At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support children's residential homes, ensuring outstanding care and compliance.
- Company: Join a growing organisation dedicated to improving children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £55,000 and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for significant impact on service quality.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's residential care and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 46202 - 52100 £ per year.
Are you an experienced leader within Children's Residential Care looking for your next challenge?
Our client is seeking a dynamic Operations Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple children's residential homes, supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD), mental health needs and complex backgrounds.
Operations Manager – Children's Residential Services
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation where you will play a key role in driving quality, supporting Registered Managers, maintaining regulatory excellence and helping shape the future of children's services.
The Role
You'll work closely with senior leadership and Registered Managers to ensure services consistently deliver outstanding care while remaining fully compliant and inspection-ready.
You'll champion high standards, support operational growth, oversee quality assurance, and step into key leadership roles when required.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support multiple children's residential homes.
- Drive quality assurance through regular audits and continuous improvement.
- Ensure homes remain fully compliant and Ofsted-ready.
- Support Registered Managers through coaching, guidance and performance development.
- Oversee safeguarding, risk management and therapeutic care standards.
- Assist with referrals, placement decisions and service development.
- Build positive relationships with local authorities and external professionals.
- Provide operational cover across key functions when required.
About You
Ideally, you'll have
- Significant experience within Children's Residential Care.
- Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding and quality assurance.
- Experience managing Registered Managers or multi-site services.
- A proven track record of leading service improvement and operational excellence.
- Commercial awareness, with experience supporting budgets, referrals or occupancy.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) is desirable.
- Previous experience as a Responsible Individual (RI) would be advantageous.
- *Interested? Please send your CV in as a Word format only
**Please only apply if you are already eligible to work in the UK (indefinitely & without sponsorship)
***Not for you but you know someone suitable? Take advantage of the Your Recruit paid referral fee.
Due to the large numbers of responses we receive, despite our best efforts it is not possible to respond to every application.
Therefore, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for this particular role and if you haven't heard from us within 7 days please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Please feel free however to apply for further roles and we will certainly keep your details on file and contact you with suitable vacancies.
Your Recruit Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender or disability and complies with all relevant UK legislation.
To stay safe in your job search we recommend that you visit Jobs Aware, a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation working to combat job scams.
Visit the Jobs Aware website for information on common scams and to get free, expert advice for a safer job search
Operations Manager employer: YourRecruit
At YourRecruit, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values innovation and collaboration within the educational sector. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth, offering ample opportunities for development while making a meaningful impact in Further Education. Located in a vibrant community, we provide competitive benefits and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring our employees thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨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.
✨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!
✨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, 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 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 Operations Manager
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:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to YourRecruit! 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
✨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.
