Residential Operations Manager - Residential Childrens Homes

Opus People Solutions; Coleshill CP; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an experienced Residential Operations Manager & Responsible Individual to provide strategic leadership across three Children’s Residential Homes, guiding three Registered Managers, and ensuring safeguarding and high-quality outcomes.

Location Chelmunds Place, Solihull, with hybrid working 3 days on-site and 2 days from home; pay £43.49 per hour umbrella; 37 hours per week; temporary contract.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Registered Manager within a Children's Residential Home.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.
• Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and Children's Homes Regulations.
• Experience in managing budgets and operational performance.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, child-centred practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across three children's residential homes.
• Act as Ofsted Registered Responsible Individual.
• Line manage three Registered Managers and oversee service delivery.
• Ensure safeguarding, quality standards, and budget management.
• Lead service transformation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Budget management

Quality assurance

Safeguarding expertise

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Degree level qualification

Ofsted Registered Residential Care Manager qualification

PRINCE2

Job description

About the Role

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Residential Operations Manager & Responsible Individual to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across three Children's Residential Homes within the borough. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and developing Solihull's residential care provision, ensuring children and young people receive safe, nurturing, high-quality care that delivers outstanding outcomes.

You will provide leadership to three Registered Managers while maintaining strategic oversight of service delivery, performance, budgets, quality standards and children's outcomes.

Location: Chelmunds Place, Solihull B37 7TW, with travel across three Children's Residential Homes, Training Flats, Council offices and other locations within the Borough of Solihull

Rate: £43.49 per hour (Umbrella rate) Contract: Temporary Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (Core Hours 9.00am to 5.00pm) Office Requirements: Hybrid - 3 days across residential homes/offices and 2 days working from home

Key Responsibilities

• Providing strategic leadership across three Children's Residential Homes and associated services.
• Acting as the Ofsted Registered Responsible Individual.
• Line managing and supporting three Registered Managers.
• Ensuring compliance with Children's Homes Regulations, Ofsted Quality Standards and safeguarding legislation.
• Overseeing health and safety, HR, quality assurance, budget management and operational performance.
• Leading the successful registration, development and ongoing improvement of residential homes and Training Flats.
• Driving service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Supporting care planning, admissions, placement decisions and permanency planning.
• Working in partnership with Social Care, Education, Health Services and external agencies.
• Leading workforce development, recruitment, supervision and performance management.
• Ensuring positive outcomes for children through child-centred, trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.
• Participating in the senior leadership team and contributing to wider Children's Services strategy and development.

As the Responsible Individual, you will:

• Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota.
• Be available to support Registered Managers during serious incidents.
• Occasionally attend homes outside standard working hours, including evenings and weekends where required.
• Have responsibility across all three residential homes within Solihull.

Safeguarding & Vetting

About You

• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a suitable vehicle for business use.
• Current or previous Children's Residential Registered Manager.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Registered Manager within a Children's Residential Home.
• Strong working knowledge of: Ofsted regulations and inspections Children's Homes Regulations Safeguarding legislation Workforce leadership and management Quality assurance and service improvement Experience managing budgets and operational performance.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive positive change.
• Demonstrable commitment to keeping children at the centre of decision-making and practice.
• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• Ofsted Registered Residential Care Manager qualification or substantial experience in residential children's care.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Project Management qualification such as PRINCE2.
• Specialist training or qualifications in Social Care, SEND, Mental Health or related disciplines.

The successful candidate will be subject to:

• Schedule 2 checks
• Employment reference verification
• Additional safeguarding and suitability checks required for registration
• Reasonable adjustments will be considered for disabled applicants where appropriate.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.