Job Description
Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 per annum, plus company car | Location: Lancashire | Contract: 40hrs per week (Mon-Fri)
Are you a driven, experienced leader committed to ensuring children and young people thrive in safe, supportive environments?
We’re seeking a Responsible Individual to lead Exceptional Care’s designated children's homes – ensuring they meet the highest standards of care, compliance, and positive outcomes. This is your opportunity to make a lasting impact in young lives and shape the future of residential care.
About the Role:
As the Responsible Individual, you’ll act on behalf of Exceptional Care to ensure that all designated residential homes deliver high-quality, child-centred services that meet legislative, regulatory, and policy requirements. You'll lead and support high-quality care across children’s residential homes by overseeing and developing Registered Managers, ensuring services align with each home’s Statement of Purpose.
The Responsible individual will promote a culture of high aspirations, coordinate with partner agencies, and support effective transitions for children. They will drive continuous improvement through performance management, audits, and evidence-based practice, ensuring safe, up-to-date care. The role requires visible, accessible leadership and a strong focus on staff development and service continuity.
What You’ll Need:
o Hold a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or an equivalent qualification).
o Complete and pass a ‘Suitable Persons’ Interview with OFSTED
o Proven experience in a senior leadership role within children’s residential care, particularly supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) or complex needs.
o In-depth knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, and the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing children’s homes.
o Demonstrated success in leading or supporting services through Ofsted inspections, with a track record of achieving ‘Good’ or better outcomes.
o Excellent strategic leadership, strong emotional resilience, and the ability to inspire and lead teams through challenge and change.
o Previous experience as a Responsible Individual or in a senior operational leadership position within residential childcare services.
INDEC
About The Role
Key Responsibilities:
-Ensure compliance with the Children’s Home Regulations 2015 including the monitoring of outcomes through Reg 44 visits and monthly audits, or mock inspections.
-Supervise the management and delivery of the service and ensure that you meet your regulatory requirements, providing effective leadership, management support and guidance to operational Registered Managers in the development of the Children's Homes.
-Understand effective practice in responding to the needs of looked-after children, local authority care planning duties, and how children’s homes are required to support these
-Monitor and oversee placement matching, care planning, safeguarding, and outcomes
-Ensuring financial budgets are compliant with the organization expectations and Managers are supported to complete required financially control and effective budgeting.
-Providing and evidencing the data for KPIs, monthly managers audits and staffing deployment.
-Manage and oversee the Induction and completion of successful Probation Periods and Appraisals.
-To assist the services to manage and maintain the Home’s Health and Safety Procedures.
-To be a part of the On Call Support to the homes and to provide the appropriate cover when a home’s manager is absent for holiday leave/sickness absence.
-To ensure that there is creative approach to the care of young people accommodated and that young are consulted with, using children/staff meetings to support the manager on information sharing.
You’ll also:
Ø Be accountable for Ofsted registration and inspection readiness
Ø Provide expert leadership in residential practice and safeguarding
Ø Drive service improvements and change management
Ø Promote inclusion, participation, and partnership with young people, families, and agencies
Ø Supervise and develop managers and lead the culture of excellence across all homes
What’s in it for you?
✔ 35 days annual leave per annum (including Bank Holidays)
✔ Paid training & qualifications in line with policies
✔ Career growth & ongoing support
✔ Structured progression & development plans
✔ Long Service Award Voucher - £200 for 2 years, £400 for 5 years and £600 for 10 years
✔ Outstanding service employee of the year award -£3,000 voucher-based award
✔ £100 – £1,000 Refer-a-Friend bonus
✔ Gym membership & healthcare perks (Medicash)
✔ Aviva Health Insurance
✔ Employee Assistance Programme
✅ Ready to Make a Real Impact?
If you are passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable children and have the vision, resilience, and leadership to ensure outstanding care, we want to hear from you.
You will contribute to Exceptional Care’s ambition to provide outstanding care and transformative support for children and young people. You’ll champion our Company values:
✔ Professionalism ✔ Respect ✔ Integrity ✔ Development ✔ Equality
Apply now and lead with purpose in one of the most meaningful roles in children’s social care.
INDEC
Skills Needed
About The Company
Exceptional Care is a children’s care home provider based in the Northwest of England. We work with children from ages 8 to 17 years with complex needs.
We believe that children spending time at Exceptional Care should find it an enjoyable experience, where the Young People can form positive attachments, giving them a sense of inner security, worth and adding to their emotional and physical well-being.
Our aim is to identify, understand and meet the needs of the individual Young People in our care. Exceptional Care believes that consistency in care is paramount to Young People with complex needs, to this end we are committed to developing and maintaining good communicative relationships with the Young People in our care.
Company Culture
At Exceptional Care, we are devoted to providing unparalleled healthcare and support services tailored to the unique needs of our community. With a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, our team of dedicated professionals strives daily to enhance the well-being and quality of life of every individual we serve.
Passionate about making a difference, we believe that exceptional care is more than just a service – it's a commitment to fostering trust, compassion, and resilience. Join us in our mission to transform lives, one exceptional care moment at a time.
At Exceptional Care, we pride ourselves on cultivating an environment where our employees feel valued, heard, and inspired. Recognized as a great place to work, our organisational culture promotes professional growth, fosters collaboration, and encourages continuous learning.
We believe that when our team is empowered and passionate about what they do, it resonates in the exceptional care they provide. With a focus on work-life balance, mutual respect, and inclusivity, we're not just building a team, but a family dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of those we serve.
Desired Criteria
* Driver (preferred)
* Experience in a senior leadership role within children’s residential care
Required Criteria
* NVQ Level 5 Leadership and Management
Closing DateThursday 17th July, 2025