Head of Care Operations

Abbeyfield; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbeyfield Living Society is seeking a Head of Care Operations to lead the care operations function across services. This remote role with national travel requires strategic oversight and accountability for resident outcomes and financial performance.

Reporting to the Director of Customer Operations, you will shape strategy, drive transformation, governance and performance, and develop a resilient, compassionate workforce while maintaining high standards of care.

Qualifications

• Senior leader with deep experience in regulated care environments.
• Experience managing multi-site operations and large budgets.
• Strong understanding of adult social care regulation and safeguarding.
• Ability to lead organisational change and digital transformation.
• Experience partnering with authorities, NHS, regulators.
• UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for care operations across all services.
• Ensure safety, high-quality care and resident wellbeing.
• Oversee budgets, occupancy, revenue and resource efficiency.
• Drive governance, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Develop workforce capability, succession planning and wellbeing.
• Build partnerships with local authorities and health services.
• Champion social impact and community engagement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Regulatory compliance

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Change management

Digital transformation

People leadership

Education

Degree or equivalent

Senior leadership qualification (advantage)

Job description

Location: Remote/Home Based - with national travel across ALS Care services

Hours: 35. Monday - Friday. 9am - 5pm

Contract: Permanent

For almost 70 years, Abbeyfield Living Society has been a leading provider of housing and care for older people across England. Guided by our five core values – Care, Compassion, Community, Integrity and Excellence – we're committed to creating welcoming communities where people can live well, maintain their independence and stay connected.

We're looking for an inspiring and commercially minded Head of Care Operations to lead our care operations function, driving outstanding care, operational performance and sustainable growth across our services.

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our organisational strategy, ensuring our services remain safe, high-quality, financially sustainable and focused on improving the lives of older people.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Customer Operations, you'll provide strategic leadership across our care services, working closely with Regional Operations Managers and colleagues across the organisation to deliver excellent resident outcomes and operational performance.

You'll be responsible for:

• Quality and resident experience: Ensuring residents remain at the heart of everything we do, promoting dignity, independence, personalised care and wellbeing.
• Operational and financial performance: Taking accountability for the care operations portfolio, including budgets, profit and loss, occupancy, revenue and resource efficiency.
• Governance and compliance: Driving high standards of safeguarding, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Leadership and workforce development: Building an engaged, capable and resilient workforce through effective leadership, talent development, succession planning and colleague wellbeing.
• Strategic partnerships: Developing strong relationships with local authorities, NHS organisations, regulators, commissioners and community partners.
• Transformation and innovation: Leading service improvement, digital transformation and new ways of working to enhance resident outcomes and organisational sustainability.
• Social impact: Championing initiatives that reduce loneliness, strengthen community connections and promote healthy ageing.

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future of care at ALS, influencing organisational strategy while ensuring our services deliver meaningful, lasting benefits for residents and their communities.

About you

You'll be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record of leading complex, multi-site operations within a regulated care, health, housing-with-care or social care environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience of leading geographically dispersed teams and delivering operational excellence.
• A strong understanding of adult social care regulation, safeguarding, governance and quality improvement.
• Proven financial and commercial acumen, including responsibility for substantial budgets and profit and loss performance.
• Experience of leading organisational change, service redesign and digital transformation.
• The ability to develop high-performing teams, strengthen workforce capability and build effective succession plans.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of working collaboratively with health, social care and commissioning partners.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
• A full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle is required for travel across ALS care services.

You'll be a values-led leader who balances commercial performance with compassion, ensuring quality of care and resident wellbeing are never compromised. A degree or equivalent senior leadership experience is essential; a relevant senior leadership qualification and experience within a charitable or not-for-profit organisation would be advantageous.

Most importantly, you'll share our passion for improving the lives of older people and our commitment to delivering care and support that we would expect for those closest to us.

Why join Abbeyfield Living Society?

At ALS, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of care, influence strategic decisions and lead services that make a genuine difference to older people's lives.

Rewards and Benefits:

At Abbeyfield, we are committed to rewarding our staff for their hard work. Our benefits include:

• Up to 33 days paid leave (Pro Rata) including bank/public holidays.
• Book Virtual GP appointments, claim back healthcare and dental expenses with Medicash
• Travel expenses for mileage and overnight stays
• Life Assurance
• Pay progression within role
• Learning and career development opportunities
• Company pension
• Discounted gym membership
• An employee assistance programme
• Shop and save vouchers
• Medical cashback scheme allowing costs of medical expenses (dental, opticians and much more) to be claimed back
• Opportunity to obtain Blue Light Card discounts.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're an experienced care leader looking for a strategic role where you can combine operational excellence, commercial leadership and a genuine commitment to person-centred care, we'd love to hear from you.