Role Summary
HV Care Ltd is seeking an experienced and compliance-focused Responsible Individual (RI) to support the organisation's registration and setup of a new children's residential care home in Gravesend. This is a part-time consultancy-style engagement intended to support SC1/SC2 registration, provide early-stage governance, and ensure compliance with Ofsted and statutory regulations.
The role is ideal for a senior safeguarding or care professional who is looking to contribute to the founding stages of a high-quality children's home and work closely with the Registered Provider and proposed Registered Manager. There is a strong opportunity for this role to transition into a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) position once SC1 and SC2 registration is complete, subject to mutual agreement.
Key Responsibilities
* Act as the nominated Responsible Individual for Ofsted purposes under The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
* Ensure full regulatory compliance during pre-registration, inspection preparation, and early operational phases.
* Support the Registered Provider and Registered Manager in embedding strong governance, safeguarding, and operational systems.
* Conduct monthly quality assurance visits, audits, and governance reports to ensure readiness for inspection and safe practice.
* Act as the lead liaison with Ofsted, social workers, and local authorities during registration and inspection.
* Contribute to the development of policies, Statement of Purpose, staff structures, training plans, and regulatory submissions.
* Promote a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and child-centred care from day one.
Person Specification
Essential:
* In-depth knowledge of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
* Proven experience as a Responsible Individual or Registered Manager in a children's home.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, Looked After Children (LAC) procedures, and regulatory compliance.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and regulatory correspondence.
* Clear Enhanced DBS (Child Workforce).
* Availability to engage regularly (monthly) and flexibly in response to registration milestones.
Desirable:
* Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent).
* Experience working with children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD).
* Prior experience supporting a start-up or first-time Ofsted registration.
Engagement Structure
* Day rate of £250, benchmarked against a pro-rata FTE of £50,000/year.
* Engagement expected to be 1–2 days per month, with flexibility to increase during key milestones (e.g. inspection, launch).
* Post-registration: HV Care Ltd is open to offering a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) position once SC1 and SC2 registration is complete and the home becomes operational.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: Up to £250.00 per day
Expected hours: 16 per week
Experience:
* Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 : 2 years (required)
Language:
* English (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person