Job description
Regional Operations Manager - Children's Residential Care (Ages 8-17)
Location: Covering Leeds to Leicester Region
Salary: £58,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Sector: Children's Residential Care (OFSTED)
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced, values-driven Regional Operations Manager to join our Children's Residential Care Division, supporting services for children and young people aged 8-17 years.
This is a pivotal senior leadership role, providing parachute operational support to Registered Managers and homes across the region. You will play a key role in ensuring services operate safely, compliantly, and therapeutically, while driving continuous improvement and positive outcomes for children.
The role includes delivering audits, coaching and mentoring leaders, providing interim management cover where required, and supporting staff teams to maintain safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed environments.
Key Responsibilities
Operational & Regional Leadership
- Provide regional oversight across multiple children's residential homes.
- Deliver parachute support to Registered Managers when additional capacity or expertise is required.
- Provide interim management cover in homes without a Registered Manager.
- Support services through periods of change, development, or improvement.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Conduct regular audits, quality reviews, and compliance checks.
- Ensure homes meet and exceed Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, and OFSTED requirements.
- Support homes through OFSTED inspections, action planning, and post-inspection improvement.
- Monitor safeguarding, incidents, and risk management processes.
Coaching, Mentoring & Development
- Coach and mentor Registered Managers, Deputies, and senior staff.
- Promote best practice, reflective supervision, and leadership development.
- Embed a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding & Therapeutic Care
- Ensure children are supported in safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environments.
- Champion safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and child-centred care.
- Promote positive behaviour support and emotionally intelligent leadership.
Essential Qualifications
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) - essential
- Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle
- Right to work in the UK
Essential Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within children's residential care
- Experience overseeing or supporting multiple OFSTED-registered homes
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Children's Homes Regulations & Quality Standards
- OFSTED inspection frameworks
- Safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance
- Experience providing interim, turnaround, or improvement support to services
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong operational and strategic leadership skills
- Confident decision-maker with high professional integrity
- Excellent coaching, mentoring, and people-development capability
- Strong audit, compliance, and quality-assurance skills
- Ability to work autonomously across a large geographical region
- Child-focused, resilient, and values-led approach
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £58,000
- 37.5-hour working week
- Senior leadership role with autonomy and influence
- Opportunity to make a real impact across multiple children's services
- Supportive, values-driven organisation committed to quality and safeguarding
