At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve children's residential services, ensuring high-quality care and operational excellence.
- Company: Established provider focused on therapeutic care for young people with complex needs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a growing organisation with ambitious plans and a commitment to excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children while shaping service quality and culture.
- Qualifications: Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare and senior leadership experience in social care.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 75000 € per year.
Location: Bournemouth
Salary: £70,000 – £75,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Working Hours / Shift Pattern: 40 hours per week
Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time
Service: Registered Children’s Homes / Supported Accommodation
Service Users: Young people with complex needs requiring therapeutic residential care and supported accommodation
Qualifications Required: Minimum Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare
Experience Required: Senior leadership experience managing complex social care / looked after children’s services, trauma-informed practice, and regulatory oversight
Who we are looking for: Our client is seeking an experienced and driven Operations Director to support the Managing Director in delivering exceptional children’s residential and supported accommodation services. This role would suit a highly capable senior leader with a proven track record of operational leadership, service improvement, regulatory compliance, and achieving strong outcomes for children and young people.
The successful candidate will have:
- Minimum Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare
- Extensive experience managing complex social care / looked after children’s services
- Strong knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, safeguarding legislation, and wider regulatory frameworks
- Understanding of Supported Accommodation legislation (highly desirable)
- Experience leading trauma-informed services alongside clinical professionals, therapists, and psychologists
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development experience
- Experience managing budgets, rotas, occupancy, recruitment, and operational performance
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong decision-making capability and solution-focused leadership
- Full UK driving licence
Who you will be working for: Our client is a large, established children’s care provider delivering therapeutic Registered Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation services for young people with complex needs. Their approach is centred around therapeutic, nurturing, family-style care, ensuring young people experience safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
Company type/size: Large group provider
Number of homes: 10 services (4 Children’s Homes / 6 Supported Accommodation services)
Future plans: Ongoing expansion with a strong focus on achieving Outstanding Ofsted outcomes
Other services: Fostering, adoption, education, leaving care services, bespoke children’s services contracts
Why this home & company: This is a senior strategic leadership opportunity within a well-established provider with ambitious growth plans and a clear commitment to service excellence. You will have the opportunity to shape service quality, drive operational performance, influence culture, and directly improve outcomes for children and young people across multiple services.
Progression: A significant senior leadership opportunity working directly alongside executive leadership within a growing organisation.
Training / qualifications:
- Ongoing professional development
- Leadership development opportunities
- Clinical collaboration with therapeutic professionals
Benefits:
- Discretionary annual bonus of up to 10%
- Car allowance
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Company pension
- Life assurance
- Employee discount scheme
Ethos: Our client is committed to therapeutic, nurturing, family-style care that prioritises safety, stability, and exceptional outcomes for children and young people.
Culture: A high-performing, ambitious, child-focused culture with strong emphasis on safeguarding, therapeutic practice, regulatory excellence, continuous improvement, and collaborative leadership.
The Role: As Operations Director, you will play a visible and hands-on leadership role across multiple services, ensuring operational excellence and consistently high-quality care.
Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the effective operation of all services
- Leading, coaching, and developing two Area Managers
- Acting as Responsible Individual for four children’s homes
- Acting as Nominated Individual for six Supported Accommodation services
- Driving regulatory compliance and striving for Good / Outstanding inspection outcomes
- Maintaining occupancy levels above 90%
- Leading workforce planning, recruitment, induction, and reducing agency reliance
- Supporting trauma-informed practice alongside clinical teams
- Managing budgets, rotas, and operational performance
- Leading safeguarding oversight and multi-agency collaboration
- Building strong commissioner and stakeholder relationships
- Chairing meetings, reviews, and driving continuous improvement initiatives
Sponsorship is not available.
How to apply: If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people and would like to join our client’s dedicated team, apply today. To apply, click the apply button or contact us for more information. For more information or to book a confidential chat, please contact: job@sgscare.co.uk
Operations Manager Children's Residential in Bournemouth employer: SGS Care
Our client is a large, established children’s care provider located in Bournemouth, dedicated to delivering therapeutic and nurturing residential services for young people with complex needs. With a strong commitment to service excellence and ambitious growth plans, employees benefit from a high-performing culture that prioritises professional development, collaborative leadership, and exceptional outcomes for children. The role of Operations Director offers significant opportunities for career progression, alongside competitive benefits such as a discretionary annual bonus, car allowance, and generous leave entitlements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager Children's Residential in Bournemouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector and let them know you're on the lookout for an Operations Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations and trauma-informed practices. We want you to be ready to showcase your expertise and how it aligns with the values of the organisation you're applying to.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your leadership experience! When chatting with potential employers, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved service outcomes. This will show them you're the right fit for their ambitious growth plans.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for a smoother process! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always here to help you navigate any questions you might have along the way.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager Children's Residential in Bournemouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in managing complex social care services. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Operations Director, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership style and how you’ve successfully coached and developed teams in the past. Share specific examples that reflect your ability to drive operational performance and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Highlight Regulatory Knowledge:Since this role involves regulatory oversight, make sure to mention your familiarity with Children’s Homes Regulations and safeguarding legislation. We’re looking for someone who understands the importance of compliance and can navigate these frameworks effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you one step closer to joining our amazing team dedicated to making a difference!
How to prepare for a job interview at SGS Care
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarise yourself with the Children’s Homes Regulations and safeguarding legislation. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with these regulations and how you’ve ensured compliance in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in complex social care settings. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you led your team through them.
✨Demonstrate Trauma-Informed Practice
Be ready to talk about your experience with trauma-informed care. Share specific instances where you collaborated with clinical professionals to improve outcomes for young people, showcasing your understanding of their needs.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Anticipate scenario-based questions related to operational challenges, budget management, and regulatory compliance. Practise articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies in these situations.
