Responsible Individual

Post Title: Responsible Individual 
Reports to: Managing Director 
Location: Multi-Site  
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week (flexibility required in accordance with organisational needs) 

Main Purpose of the Role 

❖ To act as the Ofsted-registered Responsible Individual for the Children’s Homes, ensuring all children’s homes under the organisation’s registration operate in full compliance with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. 
❖ To provide strong, strategic, and values-driven leadership across the service, promoting excellence in safeguarding, care delivery, and regulatory compliance. 
❖ To ensure that Registered Managers and operational teams are well-supported, monitored, and challenged to achieve and sustain high standards, ensuring outstanding outcomes for children and young people. 

Line Management Responsibilities 

• Direct line management of: 
o Registered Managers 
• Responsible for ensuring: 
o Regulatory compliance and Ofsted inspection readiness 
o Leadership supervision and development of home managers 
o Oversight of safeguarding and quality assurance across services 
o High standards of care, safety, and governance across all children’s homes 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Organisational Leadership and Strategic Oversight 

• Provide clear and effective leadership to ensure the organisation’s children’s homes operate safely and in accordance with legislation, regulation, and company policy. 
• Embed the values, mission, and strategic priorities of the Children’s Homes across all operational areas. 
• Promote a culture of transparency, learning, and continuous improvement. 

2. Ofsted Registration and Regulatory Compliance 

• Maintain registration with Ofsted as the Responsible Individual and ensure all homes consistently meet or exceed Quality Standards. 
• Oversee and guide Registered Managers through Ofsted inspections, audits, and regulatory visits. 
• Monitor organisational compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and relevant national guidance. 

3. Safeguarding and Risk Management 

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation, ensuring robust safeguarding systems are in place and adhered to. 
• Lead or oversee serious safeguarding investigations, allegations, and referrals in line with LADO protocols. 
• Promote a culture of safety, protection, and accountability across all services. 

4. Management Supervision and Development 

• Supervise, appraise, and mentor Registered Managers, ensuring high levels of leadership competence and regulatory knowledge. 
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes for senior staff. 
• Foster leadership development and succession planning across the organisation. 

5. Quality Assurance and Service Improvement 

• Lead on internal audits, quality assurance reviews, and performance monitoring across all homes. 
• Analyse inspection outcomes, incident reports, and feedback to identify patterns and areas for development. 
• Drive implementation of service improvements and innovation in care delivery. 

6. Partnership Working and External Relations 

• Act as the key point of contact for Ofsted, local authorities, commissioning teams, and safeguarding partnerships. 
• Represent the organisation at strategic and operational forums, panels, and inspections. 
• Support effective referral and placement management processes across services. 

7. Governance and Organisational Support 

• Provide accurate and timely reports to the Board and Senior Leadership Team regarding service performance, risk, and regulatory compliance. 
• Contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and growth of the organisation. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes to legislation, policy, and best practice affecting looked-after children. 

Special Requirements 

• This is a multi-site leadership role and will require frequent travel between children’s homes and external meetings. 
• Participation in the senior leadership on-call rota is required. 

Person Specification 

A. Education, Training & Qualifications 

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or equivalent) 
• QCF Level 3 in Residential Childcare (or equivalent qualification) 
• Registered Manager experience and eligibility for Responsible Individual registration with Ofsted 
• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training (or willingness to complete) 

B. Experience 

• Minimum 2 years of senior management experience within Ofsted-regulated children’s residential care 
• Proven track record of managing or supporting Good or Outstanding rated homes 
• Experience of working with children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs 
• Familiarity with conducting audits, investigations, and dealing with safeguarding allegations 
• Demonstrated leadership and development of high-performing teams 

C. Skills and Abilities 

• High-level communication, influencing, and conflict-resolution skills 
• Strategic decision-making and crisis management capability 
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and write reports 
• Ability to coach, mentor, and inspire leadership in others 
• Competence in multi-agency working, including with Ofsted, LAs, and safeguarding professionals 

D. Knowledge and Understanding 

• In-depth understanding of: 
o Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards 
o Safeguarding and child protection legislation and procedures 
o Ofsted frameworks, inspection process, and reporting expectations 
o Therapeutic care models and trauma-informed practice 
o Equal opportunities, data protection, and employment legislation 
• Strong commitment to the companies vision, values, and standards of care