Buckinghamshire Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to lead our Residential Services. This role is a key post to delivering our ambitious new programme of investment in in-house provision for our looked after children. Over the next three years, we plan to increase our residential provisions from nine to twenty-four and bring an additional 75 foster carer placements on board to achieve the best outcomes for our children and young people.
We are looking for a candidate who is not only qualified and experienced but also passionate about commitment to equality and positive outcomes for all children and young people.
About us
Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.
We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.
About the role
The role of the Head of Residential Services is a key post to this new residential offer. This includes the operational management and leadership of the current and new Children's Homes provisions, acting as the Ofsted Responsible Individual for the Council’s residential portfolio, and leading the operational set-up, including recruitment and Ofsted registration. Some of the key responsibilities are below;
- Operational management and leadership of the current and new Children's Homes provisions.
- Act as the Ofsted Responsible Individual for the Council’s residential portfolio.
- Guide the identification of suitable properties, set standards for renovation, and lead the operational set-up, including recruitment and Ofsted registration.
- Develop an Academy model to support staff recruitment and retention.
- Ensure high standards of care and compliance with regulatory expectations.
- Manage budgets and ensure financial compliance.
- Lead a high-performing team of Operational Managers and Heads of Home.
For further information refer to the job summary.
About you
We are looking for a candidate who is not only qualified and experienced in the below but also passionate about commitment to equality and positive outcomes for all children and young people.
Managerial Experience: Substantial experience in a managerial role within a children's residential setting, including experience from a Local Authority, Voluntary, or Privately owned Children's Residential provision.
Ofsted Knowledge: A minimum of 3 years’ experience of being an Ofsted Registered Manager/Responsible Individual, with extensive knowledge of the Children’s Home Regulations 2015 and the Guide to Children’s Homes.
Service Planning and Delivery: Proven experience in service planning and delivery, including relevant project management experience of setting up children's homes in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations.
Legislative Knowledge: Expert knowledge of all statutory, procedural, and legislative frameworks, systems, and initiatives relevant to residential provision.
Strategic Experience: Relevant strategic experience, including the ability to work alongside the senior leadership team and provide regular updates in respect of Ofsted inspections.
People Management: Proven people management skills within a residential setting, including motivating, directing, delegating, and performance management.
Relationship Building: Authority and credibility to build relationships, influence, and engage successfully with colleagues, partners, and clients at all levels in complex situations.
For further information refer to the job summary.
Other information
Salary - £85,000 up to £87,150.
Please note that there is a 3 day per week (minimum) requirement in the office with this role.
If you would like to have an informal conversation to find out more about this role, please contact Emma Kavanagh, Service Director for Children's Provider Services at Emma.Kavanagh@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
- All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
- All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).
For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
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A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .