Operations Manager Children's Residential

Job Title: Operations Director
Location: Bournemouth

Salary:per annum (depending on experience)
Working Hours / Shift Pattern: 40 hours per week
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Service: Registered Childrens Homes / Supported Accommodation
Service Users: Young people with complex needs requiring therapeutic residential care and supported accommodation
Qualifications Required: Minimum Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare
Experience Required: Senior leadership experience managing complex social care / looked after childrens services trauma-informed practice and regulatory oversight

Who we are looking for:

Our client is seeking an experienced and driven Operations Director to support the Managing Director in delivering exceptional childrens residential and supported accommodation services.

This role would suit a highly capable senior leader with a proven track record of operational leadership service improvement regulatory compliance and achieving strong outcomes for children and young people.

The successful candidate will have:

Minimum Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare
Extensive experience managing complex social care / looked after childrens services
Strong knowledge of Childrens Homes Regulations safeguarding legislation and wider regulatory frameworks
Understanding of Supported Accommodation legislation (highly desirable)
Experience leading trauma-informed services alongside clinical professionals therapists and psychologists
Strong leadership coaching and team development experience
Experience managing budgets rotas occupancy recruitment and operational performance
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong decision-making capability and solution-focused leadership
Full UK driving licence

Who you will be working for:

Our client is a large established childrens care provider delivering therapeutic Registered Childrens Homes and Supported Accommodation services for young people with complex needs.

Their approach is centred around therapeutic nurturing family-style care ensuring young people experience safety stability and the opportunity to thrive.

Company type/size: Large group provider
Number of homes: 10 services (4 Childrens Homes / 6 Supported Accommodation services)
Future plans: Ongoing expansion with a strong focus on achieving Outstanding Ofsted outcomes
Other services: Fostering adoption education leaving care services bespoke childrens services contracts

Why this home & company:

This is a senior strategic leadership opportunity within a well-established provider with ambitious growth plans and a clear commitment to service excellence.

You will have the opportunity to shape service quality drive operational performance influence culture and directly improve outcomes for children and young people across multiple services.

Progression:

A significant senior leadership opportunity working directly alongside executive leadership within a growing organisation.

Training / qualifications:

Ongoing professional development
Leadership development opportunities
Clinical collaboration with therapeutic professionals

Benefits:

Discretionary annual bonus of up to 10%
Car allowance
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Company pension
Life assurance
Employee discount scheme

Ethos:

Our client is committed to therapeutic nurturing family-style care that prioritises safety stability and exceptional outcomes for children and young people.

Culture:

A high-performing ambitious child-focused culture with strong emphasis on safeguarding therapeutic practice regulatory excellence continuous improvement and collaborative leadership.

The Role:

As Operations Director you will play a visible and hands-on leadership role across multiple services ensuring operational excellence and consistently high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

Overseeing the effective operation of all services
Leading coaching and developing two Area Managers
Acting as Responsible Individual for four childrens homes
Acting as Nominated Individual for six Supported Accommodation services
Driving regulatory compliance and striving for Good / Outstanding inspection outcomes
Maintaining occupancy levels above 90%
Leading workforce planning recruitment induction and reducing agency reliance
Supporting trauma-informed practice alongside clinical teams
Managing budgets rotas and operational performance
Leading safeguarding oversight and multi-agency collaboration
Building strong commissioner and stakeholder relationships
Chairing meetings reviews and driving continuous improvement initiatives

Sponsorship is not available.

How to apply:

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people and would like to join our clients dedicated team apply today.

To apply click the apply button or contact us for more information.

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