Group Managing Director (CQC & Ofsted Regulated Services)
The Group Managing Director (GMD) holds ultimate operational, regulatory, and financial accountability for all CQC- and Ofsted-registered services across the group, including:
* Supported Living (complex LD, autism, mental health, forensic histories)
* Residential Care (adults with high-acuity needs)
* Children’s Homes (EBD, trauma-informed, complex safeguarding profiles)
The role exists to ensure safe, lawful, high-quality services, while driving sustainable growth, protecting the organisation’s reputation, and preventing regulatory failure.
This is a hands‑on executive role, not a ceremonial leadership post.
1. Regulatory & Legal Accountability
* Act as the Responsible Individual (RI) for CQC and/or Ofsted where required.
* Maintain continuous regulatory compliance across all services.
* Ensure services are consistently inspection‑ready—not just pre‑inspection compliant.
* Lead responses to:
o CQC / Ofsted inspections
o Enforcement actions
o Notices of concern
o Serious incidents and safeguarding investigations
* Maintain oversight of:
o Regulation 17 governance systems
o Quality assurance frameworks
o Safeguarding thresholds and reporting
o Whistleblowing procedures
* Ensure statutory duties under:
o Health and Social Care Act
o Children’s Homes Regulations
o Care Standards Act
o Safeguarding legislation
o Mental Capacity Act / DoLS / Liberty Protection Safeguards
Failure here is career‑ending—this role owns it.
2. Quality, Outcomes & Safeguarding
* Set and enforce group‑wide quality standards that exceed minimum regulatory requirements.
* Ensure care and education are:
o Person‑centred
o Rights‑based
o Evidence‑led
* Hold Directors, Registered Managers, and Heads of Service to account for:
o Outcomes for people supported
o Reduction in incidents and restrictive practices
o Stability of placements
o Positive Ofsted/CQC judgements
* Chair or oversee:
o Serious incident reviews
o Learning‑from‑incidents processes
* Ensure poor practice is confronted, not tolerated.
3. Operational Leadership
* Operations Directors
* Registered Managers
* Responsible Individuals
* Quality & Compliance Leads
* Ensure services are:
o Properly staffed
o Clinically and educationally supported
o Financially viable
* Drive consistency across services while allowing local flexibility.
* Step in personally when services are failing or at risk.
* Hold full P&L responsibility for the group.
* Ensure:
o Services are sustainable at high‑acuity cost levels
o Commissioning rates reflect complexity and risk
o Staffing models are safe and financially realistic
* Lead relationships with:
o Local Authorities
o ICBs
o Placing authorities
* Balance ethical care delivery with commercial reality—without cutting corners.
* Lead the strategic growth of the organisation, including:
o Registration of new homes/services
o Acquisitions and integration
o Ensure growth does not outpace governance.
* Assess and manage:
o Regulatory risk
o Reputational risk
o Advise the Board honestly—even when the truth is uncomfortable.
6. Culture & Workforce
* Set the tone for a culture of:
o Accountability
o Psychological safety
o Professional challenge
o Zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, or complacency
* Ensure leadership capability at every level.
* Address toxic leadership and poor management swiftly.
* Champion staff wellbeing without lowering standards.
Person Specification
* Senior executive leadership in CQC and/or Ofsted‑regulated services.
* Proven track record leading complex, high‑acuity services.
* Experience acting as Responsible Individual.
* Leading organisations through:
o Inadequate / Requires Improvement ratings
o Enforcement or regulatory scrutiny
o Rapid growth phases
* Strong grasp of:
o Safeguarding at scale
o Trauma‑informed practice
o Restrictive practice reduction
o Multi‑agency working
o Calm under regulatory pressure.
* Comfortable making hard decisions about people and services.
* Not afraid of inspectors, lawyers, or boards.
* Can see the difference between risk and recklessness.
* Will not hide behind consultants.
* Social work, nursing, psychology, education, or equivalent professional background.
* Experience across both adult and children’s sectors.
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