Operations Manager and Responsible Individual

Lead children’s residential homes across North Devon and help create safe, supportive places where young people and teams can thrive.

SW Education & Care are looking for a dedicated individual to join us as our RI & Operations Manager to support our residential children’s homes in North Devon. At SW Education & Care, we believe that every young person deserves a place where they feel safe, valued and supported as they navigate the journey of childhood. Our homes and teams provide a setting to support children and young people who have experienced trauma and difficult circumstances to discover their strengths and passions. We’re committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion for both our young people and teams.

The Role

The ideal candidate will have extensive strategic and managerial experience, having worked within children’s services in a residential setting and/or education specialising in SEMHD and/or challenging behaviours. You will be an inspirational and mature leader with the ability to positively manage change, improving provision thus improving outcomes for children in care. This is a central role to the organisation and provides a career pathway where you will:

• Take on a strategic leadership role within a residential care organisation, with responsibility for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the homes.
• Recruit and manage home managers, oversee the homes’ financial accuracy and ensure the quality of services meets expected standards.
• Take responsibility for the overall effectiveness of provision, including safeguarding and education, and ensure KPIs are reported appropriately to the Managing Director.
• Provide energetic and stable leadership in line with the organisation’s ethos of integrity and transparency.
• Enable staff and the children and young people we support to develop, grow and flourish in all aspects of their lives.

The Ideal Candidate

You’ll be a confident and credible leader with significant experience in children’s residential care and a proven ability to improve services and support high-performing teams.

Essential

• Extensive leadership experience in children’s residential care, including experience as a Registered Manager, Operations Manager, Regional Manager, Head of Service, Responsible Individual or Director.
• A strong understanding of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding and inspection frameworks, alongside experience in compliance, governance and quality assurance.
• A demonstrable track record of service improvement and the ability to positively manage change.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to offer both support and professional challenge.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.

Desirable

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare and multi-site operational leadership experience.
• Experience opening and registering children’s homes or supporting services from Inadequate or Requires Improvement to Good or Outstanding.
• Consultancy, business development or commercial experience.

Benefits

• A sector competitive salary of £65,000–£75,000 per year and 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Flexible home-based work, an Employee Assistance Programme, and excellent training and support.
• Ongoing professional development within a culture of collaboration and mutual encouragement.
• Genuine autonomy and influence within a growing organisation, with the opportunity to shape a specialist division.

How to Apply

If you’re interested in joining SW Education & Care, please apply today. Once you’ve applied, keep an eye on your inbox for an email asking you to tell us more about your experience and provide any supporting information. We take the safety of our children seriously and follow stringent safer recruitment checks. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require a full enhanced DBS and references.