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- Tasks: Lead and support children's residential care homes, ensuring safe and nurturing environments.
- Company: Values-driven organisation dedicated to quality care for children aged 8-17.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of ÂŁ58,000, 37.5-hour week, and senior leadership autonomy.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while driving continuous improvement in care services.
- Qualifications: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare required.
- Other info: Join a supportive team focused on safeguarding and therapeutic care.
The predicted salary is between 58000 - 58000 ÂŁ per year.
We are seeking an experienced, values-driven Regional Operations Manager to join our Children's Residential Care Division, supporting services for children and young people aged 8‑17 years. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, providing operational support to Registered Managers and homes across the region. You will play a key role in ensuring services operate safely, compliantly, and therapeutically, while driving continuous improvement and positive outcomes for children.
The role includes delivering audits, coaching and mentoring leaders, providing interim management cover where required, and supporting staff teams to maintain safe, nurturing, and trauma‑informed environments.
Key Responsibilities- Provide regional oversight across multiple children's residential homes.
- Deliver support to Registered Managers when additional capacity or expertise is required.
- Provide interim management cover in homes without a Registered Manager.
- Support services through periods of change, development, or improvement.
- Conduct regular audits, quality reviews, and compliance checks.
- Ensure homes meet and exceed Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, and OFSTED requirements.
- Support homes through OFSTED inspections, action planning, and post‑inspection improvement.
- Monitor safeguarding, incidents, and risk management processes.
- Coach and mentor Registered Managers, Deputies, and senior staff.
- Promote best practice, reflective supervision, and leadership development.
- Embed a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure children are supported in safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environments.
- Champion safeguarding, trauma‑informed practice, and child‑centred care.
- Promote positive behaviour support and emotionally intelligent leadership.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) - essential
- Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle
- Right to work in the UK
- Significant senior leadership experience within children's residential care
- Experience overseeing or supporting multiple OFSTED‑registered homes
- Strong working knowledge of: Children's Homes Regulations & Quality Standards, OFSTED inspection frameworks, Safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance
- Experience providing interim, turnaround, or improvement support to services
- Strong operational and strategic leadership skills
- Confident decision‑maker with high professional integrity
- Excellent coaching, mentoring, and people‑development capability
- Strong audit, compliance, and quality‑assurance skills
- Ability to work autonomously across a large geographical region
- Child‑focused, resilient, and values‑led approach
- Competitive salary of ÂŁ58,000
- 37.5‑hour working week
- Senior leadership role with autonomy and influence
- Opportunity to make a real impact across multiple children's services
- Supportive, values‑driven organisation committed to quality and safeguarding
Regional Operations Manager Leeds to Leicester Region employer: Virtual Bridges
Contact Detail:
Virtual Bridges Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Operations Manager Leeds to Leicester Region
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's residential care sector. Attend local events or online webinars to meet people who might know about job openings. Remember, it's all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission in children's care. We want you to show them you're not just a fit on paper but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around leadership and compliance. We suggest doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to build your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Operations Manager Leeds to Leicester Region
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Regional Operations Manager. Highlight your experience in children's residential care and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our values and the specific requirements of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about working in children's residential care and how your experience makes you the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to mention your approach to safeguarding and therapeutic care, as these are key to what we do.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, don't just list your duties—show us your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved services or outcomes in previous roles. We love to see quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact in the field.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. This way, you can ensure all your documents are submitted correctly and reach us directly. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Virtual Bridges
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Children’s Homes Regulations and OFSTED inspection frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding legislation too, as these are crucial for the role. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re serious about the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in children's residential care before. Think about specific situations where you provided coaching or mentoring, and be ready to share how you drove improvements in those settings. This will highlight your operational and strategic leadership skills.
✨Demonstrate Your Values
This role is all about values-driven leadership, so be prepared to discuss your approach to creating safe, nurturing environments for children. Share your thoughts on trauma-informed practice and how you’ve implemented child-centred care in your previous roles.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the organisation's approach to quality assurance and compliance. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission.
