Senior Responsible Individual (Children’s Residential Homes)

Senior Responsible Individual (Children’s Residential Homes)

Location: Preston, UK
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: £75,000 - £95,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Benefits: Company Electric Car | Healthcare Cash Plan | Company Bonus Scheme

About the Opportunity

Our client is an established and ambitious provider of children’s residential care, committed to creating safe, nurturing and therapeutic homes where children and young people can thrive.

Their vision is simple: to create Outstanding homes where children receive exceptional care, achieve positive outcomes and are supported to reach their full potential. Quality, safeguarding and child-centred practice are at the heart of everything they do.

As the organisation continues to grow, they are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Responsible Individual to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight and governance across their children’s residential homes.

This is far more than a compliance role. The successful candidate will be a visible, hands-on leader who spends time in the homes every week, building strong relationships with Registered Managers, supporting teams, driving continuous improvement and ensuring every home consistently delivers the highest standards of care.

Alongside overseeing existing services, you will play a pivotal role in the organisation’s growth, supporting the identification, mobilisation and registration of new homes, recruiting leadership teams and ensuring every new service is set up for long-term success.

This opportunity is ideally suited to an established Responsible Individual with extensive experience overseeing multiple children’s residential homes and a proven track record of achieving Good and Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.

The Role

As the Senior Responsible Individual, you will provide leadership and governance across multiple children’s residential homes, ensuring every service operates safely, effectively and in full compliance with all legislative and regulatory requirements.

You will act as the primary link between the organisation, Ofsted, Registered Managers, Directors, Local Authorities and external stakeholders, providing both strategic direction and operational support.

Success in this role requires someone who enjoys being present within the homes. You will regularly visit services, complete quality audits, mentor Registered Managers, support staff development and ensure children remain at the centre of every decision.

You will also work closely with the Directors to support the organisation’s continued expansion, helping identify opportunities for new homes, overseeing their registration and opening, recruiting key leadership staff and embedding a culture of excellence from day one.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory & Compliance

• Act as the Responsible Individual in accordance with Ofsted regulations.
• Manage all Ofsted applications, registrations, notifications and regulatory communications.
• Maintain positive and professional relationships with Ofsted and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure every home remains fully compliant with Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
• Source, oversee and review independent Regulation 44 visits.
• Lead action plans following inspections, audits or identified areas for improvement.
• Drive continuous compliance across all homes with the aim of achieving and sustaining Good and Outstanding Ofsted ratings.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding, health & safety, governance and organisational risk.
• Ensure policies, procedures and regulatory documentation remain compliant and up to date.

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational oversight across multiple children’s residential homes.
• Maintain a genuine, hands-on presence within the homes on a daily and weekly basis.
• Build strong relationships with Registered Managers, staff and young people through regular visits and visible leadership.
• Support Registered Managers to achieve exceptional operational performance.
• Coach, mentor and develop leadership teams to deliver consistently high standards.
• Promote a positive, child-centred culture focused on achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people.
• Monitor occupancy levels and work collaboratively with Local Authorities and commissioners to maximise appropriate placements.
• Produce operational reports and updates for the Board of Directors.
• Represent the organisation professionally at meetings, networking events and sector forums.

Quality Assurance, Audit & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and oversee a robust quality assurance and compliance programme across all homes.
• Complete regular quality audits, compliance reviews and service inspections.
• Monitor action plans and ensure improvements are implemented effectively.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities for service improvement.
• Drive a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
• Support services to progress from Good to Outstanding through proactive leadership and high-quality governance.
• Ensure every home consistently delivers excellent outcomes for children and young people.

Growth & New Service Development

• Work closely with Directors to support the strategic growth of the organisation.
• Assist in identifying opportunities for new children’s residential homes.
• Lead and support the mobilisation, registration and opening of new services.
• Manage Ofsted registration processes for new homes.
• Ensure all new homes are operationally ready, fully compliant and appropriately staffed prior to opening.
• Recruit, support and develop Registered Managers for both existing and newly established services.
• Embed high standards, strong governance and a positive culture from the outset to maximise inspection outcomes.

Leadership & People Management

• Support the recruitment, onboarding and induction of new employees.
• Lead the recruitment and selection of Registered Managers and key operational staff.
• Develop leadership capability across the organisation through coaching and mentoring.
• Support workforce planning and succession planning.
• Reduce agency reliance through effective staffing strategies.
• Support performance management and professional development.
• Ensure mandatory training remains fully compliant across all services.
• Chair management meetings and provide clear leadership, guidance and accountability.
• Lead by example, promoting professionalism, integrity and child-centred practice throughout the organisation.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with Local Authorities, commissioners and partner agencies.
• Work collaboratively with safeguarding professionals and external stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with Directors, managers and regulatory bodies.
• Escalate safeguarding, operational or reputational risks appropriately.
• Promote the organisation as a provider of excellence within the children’s residential care sector.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience working as a Responsible Individual within children’s residential care.
• Proven experience overseeing multiple children’s residential homes.
• This is not a development opportunity for a Registered Manager looking to step into an RI role. Applicants must already have substantial experience operating as a Responsible Individual.
• A demonstrable track record of achieving and maintaining Good and Outstanding Ofsted inspection outcomes.
• Experience supporting the registration, mobilisation and opening of new children’s residential homes.
• Extensive knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding legislation and best practice.
• Significant experience leading governance, compliance and quality assurance programmes.
• Experience supporting and developing high-performing Registered Managers.
• A highly visible, approachable and hands-on leadership style.
• Outstanding organisational, communication and decision-making skills.
• The ability to manage multiple services and competing priorities.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Word and Outlook.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across the organisation’s homes.

What’s on Offer

• £75,000 - £95,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Company electric car
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Company bonus scheme
• A senior leadership role within an ambitious and growing organisation.
• The opportunity to influence the strategic direction and growth of the business.
• The chance to lead the development and opening of new children’s residential homes.
• Ongoing professional development and support.
• A collaborative and supportive senior leadership team.
• The opportunity to create Outstanding homes centred around exceptional outcomes for children and young people.
• The chance to make a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable children every day.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced Responsible Individual with a proven track record of leading high-performing children’s residential services, achieving Outstanding Ofsted outcomes and developing exceptional teams, we would love to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation where you will play a key role in shaping existing services, opening new homes and ensuring every child receives the highest standard of care.