Responsible Individual - Children's Homes

🏡 Responsible Individual Salary: £55,000 – £65,000 per annum
Location: Brightlingsea, Basildon & Romford
Contract: Full-Time | Permanent | Hybrid
A growing children’s residential care provider is seeking an experienced Responsible Individual to join its senior leadership team. This is a key strategic role supporting the safe, compliant and high-quality delivery of multiple homes across Essex and East London.
The successful candidate will work alongside an existing Responsible Individual and the Operations Director to provide regulatory oversight, operational leadership and quality assurance across several services supporting children and young people with complex needs.

🏠 Services Within the Portfolio The role will oversee several services including:
• A 6–10 bed Learning Disabilities home in Brightlingsea
• A solo EBD provision in Basildon
• Two 3-bed EBD homes in Romford
Applicants must demonstrate experience working across both Learning Disabilities (LD) and Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) provisions.

📌 About the Role Reporting to the Operations Director, the Responsible Individual will ensure all homes operate in full compliance with Ofsted regulations and the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, while maintaining high standards of care and positive outcomes for young people.
This role would suit:
• An existing Responsible Individual seeking a new challenge within a developing provider
• An experienced Registered Manager ready to progress into an RI role
The position is hybrid, though the RI must maintain regular on-site presence across the homes to ensure effective oversight, staff support and strong governance.

🔑 Key Responsibilities Regulatory Compliance • Ensure all homes meet and exceed Ofsted regulatory requirements
• Lead preparation for Ofsted inspections
• Address compliance issues and implement improvement plans where required
Governance & Leadership • Provide strategic leadership across multiple services
• Develop and review policies in line with regulatory requirements and best practice
• Promote accountability and a culture of continuous improvement
Quality Assurance • Support and oversee the organisation’s quality assurance framework
• Conduct audits of care practice, systems and documentation
• Monitor performance against KPIs and report to senior leadership
• Maintain accurate regulatory and compliance records
Staff Leadership & Performance • Provide line management and supervision to Registered Managers
• Monitor staffing indicators including sickness, turnover and complaints
• Support interim leadership where required
• Promote professional development and staff learning
Safeguarding & Welfare • Ensure safeguarding procedures are robust and consistently implemented
• Maintain oversight of care planning and outcomes for children
• Develop knowledge of each child’s Care Plan and EHCP
• Promote the safety, wellbeing and rights of every child
Stakeholder Engagement • Build strong working relationships with Local Authorities, health professionals and education providers
• Engage positively with children, families and external partners
Budget & Growth Oversight • Support oversight of home budgets and resource allocation
• Ensure effective placement matching and occupancy management
• Contribute to safe and compliant service development

👤 About You The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
• Significant experience within children’s residential care
• Previous experience as a Registered Manager or Responsible Individual
• Experience across both EBD and Learning Disabilities services
• Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations and Children’s Homes legislation
• Excellent safeguarding knowledge and leadership skills
• Strategic thinking and strong analytical ability
• Strong communication and partnership working skills
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people
• Full UK Driving Licence
Qualifications:
A relevant qualification in Social Work, Child Care or a related field is required (or willingness to work towards one).

💼 Salary & Benefits • £55,000 – £65,000 salary
• 25 days annual leave bank holidays
• Hybrid working model
• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme
• Pension contribution (3%)
• Annual pay review
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing CPD opportunities following probation
• Access to Development & Welfare support
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Team building days and staff recognition schemes
• Casual dress and company events
• Free parking
• Cycle to Work scheme

Health Recruit Network are a trusted supplier of NHS and Private healthcare services. We supply work to Registered General Nurses (RGN), Mental Health Nurses (RMN), Learning Disabilities Nurse (RNLD) and Healthcare Assistants (HCA). We are one of the fastest growing recruitment agencies in the UK and supply Nationwide. Health Recruit Network are acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.