Operations Manager & RI

SW Education & Care; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £65k-£75k

25 days leave

Training & support

Flexible home-based work

Employee Assistance Programme

Autonomy & influence

National travel

Job summary

SW Education & Care are seeking an experienced Operations Manager & RI to lead our residential children’s homes in North Devon. You will drive strategic planning, lead home managers, and ensure high-quality safeguarding and compliance.

The role requires extensive leadership in children's residential care, familiarity with Ofsted, governance, and service improvement. You will travel nationally where needed and hold a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience within children's residential care.
• Experience as Registered Manager / Operations Manager / Regional Manager or Director.
• Excellent understanding of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding and inspection frameworks.
• Strong governance, quality assurance and service improvement skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the homes and recruit/manage home managers.
• Ensure financial accuracy and compliance with standards across sites.
• Provide energetic, transparent leadership aligned with the organisation's ethos.
• Drive service improvement and maintain safeguarding and regulatory compliance.
• Travel nationally as required to support services and openings.

Skills

Leadership

Ofsted compliance

Governance & QA

Communication

Travel willingness

UK driving licence

Level 5 Diploma

Multisite leadership

Opening homes experience

Business/commercial experience

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare

Job description

SW Education & Care are looking for a dedicated individual to join us as our Operations Manager & RI to support our residential children’s homes in North Devon. At SW Education & Care, we believe that every young person deserves a place where they feel safe, valued and supported as they navigate the journey of childhood. Our homes and teams provide a setting to support children and young people who have experienced trauma and difficult circumstances to discover their strengths and passions.

The Role

The ideal candidate will have extensive strategic and managerial experience, having worked within children’s services in a residential setting and/or education specialising in SEMHD and/or challenging behaviours. You will be an inspirational and mature leader with the ability to positively manage change, improving provision thus improving outcomes for children in care.

The Opportunity

The position is a strategic leadership role within a residential care organisation. You will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the homes, including recruiting and managing home mangers, homes financial accuracy and ensuring that the quality of the services provided meets expected standards. You will provide energetic and stable leadership in-line with the organisation ethos, of integrity and transparency, enabling staff and chiildren we support to develop, grow and flourish in all aspects of their lives.

• A sector competitive salary of £65000 - £75000 p.a.
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Excellent training & support
• Flexible home-based work
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ethos of collaboration and mutual encouragement
• Genuine autonomy and influence within a growing organisation

The Ideal Candidate:

You will be a confident and credible leader with significant experience within children's residential care and a proven ability to improve services and support high-performing teams.

• Extensive leadership experience within children's residential care
• Experience as a Registered Manager, Operations Manager, Regional Manager, Head of Service, Responsible Individual or Director level
• Excellent understanding of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding and inspection frameworks
• Strong experience of compliance, governance and quality assurance
• Demonstrable track record of service improvement
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to provide both support and professional challenge
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare
• Multi-site operational leadership experience
• Experience opening and registering children's homes
• Consultancy experienceBusiness development or commercial experience
• Experience supporting services from Inadequate or Requires Improvement to Good or Outstanding

We take the safety of our children seriously and follow stringent safer recruitment checks. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require a full enhanced DBS and references.