Head of Care & Designated Responsible Individual

Responsible for:

• To work corporately, collaboratively, and in accordance with the ethos and values of Willow Care Group.
• To provide senior operational leadership and statutory governance oversight across the organisation’s children’s residential services.
• To act as the Designated Responsible Individual (RI), providing assurance, challenge, and escalation on behalf of the Provider.
• To supervise, support, and hold Registered Managers to account for the safe, effective, and compliant delivery of care, while Registered Managers retain responsibility for day-to-day home operations.
• To promote high standards of safeguarding, quality, and positive outcomes for children and young people across all services.

Why Work for Us: Benefits

• Location: Derbyshire
  Salary: £70,000 – £80,000 per annum (depending on experience) + Bonuses
  Hours: 40 per week
  Holidays (FTE): 28 days including bank holidays
  Employment Status: Full Time
• Senior leadership role with strategic influence and autonomy
• Career progression within Willow Care Group
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing professional development
• Company laptop and mobile phone provided
• Mileage allowance for business travel
• Employer pension contributions in line with statutory and organisational policy
• Supportive, values-led senior leadership environment

Job Purpose

To provide strategic, operational, and statutory leadership across Willow Care Group’s children’s residential services, ensuring high-quality, safe, and compliant care in line with the organisation’s ethos and Statement of Purpose. As Designated Responsible Individual, the postholder ensures effective governance, regulatory compliance, and organisational assurance across all registered homes, while enabling Registered Managers to deliver strong operational leadership at home level.

General Duties

• Provide senior operational oversight across all residential services.
• Ensure full compliance with Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015, Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Data Protection legislation, Health & Safety legislation, and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
• Maintain continual inspection readiness and ensure effective responses to regulatory requirements.
• Establish, monitor, and review quality assurance, audit, and performance frameworks.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with commissioners, regulators, and partner agencies.
• Ensure leadership structures, workforce capability, and operational systems support high-quality care delivery.
• Produce oversight reports, assurance information, and performance data for Directors within agreed timescales.
• Embed equality, diversity, and inclusion across organisational practice.

Specific Duties

• Act as the nominated Responsible Individual with Ofsted and the primary governance link between Directors and operational services.
• Attend Ofsted inspections and provide strategic leadership and support to Registered Managers throughout the inspection process.
• Ensure Regulation 44 visits are effective, independent, and recommendations are implemented.
• Review Regulation 45 six-monthly quality reports and ensure recommendations are embedded across services.
• Provide direct line management, supervision, and performance oversight of Registered Managers.
• Mentor newly appointed Registered Managers through induction, probation, and SC2 application processes.
• Oversee safeguarding governance, risk management systems, and escalation processes.
• Liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on complex safeguarding matters as required.
• Monitor service performance, children’s outcomes, and compliance trends across the organisation.
• Provide interim leadership oversight and senior support during Registered Manager absence, vacancy, or transition periods.
• Oversee senior workforce planning, recruitment oversight, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Hold the responsibility of Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Ensure budgets, resources, properties, and vehicles are managed safely, effectively, and sustainably.
• Lead organisational learning following inspections, audits, complaints, and incidents.
• Participate in senior on-call arrangements and provide leadership during critical incidents or emergencies.

Qualifications and Education

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (required)
• Level 7 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (preferred)
• Commitment to continuing professional and leadership development
• Enhanced DBS check (required)

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within children’s residential care
• Experience operating at Responsible Individual, Operations Manager, Head of Operations, or equivalent senior level
• Proven experience supporting and holding Registered Managers to account
• Experience working with commissioners, regulators, and external agencies
• Strong background in quality assurance, safeguarding oversight, and regulatory compliance
• Proven track record supporting services to achieve and maintain Ofsted Good or Outstanding outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015, SSCIF
• Children Acts 1989 and 2004, Children and Families Act 2014
• Care Standards Act 2000 and Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Governance and accountability within residential childcare
• Safeguarding, child protection, and risk management
• Educational, health, social, emotional, and psychological needs of looked-after children
• Equality, diversity, and children’s rights

Job Types

• Full-time
• Permanent

Additional Pay

• Annual performance review
• Performance-related bonus linked to agreed senior leadership objectives

Benefits

• Career progression opportunities
• Ongoing professional development
• Free parking and on-site facilities
• Supportive senior leadership environment
• Company events
• Cycle to work scheme

Schedule

• 40 hours per week
• Includes senior on-call responsibilities

Experience

• Children’s residential care: 5 years (required)
• Senior leadership / operational management: 3+ years (preferred)

Licence/Certification

• Full UK Driving Licence (required)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (required)
• Level 7 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (preferred)

Work Location

• In person – Derbyshire