At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire operations across multiple Children's Residential Homes to transform lives.
- Company: A forward-thinking organisation dedicated to delivering outstanding care for children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-related bonus, and excellent career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive Executive Leadership Team and drive continuous improvement in service quality.
- Why this job: Make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children while shaping the future of care.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in senior leadership within Children's Residential Care and strong operational management skills.
The predicted salary is between 46300 - 52100 £ per year.
Location: London (Travel Required)
Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: Competitive (Dependent on Experience)
Our client is seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to lead and oversee a growing portfolio of Children's Residential Homes. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader with a passion for delivering outstanding care, driving operational excellence and achieving exceptional outcomes for children and young people.
Reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple services, directly line managing Registered Managers while ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, compliance, quality and performance. This role requires an ambitious leader who can develop both short and long-term operational strategies, build strong relationships with Local Authority Commissioners and Brokerage Teams, and support the continued growth of the organisation. This role will promote a culture of safeguarding, accountability, continuous improvement and excellence across all services.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple Children's Residential Homes.
- Directly line manage, mentor and develop Registered Managers to achieve outstanding service delivery.
- Develop and implement short, medium and long-term operational and business strategies.
- Ensure compliance with the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding legislation.
- Drive continuous improvement through audits, KPIs, quality assurance and governance frameworks.
- Lead services through Ofsted inspections and implement improvement plans where required.
- Manage operational budgets, financial performance, occupancy levels and business efficiencies.
- Oversee referrals and placement matching to maximise occupancy and achieve positive outcomes for children.
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with Local Authority Commissioners, Brokerage Teams, Social Workers, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs), Ofsted and other stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with Commissioners and Brokerage Teams to secure placements, increase occupancy and support organisational growth.
- Support the mobilisation, registration and opening of new Children's Residential Homes.
Essential Requirements
- Minimum 5 years' experience as a Head of Operations, Director of Operations, Regional Manager, Operations Manager or equivalent senior leadership role within Children's Residential Care.
- Proven experience managing multiple Children's Residential Homes and directly line managing Registered Managers.
- Extensive experience working with Local Authority Commissioners, Brokerage Teams and Placing Authorities to develop relationships and secure placements.
- Strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, safeguarding legislation and Ofsted inspection frameworks.
- Demonstrable experience developing and delivering strategic operational plans, managing budgets, KPIs and organisational growth.
- Proven ability to improve service performance, achieve positive Ofsted outcomes and deliver high-quality care.
- Excellent leadership, communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
- Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel between services.
Desirable Qualifications
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
- Degree in Social Work, Health & Social Care, Business Management or a related discipline.
- Experience opening and registering new Children's Residential Homes.
- Knowledge of therapeutic and trauma-informed care models.
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Excellent career progression opportunities.
- A supportive Executive Leadership Team.
- The opportunity to shape the future of a growing organisation and make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people.
If you have the experience, strategic vision and leadership skills to drive operational excellence across Children's Residential Services, we would love to hear from you. Join a forward-thinking organisation where your leadership will influence service quality, organisational growth and, most importantly, the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
Contact Details:
Austin Dean Healthcare Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations - Children's Residential Care
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations - Children's Residential Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
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Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Operations - Children's Residential Care, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Austin Dean Healthcare Recruitment
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Austin Dean Healthcare Recruitment. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
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