Children's Operations Manager

Compassionate Care Group; Altrincham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Compassionate Care is seeking an experienced Children’s Operations Manager to lead the operational delivery across our Ofsted-regulated children’s services. You will oversee multiple sites, ensure safeguarding standards, and support managers and teams to deliver outstanding care and education.

This senior role requires strong leadership, people management and budgeting skills, with a proven track record in multi-site operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ experience as a Registered Manager in children’s residential services.
• Experience in Ofsted-regulated settings and safeguarding best practice.
• Experience leading multi-site or multi-team operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across residential homes and services.
• Coach and develop Registered Managers and frontline staff.
• Ensure safeguarding policies and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor performance, quality standards and KPIs.
• Manage budgets and financial sustainability.
• Build partnerships with parents, carers, schools, and external agencies.
• Lead recruitment, retention and workforce development.
• Oversee health & safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Regulatory compliance

Safeguarding

Multi-site operations

Education

Level 5 qualification

Job description

At Compassionate Care, our mission is to deliver meaningful and lasting positive change in the lives of both adults and children. We empower the people we support to live as independently as possible, promoting dignity, choice, autonomy and self-worth in everything we do.

We are currently looking to strengthen our team across a range of Ofsted-regulated children’s services, including residential children’s homes, short break services, and other specialist provisions

Driven by a commitment to excellence, we aim to be one of the most trusted and respected providers in the care sector. We are dedicated to delivering safe, compassionate. and reliable support while setting consistently high standards of quality across all our services.

Children’s Operations Manager

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Children’s Operations Manager to lead and oversee the operational delivery of our children’s services. You will be responsible for ensuring excellence across multiple sites/programmes, maintaining compliance with safeguarding and regulatory standards, and supporting managers and teams to deliver outstanding care and education.

This is a senior leadership role requiring strong operational expertise, people management skills, and a deep commitment to safeguarding and child development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across residential children’s homes, short break services, and other Ofsted-regulated children’s services.
• Maintain a strong, visible presence within services, spending significant time in our homes coaching and mentoring Registered Managers and their teams to strengthen leadership, practice, and compliance
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across children’s services
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding policies and relevant regulations
• Lead, support, and develop service managers and frontline staff
• Monitor performance, quality standards, and KPIs
• Manage budgets and ensure financial sustainability
• Develop and implement operational procedures and improvement plans
• Build strong partnerships with parents, carers, schools, and external agencies
• Lead on recruitment, retention, and workforce development
• Ensure health & safety standards are consistently met

The Ideal Candidate

• A minimum of five years’ experience as a Registered Manager within children’s residential services (essential).
• Proven experience in managing and developing high-quality children’s services within an Ofsted-regulated environment
• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and best practice
• Experience leading multi-site or multi-team operations
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Relevant qualification in Childcare, Education, Social Care, or Leadership (Level 5 minimum)

Company Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme offering counselling and other support services.