Operations Manager Children's Residential

Job Title: Operations Director

Location: Bournemouth

Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Working Hours / Shift Pattern: 40 hours per week

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

Service: Registered Children's 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 children's services, trauma-informed practice, and regulatory oversight

Who we are looking for

• Minimum Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare
• Extensive experience managing complex social care / looked after children's services
• Strong knowledge of Children's 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 children's care provider delivering therapeutic Registered Children's 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 information

Company type/size: Large group provider

Number of homes: 10 services (4 Children's 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 children's services contracts

Why this role & 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

• Oversee the effective operation of all services
• Lead, coach, and develop two Area Managers
• Act as Responsible Individual for four children's homes
• Act as Nominated Individual for six Supported Accommodation services
• Drive regulatory compliance and strive for Good / Outstanding inspection outcomesMaintain occupancy levels above 90%
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, induction, and reduce agency reliance
• Support trauma informed practice alongside clinical teams
• Manage budgets, rotas, and operational performance
• Lead safeguarding oversight and multi agency collaboration
• Build strong commissioner and stakeholder relationships
• Chair meetings, reviews, and drive continuous improvement initiatives

Sponsorship is not available.