Operations Manager / Responsible Individual – Children's Residential Care

Location: Birmingham / West Midlands
Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Package: Competitive benefits package + performance-related bonus
Hours: Full-time, permanent
Homes: 5–6 Children's Residential Homes

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Operations Manager / Responsible Individual to provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of residential childcare homes in Birmingham and the surrounding area.

This is a senior leadership position for an individual with a strong background in children's residential care, who understands what outstanding practice looks like and has the leadership capability to support Registered Managers, develop high-performing teams and ensure consistently high standards of care across multiple services.

The successful candidate will have significant experience overseeing children's homes and will play a key role in ensuring that every home operates safely, effectively and in accordance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.

You will work closely with Registered Managers, providing challenge, support and professional leadership while maintaining clear oversight of safeguarding, compliance, quality assurance, staffing, performance and children's outcomes.

Where appointed as the organisation's Responsible Individual, you will also provide the required strategic oversight and accountability to Ofsted.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Provide effective operational leadership across a portfolio of children's residential homes.
Support, supervise and performance-manage Registered Managers, ensuring they have the leadership, resources and support required to deliver excellent services.
Ensure consistency of practice, standards and culture across all homes.
Undertake regular visits to homes and maintain a visible leadership presence across the organisation.
Monitor occupancy, staffing, agency usage, budgets, referrals and operational performance.
Support the organisation's growth and development strategy, including the opening and registration of new children's homes where required.
Identify operational risks and implement effective solutions promptly.
Promote a culture of accountability, professional curiosity and continuous improvement.

Safeguarding & Quality of Care

Maintain safeguarding and child protection as the highest organisational priority.
Ensure children and young people receive safe, nurturing, trauma-informed and child-centred care.
Ensure the voice, wishes and feelings of children are central to service delivery and decision-making.
Monitor children's outcomes, placement stability and progress.
Ensure appropriate responses to safeguarding concerns, allegations, incidents, missing-from-care episodes and other significant events.
Work effectively with local authorities, social workers, education providers, health professionals and other partner agencies.
Ensure homes provide care that is consistent with their Statement of Purpose and the individual needs of children placed.

Regulatory Compliance & Ofsted

Maintain a thorough working knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
Ensure all homes remain compliant with Ofsted requirements and organisational policies.
Maintain a strong state of inspection readiness across the portfolio.
Lead and coordinate responses to Ofsted inspections and regulatory activity.
Ensure recommendations arising from inspections, Regulation 44 visits, Regulation 45 reviews, internal audits and other quality assurance activity are appropriately addressed.
Monitor action plans and ensure improvements are delivered within agreed timescales.
Ensure accurate, timely and high-quality records, reports and notifications are maintained.
Where appointed as Responsible Individual, fulfil all statutory responsibilities associated with the role and act as a key point of accountability to Ofsted.

Leadership & People Development

Provide regular supervision, coaching and professional challenge to Registered Managers.
Develop the leadership capability of Registered Managers and deputies.
Identify training and development requirements across the homes.
Promote strong staff retention, employee engagement and professional standards.
Support recruitment of high-quality management and care staff.
Ensure managers understand and effectively implement company policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.
Promote a positive culture based on safeguarding, accountability, compassion and high expectations.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

Establish and monitor key performance indicators across each home.
Analyse quality, safeguarding, staffing and operational data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Develop and implement service improvement plans where required.
Share good practice between homes and drive consistency across the organisation.
Challenge poor practice and take decisive action where standards are not being met.
Contribute to strategic business planning and the continued development of the organisation.

About You

We are looking for an experienced children's residential care professional who can demonstrate a proven track record of successfully leading and developing children's homes.

You will ideally have experience as an Operations Manager, Responsible Individual, Registered Manager, Regional Manager, Service Manager or equivalent senior leader within children's residential care.

Essential Requirements

Significant experience within children's residential care.
Proven experience overseeing multiple children's homes.
Experience supporting, supervising and developing Registered Managers.
Strong knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Ofsted regulatory requirements.
Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
Experience of quality assurance, audits, monitoring and service improvement.
Experience preparing services for Ofsted inspection and responding effectively to inspection findings.
Ability to demonstrate strong leadership, professional challenge and sound decision-making.
Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills.
A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) OR Level 7 qualification.
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory employment checks.

Desirable

Previous experience as a Responsible Individual.
Experience overseeing 4+ children's homes.
Experience taking new homes through Ofsted registration.
Experience managing services for children with complex emotional, behavioural or therapeutic needs.
Experience of working with local authorities and commissioning teams.
Experience of improving services following an Ofsted inspection.
A track record of achieving Good or Outstanding inspection outcomes.

What We Offer

Competitive salary dependent on experience.
Potential additional performance-related bonus.
Senior leadership position with significant operational responsibility.
Opportunity to influence and develop a growing portfolio of children's homes.
Professional development and ongoing training.
Supportive senior leadership team.
Company pension scheme.
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
Company vehicle/car allowance, subject to organisational policy.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced children's residential professional who is ready to take a significant step into a multi-site operational leadership position.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence culture, strengthen leadership across the homes and ensure that children and young people receive consistently safe, nurturing and high-quality care.

If you are an experienced children's residential leader who combines strong regulatory knowledge with genuine operational leadership, we would be keen to hear from you.

Responsible Individual / Operations Man...