Job Specification – Responsible Individual (Children's Homes)
Organisation: First Steps Residential
Location: Covering Havering (Upminster) and Colchester, Essex
Salary: £65,000 – £70,000 per annum (depending on experience and performance)
Hours: Full-time, with a minimum of one visit per week to each home
About Us
First Steps Residential is a growing provider of high-quality care for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). We currently operate:
* Devon House (Colchester, Essex): Already inspected and rated Good by Ofsted.
* New Children's Home (Upminster, Havering): Awaiting Ofsted registration.
We are committed to providing safe, nurturing, and child-centred environments where young people can thrive, heal, and achieve positive outcomes.
To support our continued growth and maintain our standards, we are seeking an experienced and exceptional Responsible Individual (RI) to oversee our homes.
Role Overview
The Responsible Individual (RI) will provide strategic leadership and oversight across both homes, ensuring compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Quality Standards.
This is a full-time role, with the expectation of at least one visit per week to each home. The RI will act as the key link between the homes, the senior leadership team, and Ofsted, ensuring that each home is safe, effective, and delivering outstanding care to children.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide strategic oversight and leadership across both children's homes.
* Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection practice are embedded in both homes.
* Monitor and support Registered Managers, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations, and organisational policies.
* Regularly review the performance and quality of each home through audits, visits, and direct engagement with children and staff.
* Drive continuous improvement, ensuring the homes meet or exceed Ofsted expectations.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with Ofsted, commissioners, local authorities, and external professionals.
* Provide professional guidance, supervision, and support to managers, promoting reflective practice and accountability.
* Act as a role model for professional conduct, resilience, and child-centred leadership.
* Ensure the homes remain financially sustainable, well-staffed, and effectively managed.
* Report to the Directors on performance, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance.
Requirements
Essential:
* Substantial experience in children's residential care, with a proven track record in senior leadership or as a Responsible Individual.
* Phenomenal safeguarding knowledge – with the ability to identify, respond to, and manage safeguarding concerns at the highest level.
* Strong knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Ofsted's inspection framework.
* Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, challenge, and support managers and staff teams.
* Demonstrable experience of driving improvements and achieving positive inspection outcomes.
* Ability to commit to weekly visits to both homes and provide a consistent presence across the service.
Desirable:
* Experience managing multiple homes or services.
* Formal leadership/management qualifications.
* Strong networks with local authorities, commissioners, and safeguarding boards.
What We Offer
* Competitive salary (£65,000 – £70,000 depending on experience and performance).
* Full autonomy in role, with support from the Director and leadership team.
* Opportunity to shape and grow the organisation as we expand.
* Performance-related incentives.
* Mileage and expenses covered for travel between homes.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity for a driven and passionate Responsible Individual to join a forward-thinking organisation at a key stage of growth. With one home already rated Good and another awaiting registration, you will play a pivotal role in embedding excellence and safeguarding across our services, ensuring that every child receives the best possible care.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £60,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Casual dress
* Company events
* Company pension
* Discounted or free food
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Work from home
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Upminster RM14 3PP: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
* Child Safeguarding: 10 years (required)
Language:
* English (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Willingness to travel:
* 50% (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Upminster RM14 3PP