Nominated Individual for 16+ Supported Housing
Regulatory & Ofsted Accountability
- Act as the registered Nominated Individual for the service, representing the organisation to Ofsted and serving as the principal point of contact for all regulatory matters.
- Complete the SC2 application, undergo the Ofsted Fit Person Interview, and maintain ongoing fitness throughout the registration period.
- Ensure full compliance with the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, the Quality Standards, and the SCCIF.
- Lead the organisation's preparation for Ofsted inspections, monitoring visits and any enforcement activity.
- Submit statutory notifications to Ofsted within required timescales for serious incidents, safeguarding events and changes affecting the service.
Governance & Oversight
- Oversee and challenge the Registered Service Manager (RSM) to ensure effective day-to-day leadership of the service.
- Lead Regulation 32 Quality of Support Reviews every six months, producing a written report on the quality of support and the experience of young people.
- Conduct monthly governance visits to each setting, producing written feedback reports and bi-annual in-depth property and compliance audits.
- Peer-review and co-sign policies, procedures and key documents (Statement of Purpose, Young Person's Guide, Workforce Plan, safeguarding and recruitment policies).
- Produce quarterly governance reports to the Board covering safeguarding, compliance, workforce, referrals and inspection-readiness.
Safeguarding & Quality Assurance
- Maintain strategic oversight of safeguarding, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and RSM to ensure robust referral, escalation and partnership-working arrangements.
- Audit and sign off referral, risk assessment, placement matching and move-in/move-out processes.
- Provide governance-level assurance on missing-from-home protocols, exploitation risks (CSE, criminal exploitation, county lines), and Prevent duty referrals.
- Ensure that the voice of the young person is embedded in service design, support planning, reviews and continuous improvement.
Workforce, Finance & Strategic Leadership
- Oversee safer recruitment, induction and ongoing training, ensuring the workforce plan meets the requirements of Regulation 10.
- Ensure the service is staffed appropriately in terms of numbers, skills, qualifications and DBS clearance.
- Hold strategic oversight of the service's financial viability, working with the Board to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with placing authorities, commissioners, social workers and external partners (CAMHS, health, education, leaving care teams).
- Provide out-of-hours availability for serious incidents and authorise immediate safeguarding actions where required.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 3 years' senior leadership experience in an Ofsted-registered children's service (children's home, supported accommodation, residential special school, fostering agency, or equivalent) — non-negotiable.
- Demonstrable knowledge of the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, the Quality Standards, the SCCIF, the Children Act 1989 (particularly s22C(6)(d) and 23B(8)(b)), and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
- Experience preparing for, hosting and responding to Ofsted inspections, including evidence of services achieving Outcome 1 / Good or better.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding looked-after children and care leavers, including missing-from-home, exploitation and Prevent duty referrals.
- Experience writing or co-authoring Statements of Purpose, Young Person's Guides, workforce plans and Regulation 32 Quality of Support reviews.
- Track record of effective governance: policy oversight, audit, supervision of registered managers, and reporting to boards or trustees.
- Eligibility to be appointed as a director or equivalent officer of the registering organisation.
- Enhanced DBS with child barred list clearance (or willing to obtain via Ofsted's Capita service).
- Two professional references covering recent senior children's social care roles.
- Mentally and physically fit to carry out the role, of good character and financially fit (in line with Schedule 1).
DESIRABLE
- Previous experience as a Nominated Individual or Responsible Individual for an Ofsted-registered service.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or equivalent qualification (e.g. social work, youth work, health or education leadership qualification at Level 5+).
- Experience working with care leavers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, young people with learning disabilities or complex needs.
- Knowledge of housing benefit, exempt accommodation funding and local authority commissioning frameworks.
- Experience launching a new Ofsted-registered service from registration through to first inspection.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Authoritative, child-centred and unflinching on safeguarding — willing to challenge constructively and hold the service to account.
- Strong governance instincts: comfortable with audits, data, written reports and structured oversight.
- Calm under pressure, particularly during incidents, inspections and complex placement decisions.
- Collaborative working style with the Registered Service Manager — strategic oversight, not day-to-day interference.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; able to represent the organisation credibly to Ofsted, commissioners and the Board.
Pay: £150.00-£300.00 per day
Work Location: In person
