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 UKEssential 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 servicesKey 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 approachWhat 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