Responsible Individual - Children's Home

Responsible Individual (RI) – Supported Accommodation & Children’s Home Development

Location: London Salary: £75k to £80K / based on experience and KPI's Employment type: Full-time or flexible arrangement considered

We are recruiting an experienced and ambitious Responsible Individual (RI) to work with our client, who has recently been granted Ofsted registration to provide supported accommodation for young people aged 16–17.

Following this achievement, the organisation is entering an exciting period of growth. They are seeking a knowledgeable RI who can provide strategic leadership, strengthen the existing supported-accommodation service and lead the next stage of development including supporting the establishment or acquisition of an Ofsted-registered children’s home.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across the organisation’s children and young people’s services.

• Ensure services operate safely, effectively and in accordance with Ofsted regulations, quality standards and safeguarding requirements.

• Support the growth and ongoing development of the newly registered 16–17 supported-accommodation provision.

• Lead or support the establishment, registration or acquisition of a children’s home.

• Undertake due diligence on potential children’s home acquisitions, identifying regulatory, operational and financial risks.

• Recruit, support and hold Registered Managers accountable for delivering high-quality services.

• Develop and review policies, procedures, safeguarding systems and quality-assurance frameworks.

• Monitor service performance through audits, visits, action plans and management reports.

• Build effective relationships with local authority commissioners, placement teams, brokerage teams and other external professionals.

• Support tendering, contracting and the development of sustainable referral and placement pathways.

• Ensure young people receive safe, person-centred support that promotes independence and positive outcomes.

• Help develop a positive culture focused on safeguarding, continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.

Essential requirements

• Previous experience as a Responsible Individual, Registered Manager, Operations Director or senior leader within children’s residential care or supported accommodation.

• Strong knowledge of the relevant Ofsted regulatory framework, safeguarding responsibilities and quality standards.

• Experience working with local authority commissioning, brokerage and placement teams.

• A successful track record of developing, improving or expanding services for children and young people.

• Experience supporting the registration, mobilisation or acquisition of a children’s home would be highly desirable.

• Strong leadership, governance, auditing and quality-assurance skills.

• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage with Ofsted, commissioners, safeguarding partners and senior stakeholders.

• A relevant management, social care or leadership qualification, ideally at Level 5 or above.

• Enhanced DBS clearance and the ability to travel between services when required.

What is offered

• A key leadership role within an ambitious and expanding organisation.

• The opportunity to shape both an established supported-accommodation service and a new children’s residential-care provision.

• Autonomy to influence strategy, quality, growth and service development.

• A competitive remuneration package, rewarded in line with your knowledge, experience and track record.

• Flexible working arrangements may be considered for the right person.

If you are an experienced children’s social-care leader who understands Ofsted compliance, service development and local-authority commissioning, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Apply today by submitting your CV and a brief summary of your relevant experience