Director of Care

Director of Care – Children's Residential Care

Location: London (Travel Required)
Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: £85K to £90K plus benefits

Lead. Inspire. Strategise. Transform Lives.

Our client is established within the housing sector and is rapidly expanding its provison into being a provider of specialist care services. They are dedicated to delivering outstanding, person-centred support to children, young people, and adults. With an excellent reputation for quality, innovation, and achieving positive outcomes, they are committed to providing safe, nurturing environments where the people they support can thrive.

The organisation places a strong emphasis on empowering its workforce, investing in professional development, and maintaining the highest standards of care, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance. This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation that values its employees, encourages career progression, and offers the chance to make a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable individuals every day.

They are seeking an exceptional Director of Care / Operations to lead and oversee a growing portfolio of Children's Residential Homes. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader with a passion for delivering outstanding care, driving operational excellence and achieving exceptional outcomes for children and young people.

Reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple services, directly line managing Registered Managers while ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, compliance, quality and performance.

This role requires an ambitious leader who can develop both short and long-term operational strategies, build strong relationships with Local Authority Commissioners and Brokerage Teams, and support the continued growth of the organisation. This role will Promote a culture of safeguarding, accountability, continuous improvement and excellence across all services.

Key Responsibilities

* Provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple Children's Residential Homes.

* Directly line manage, mentor and develop Registered Managers to achieve outstanding service delivery.

* Develop and implement short, medium and long-term operational and business strategies.

* Ensure compliance with the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding legislation.

* Drive continuous improvement through audits, KPIs, quality assurance and governance frameworks.

* Lead services through Ofsted inspections and implement improvement plans where required.

* Manage operational budgets, financial performance, occupancy levels and business efficiencies.

* Oversee referrals and placement matching to maximise occupancy and achieve positive outcomes for children.

* Build and maintain excellent relationships with Local Authority Commissioners, Brokerage Teams, Social Workers, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs), Ofsted and other stakeholders.

* Work collaboratively with Commissioners and Brokerage Teams to secure placements, increase occupancy and support organisational growth.

* Support the mobilisation, registration and opening of new Children's Residential Homes.

Essential Requirements

* Minimum 5 years' experience as a Head of Operations, Director of Operations or equivalent senior leadership role within Children's Residential Care.

* Understand all OFSTED requirements and legislation.

* Proven experience managing multiple Children's Residential Homes and directly line managing Registered Managers.

* Extensive experience working with Local Authority Commissioners, Brokerage Teams and Placing Authorities to develop relationships and secure placements.

* Strong knowledge of Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, safeguarding legislation and Ofsted inspection frameworks.

* Demonstrable experience developing and delivering strategic operational plans, managing budgets, KPIs and organisational growth.

* Proven ability to improve service performance, achieve positive Ofsted outcomes and deliver high-quality care.

* Excellent leadership, communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.

* Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel between services.

Desirable Qualifications

* Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent).

* Degree in Social Work, Health & Social Care, Business Management or a related discipline.

* Experience opening and registering new Children's Residential Homes.

* Knowledge of therapeutic and trauma-informed care models.

What's on Offer

* Competitive salary and benefits package.

* Excellent career progression opportunities.

* A supportive Executive Leadership Team.

* The opportunity to shape the future of a growing organisation and make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people.

Apply Today

If you have the experience, strategic vision and leadership skills to drive operational excellence across Children's Residential Services, we would love to hear from you. Join a forward-thinking organisation where your leadership will influence service quality, organisational growth and, most importantly, the lives of vulnerable children and young people
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed