Head of Operations - Residential Services

Location: Southeast London & Essex
Salary: £75,000 - £95,000 + Benefits & KPI Bonus

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to oversee and drive the growth of a well-established provider of children's residential services, supported accommodation, and family assessment centres. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic leader with strong operational expertise to influence the expansion and ongoing success of vital care services for vulnerable children and families.

Key Responsibilities

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Operational Leadership - Oversee and enhance residential homes, assessment centres, and supported accommodation to ensure compliance, efficiency, and high standards.

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Regulatory Compliance - Act as the Ofsted Responsible Individual, ensuring all services meet legislative and safeguarding requirements.

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Service Expansion - Lead the development of two new children's homes and two additional family assessment centres over the next two years.

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Quality Assurance - Drive continuous improvement across all services, ensuring high-quality care and sustainable operational success.

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Financial & Commercial Management - Oversee budgets, develop cost-effective business strategies, and support tendering processes.

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Leadership & Staff Development - Manage senior teams, enhance performance, and promote a culture of excellence.

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Stakeholder Engagement - Build strong relationships with local authorities, regulatory bodies, and external partners.

What We're Looking For

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Proven experience leading multi-site children's residential services.

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Strong understanding of Children's Homes Regulations and Ofsted requirements.

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Social Work degree or equivalent, with Ofsted registration eligibility.

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Exceptional leadership, financial management, and business development skills.

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A track record of achieving Good or Outstanding Ofsted ratings.

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Experience turning around underperforming homes and implementing sustainable improvements.

What's on Offer?

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Competitive salary (£75,000 - £95,000) with performance-based bonuses.

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A key leadership role with direct impact on vulnerable children's lives.

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Exciting career progression within an expanding organisation.

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Support in developing and shaping high-quality residential services