Responsible Individual Children's Homes

Purosearch Ltd.; Accrington; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Death in Service

Employee Assistance Programme

Buy/sell annual leave

Long-service awards

Company pension

Free food on site

Employee discounts

Free on-site parking

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Job summary

Purosearch Ltd. is seeking a Responsible Individual to lead and govern children's residential services across Accrington, Bury and Rochdale. You will provide strategic direction, safeguard children and ensure high-quality care within regulatory standards.

The role demands senior management experience, strong knowledge of Ofsted and Children’s Homes Regulations, and the ability to drive continuous improvement, staff development and effective governance.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership and strategic oversight experience in residential childcare.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, Ofsted, and regulatory standards.
• Proven ability to lead, supervise and develop staff teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and governance across children's residential services.
• Support Registered Managers with safeguarding, inspections and improvement planning.
• Ensure services are safe, well-led and compliant with regulatory requirements.
• Lead on safeguarding and oversee regulatory activities and quality assurance.

Skills

Senior leadership

Registered Manager

Strategic leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare

Job description

Responsible Individual – Children's Residential Services

Location: Accrington / Bury and Rochdale locations
Salary: From £65,000 per annum

Benefits

• Salary from £65,000 per annum
• Private Medical Insurance following successful completion of probation
• Death in Service benefit of 3x annual salary
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Buy and sell annual leave
• Additional annual leave and long-service awards
• Company pension
• Free food on site
• Employee discounts
• Free on-site parking
• Health & Wellbeing Programme
• Opportunity to provide strategic leadership and governance across children's residential services
• Supportive senior leadership environment with opportunities for continued professional development

What We're Looking For

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare or equivalent (essential)
• Previous senior leadership or Registered Manager experience within children's residential care
• Experience working at a strategic or senior management level within a residential childcare setting
• Strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements
• Proven experience leading, supervising and developing staff teams
• Strong safeguarding and child protection knowledge
• Experience with quality assurance, compliance, auditing and continuous improvement
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational and analytical skills
• Resilient, enthusiastic and motivated approach
• Calm, approachable and non-judgemental manner
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes
• Additional relevant qualifications or transferable skills, such as First Aid, are desirable
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership, governance and oversight across children's residential services
• Provide management support, professional supervision and constructive challenge to Registered Managers
• Ensure services are safe, well-led, compliant and focused on achieving positive outcomes for children
• Conduct regular formal and informal supervision with Registered Managers
• Ensure policies and procedures remain current, compliant and aligned with each home's Statement of Purpose
• Lead on safeguarding and maintain oversight of safeguarding arrangements across services
• Support Registered Managers with Ofsted registration, inspections and subsequent improvement planning
• Monitor and oversee actions arising from Ofsted inspections, reviews and audits
• Maintain a robust audit schedule covering regulatory compliance, safeguarding, records and quality of care
• Ensure continuous improvement and development plans are established, monitored and effectively implemented
• Oversee safer recruitment, induction, disciplinary, capability and grievance processes
• Promote staff wellbeing and ensure compliance with health and safety requirements
• Ensure children's needs, wishes and feelings are central to service delivery and decision‑making
• Liaise with Ofsted and other regulatory and external bodies regarding significant events and statutory notifications
• Maintain oversight of regulatory notifications, inspection requirements, compliance actions and quality assurance activity
• Ensure regulatory breaches, serious incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and emerging risks are appropriately escalated, investigated and resolved
• Ensure learning from incidents, complaints and quality assurance activity is embedded across services
• Work closely with Registered Managers to ensure high standards of care planning, transition planning, safeguarding, risk management, record keeping and partnership working
• Support effective relationships with Local Authorities and other professionals involved in the care of children and young people
• Monitor service performance and ensure strong governance, safe care and sustained improvement are evidenced across the organisation