care delivery
6. Partnership Working and External Relations
- Act as the key point of contact for Ofsted, local authorities, commissioning teams, and safeguarding partnerships
- Represent the organisation at strategic and operational forums, panels, and inspections
- Support effective referral and placement management processes across services
7. Governance and Organisational Support
- Provide accurate and timely reports to the Board and Senior Leadership Team regarding service performance, risk, and regulatory compliance
- Contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and growth of the organisation
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes to legislation, policy, and best practice affecting looked-after children.
Special Requirements
- This is a multi-site leadership role and will require frequent travel between children’s homes and external meetings
- Participation in the senior leadership on-call rota is required
Person Specification
A. Education, Training & Qualifications
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent)
- QCF Level 3 in Residential Childcare (or equivalent qualification)
- Registered Manager experience and eligibility for Responsible Individual registration with Ofsted
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training (or willingness to complete)
B. Experience
- Minimum 2 years of senior management experience within Ofsted-regulated children’s residential care
- Proven track record of managing or supporting Good or Outstanding rated homes
- Experience of working with children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs
- Familiarity with conducting audits, investigations, and dealing with safeguarding allegations
- Demonstrated leadership and development of high-performing teams
C. Skills and Abilities
- High-level communication, influencing, and conflict-resolution skills
- Strategic decision-making and crisis management capability
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and write reports
- Ability to coach, mentor, and inspire leadership in others
- Competence in multi-agency working, including with Ofsted, LAs, and safeguarding professionals
D. Knowledge and Understanding
- In-depth understanding of:
o Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
o Safeguarding and child protection legislation and procedures
o Ofsted frameworks, inspection process, and reporting expectations
o Therapeutic care models and trauma-informed practice
o Equal opportunities, data protection, and employment legislation
- Strong commitment to the company’s vision, values, and standards of care
INDZI
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: Up to £80,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Residential Childcare: 5 years (required)
- R.I knowledge / : 1 year (required)
- Registered Management within Residential Childcare: 3 years (required)
Work Location: On the road
