At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee a children's residential home, ensuring compliance and high-quality care.
- Company: A dedicated children's residential care provider in Newhaven, East Sussex.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to safeguarding and improving children's lives.
- Why this job: Shape the future of vulnerable children while working in a supportive leadership role.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in children's social care and relevant qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 58000 - 65000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Responsible Individual (RI) to join a children’s residential care provider in Newhaven, East Sussex. This is a senior leadership and governance role, responsible for ensuring the home operates safely, effectively and in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements. Working closely with the Registered Manager, Deputy Manager and Quality & Compliance function, the RI will provide strategic leadership, regulatory oversight and safeguarding assurance. This is not a day-to-day operational management role. The Registered Manager remains responsible for the daily running of the home, while the RI provides governance, oversight, accountability and professional challenge.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic oversight of the home and ensure compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
- Ensure the home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose.
- Maintain the required oversight under Regulation 26 and demonstrate fitness to Ofsted.
- Provide supervision, support and constructive challenge to the Registered Manager.
- Hold the Registered Manager accountable for quality of care, safeguarding and operational performance.
- Support service improvement, development planning and continuous improvement.
- Ensure appropriate staffing structures, workforce development and safer recruitment practices.
- Review quality assurance reports, audits and compliance findings.
- Identify and respond to safeguarding themes, emerging risks and areas requiring improvement.
- Ensure appropriate action is taken following incidents, audits or regulatory concerns.
- Maintain strategic oversight of safeguarding systems, notifications and reporting processes.
- Review serious incidents and ensure relevant external agencies are notified where required.
- Promote a strong, child-centred safeguarding culture.
- Act as a senior representative when working with Ofsted, local authorities, commissioners and other stakeholders.
- Support Ofsted inspection preparation and improvement planning.
- Provide senior decision-making where significant safeguarding or regulatory risks arise.
Working with the Registered Manager
The RI will provide formal supervision and professional oversight to the Registered Manager while allowing them autonomy to manage the home’s day-to-day operation. The role will provide support, accountability and constructive challenge to ensure the home delivers safe, effective and consistently high-quality care.
Safeguarding, Quality & Compliance
The RI will work with the quality and compliance function, using audits, safeguarding data and compliance information to inform strategic decisions. They will ensure safeguarding systems are robust, concerns are appropriately escalated, serious incidents are reviewed, notifications are completed correctly and emerging risks are identified.
About You
The successful candidate will have significant senior-level experience within children’s social care, ideally within children’s residential services.
Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Significant senior leadership experience within children’s social care, preferably residential care.
- Strong knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
- Strong understanding of the Quality Standards and Ofsted inspection framework.
- Experience of safeguarding leadership and managing complex risk.
- Excellent governance, leadership and decision-making skills.
- Ability to provide appropriate challenge and professional oversight to Registered Managers.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or an equivalent relevant qualification.
- The skills and experience required to effectively fulfil the responsibilities of a Responsible Individual.
Desirable
- Previous experience as a Responsible Individual / RI.
- Experience supporting the registration of a new children’s home.
- Experience leading service improvement.
- Experience preparing children’s homes for Ofsted inspection.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed or therapeutic approaches to residential childcare.
Senior On-Call Responsibility
The RI will form part of the senior leadership on-call rota alongside the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager. The rota will be planned in advance and provides senior management support, safeguarding oversight and decision-making outside normal working hours. Where active work or attendance is required outside contracted hours, this will be recorded and provided as Time Off in Lieu (TOIL), subject to operational requirements.
Salary £58,000 – £65,000 per annum
Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks and confirmation that the successful candidate meets the requirements to undertake the RI role.
Important Information
Please apply with an up-to-date CV. Successful candidates will be required to complete relevant safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, which may include an Enhanced DBS check, employment history, references, qualification checks, identity and Right to Work checks. Right to Work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Responsible Individual (RI) – Children’s Residential Home in Newhaven employer: YourRecruit Careers
Our client is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including a company vehicle and 30 days of annual leave, and opportunities for national travel, this role as a Legionella Risk Assessor provides a meaningful career path in a supportive environment dedicated to water safety excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Responsible Individual (RI) – Children’s Residential Home in Newhaven
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at YourRecruit Careers.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from YourRecruit Careers!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like YourRecruit Careers, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at YourRecruit Careers or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Responsible Individual (RI) – Children’s Residential Home in Newhaven
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to YourRecruit Careers:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to YourRecruit Careers! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at YourRecruit Careers
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
