Children Services - Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Salary - £55,000 per annum with room for negotiation 

Working hours – Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm – With flexibility when needed.

Location – Field role covering 6 care homes in London.

JOB CONTEXT

Our client strives to provide services that are user friendly and sensitive to the individual needs of their residents, local authorities, and all sections of the community. It is the responsibility of all staff to work to achieve this within their ethos of service, quality, equality, and partnership. (Partnership means demonstrating a commitment to close co-operation with colleagues and joint work in partnership with service users). Our client provides Accommodation and support services to Children.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take overall responsibility for the management and leadership of newly formed company as Operations Manager and Responsible Individual reporting directly to the Director of Operations.
• Promote high standards of care in line with our regulatory bodies.
• Lead and manage both Managers and resources to ensure high standards of service are achieved within the homes, exceeding regulatory standards.
• Register as the Responsible Individual with Ofsted for all operational homes and new homes within London.
• Develop and implement Ofsted registration for chosen/selected properties.
• Lead the planning, development, and delivery of effective, efficient, and sustainable services across the London region, realising our strategic aims and ensuring the maximum positive impact on young people, stakeholders, and related parties where applicable.
• Become fully knowledgeable and cognisant of ClearCare, the company’s system for the management of children’s social care settings which is designed to ease the process of creating and storing essential records.
• To ensure ClearCare and Linguix (AI-based writing assistant for team to correct all reports and ensure emails are error-free) are used effectively in all aspects, and to ensure that the team reporting to you does so also.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with external agencies and other professionals associated with the young people and company.
• Monitor, coach, support, and motivate all Registered Managers to enable them to reach their full potential.
• Safeguard the health, wellbeing, and safety of all young people within our care. In the event of a concern regarding any young person or staff member, immediately reporting these concerns in line with appropriate policies and procedures.
• Ensure that a high level of service is delivered within the homes and that the homes are all compliant in relation to health and safety, other relevant regulatory frameworks, and requirements.
• Ensure that our services are delivered in line with budgets, financial parameters, stakeholder expectations, and key performance indicators.
• Manage the budget to ensure the business remains viable, and to meet and exceed the key performance indicators for people, quality, and performance.

Employee Management

• Become fully knowledgeable and cognisant of Breathe HR, the company’s HR management software. Effectively use this software in all aspects of everyday business and ensure that the team reporting to you does so also.
• Become cognisant of Planday, the company’s system to set/plan and oversee staff rotas though enabling the deployment of appropriate staff resources, ensuring key tasks are fulfilled, and including provision for back up as required in times of emergency/out of hours. Total number of hours to be set on a weekly basis and measured against adopted rota and punching in/out which is designed to monitor real-time hours/shifts being worked and costs. Check budget against actuals achieved every Monday.
• Recruit high calibre, capable, and conscientious employees that demonstrate our values and behaviours, and deliver consistently high-quality services.
• Ensure the workplace upholds effective systems that are understood, implemented, and monitored, with consideration to company policies and procedures, including those relating to health and safety, equality and diversity, and maintain a positive working environment.
• Drive a high engagement culture through vision and great leadership, coaching, development, recognition, and communication to retain our people.
• Conduct robust performance management, including supervisions and appraisals.
• Ensure all KPIs are met and achieved, with weekly KPI updates to be sent to the Director of Operations.
• Identify and pursue training and development needs to drive succession and talent management of our people.
• Manage people matters and challenging situations, such as discipline, grievance, capability, and absence.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge/Education/Skills

• Must pass the Ofsted ‘fit’ test.
• Knowledge of the law, regulations, and standards and how to apply them.
• Good understanding of safeguarding processes
• Good leadership and management skills including financial management.
• A sound understanding of practice and working with young people.
• A good understanding of the policies and procedures used in children’s homes.
• Qualifications are essential, i.e., Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, Children & Young People’s Services, or equivalent.

Experience

• Significant experience within leadership role in a multi-site organisation.
• Experience and understanding of running a children’s home.
• Experience planning and leading strategic initiatives.
• Well established stakeholder relationships with a proven track record of running successful children’s residential care services and influencing change.
• Substantial recent experience of business partnership, relationship and facilitation management skills gained in a similar role.  
• strong background of successful residential children’s home management is essential, preferably with knowledge of Ofsted requirements, working in challenging environments and leading excellence in care.
• Turnaround experience in children’s homes and a successful problem solver.
• Achieved Good or Outstanding judgements in previous settings under their leadership.

If interested, APPLY NOW!