At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee CQC and Ofsted-regulated services, ensuring high-quality care and compliance.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on delivering exceptional care and support services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a culture of accountability and professional challenge, with a focus on staff wellbeing.
- Why this job: Shape the future of care services while driving growth and maintaining high standards.
- Qualifications: Senior executive experience in regulated services and a strong ethical compass.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) holds ultimate operational, regulatory, and financial accountability for all CQC- and Ofsted-registered services across the group, including:
- Supported Living (complex LD, autism, mental health, forensic histories)
- Residential Care (adults with high-acuity needs)
- Children’s Homes (EBD, trauma-informed, complex safeguarding profiles)
The role exists to ensure safe, lawful, high-quality services while driving sustainable growth, protecting the organisation’s reputation, and preventing regulatory failure. This is a hands-on executive role, not a ceremonial leadership post.
Core Accountabilities
- Regulatory & Legal Accountability
- Act as the Responsible Individual (RI) for CQC and/or Ofsted where required.
- Maintain continuous regulatory compliance across all services.
- Ensure services are consistently inspection-ready—not just pre-inspection compliant.
- Lead responses to:
- CQC / Ofsted inspections
- Enforcement actions
- Notices of concern
- Improvement plans
- Serious incidents and safeguarding investigations
- Maintain oversight of:
- Regulation 17 governance systems
- Quality assurance frameworks
- Safeguarding thresholds and reporting
- Whistleblowing procedures
- Ensure statutory duties under:
- Health and Social Care Act
- Children’s Homes Regulations
- Care Standards Act
- Safeguarding legislation
- Mental Capacity Act / DoLS / Liberty Protection Safeguards
- Failure here is career-ending—this role owns it.
- Quality, Outcomes & Safeguarding
- Set and enforce group-wide quality standards that exceed minimum regulatory requirements.
- Ensure care and education are:
- Person-centred
- Trauma-informed
- Rights-based
- Evidence-led
- Hold Directors, Registered Managers, and Heads of Service to account for:
- Outcomes for people supported
- Reduction in incidents and restrictive practices
- Stability of placements
- Positive Ofsted/CQC judgements
- Chair or oversee:
- Safeguarding panels
- Serious incident reviews
- Learning-from-incidents processes
- Ensure poor practice is confronted, not tolerated.
- Operational Leadership
- Provide direct executive leadership to:
- Operations Directors
- Registered Managers
- Responsible Individuals
- Quality & Compliance Leads
- Ensure services are:
- Properly staffed
- Clinically and educationally supported
- Financially viable
- Drive consistency across services while allowing local flexibility.
- Step in personally when services are failing or at risk.
- Financial & Commercial Responsibility
- Hold full P&L responsibility for the group.
- Ensure:
- Services are sustainable at high-acuity cost levels
- Commissioning rates reflect complexity and risk
- Staffing models are safe and financially realistic
- Lead relationships with:
- Local Authorities
- ICBs
- Commissioners
- Placing authorities
- Balance ethical care delivery with commercial reality—without cutting corners.
- Growth, Strategy & Risk
- Lead the strategic growth of the organisation, including:
- New service development
- Registration of new homes/services
- Acquisitions and integration
- Ensure growth does not outpace governance.
- Assess and manage:
- Regulatory risk
- Reputational risk
- Safeguarding risk
- Financial exposure
- Advise the Board honestly—even when the truth is uncomfortable.
- Culture & Workforce
- Set the tone for a culture of:
- Accountability
- Psychological safety
- Professional challenge
- Zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, or complacency
- Ensure leadership capability at every level.
- Address toxic leadership and poor management swiftly.
- Champion staff wellbeing without lowering standards.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Senior executive leadership in CQC and/or Ofsted-regulated services.
- Proven track record leading complex, high-acuity services.
- Experience acting as Responsible Individual.
- Leading organisations through:
- Inadequate / Requires Improvement ratings
- Enforcement or regulatory scrutiny
- Rapid growth phases
- Strong grasp of:
- Safeguarding at scale
- Trauma-informed practice
- Restrictive practice reduction
- Multi-agency working
Essential Attributes
- Unshakeable ethical compass.
- Calm under regulatory pressure.
- Comfortable making hard decisions about people and services.
- Not afraid of inspectors, lawyers, or boards.
- Can see the difference between risk and recklessness.
- Will not hide behind consultants.
Desirable
- Social work, nursing, psychology, education, or equivalent professional background.
- Experience across both adult and children’s sectors.
- Turnaround leadership experience.
Group Managing Director employer: Acqhired
Acqhired is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead the forefront of the medical cannabis sector in the UK. With a strong emphasis on innovation and collaboration, employees benefit from a dynamic work culture that fosters professional growth and development, alongside competitive remuneration and comprehensive support. Join us in shaping a transformative healthcare landscape while enjoying the advantages of working within a pioneering and highly regulated environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Managing Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its services thoroughly. Understand their values, recent news, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on articulating your experience in regulatory compliance and operational leadership, as these are key for the Group Managing Director role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Managing Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Group Managing Director role. Highlight your experience in CQC and Ofsted-regulated services, and don’t forget to mention any hands-on leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can drive quality and compliance!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead complex services. Use metrics where possible—like improved inspection ratings or successful growth strategies—to show us what you’ve accomplished. Numbers speak volumes!
Be Authentic:We’re looking for someone with an unshakeable ethical compass and a calm demeanour under pressure. Don’t be afraid to share your personal leadership philosophy and how it aligns with our values. Authenticity goes a long way in making a strong impression!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details directly and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Acqhired
✨Know Your Regulations Inside Out
As a Group Managing Director, you'll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of CQC and Ofsted regulations. Brush up on the Health and Social Care Act, Children’s Homes Regulations, and other relevant legislation. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role demands hands-on leadership, so be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams through challenging situations. Highlight your experience in driving quality standards and how you hold others accountable for outcomes. Authenticity in your leadership approach will resonate well.
✨Prepare for Tough Questions
Expect questions about handling regulatory scrutiny and leading organisations through difficult ratings. Think of scenarios where you've had to make hard decisions or confront poor practices. Your ability to navigate these challenges will be key to showcasing your suitability for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Vision for Growth
Articulate a clear vision for the strategic growth of the organisation. Discuss how you would balance ethical care delivery with commercial realities. Be ready to talk about your experience with new service development and managing risks associated with growth.
