Operations Director - Children's Residential Services

Area CamdenOperations Director & Responsible IndividualSalary: Up to £80,000 per annum plus performance-related bonusHours: 40 hours per weekLocation: Greater LondonAbout UsArea Camden, part of the Polaris Community, is seeking an experienced and ambitious Operations Director & Responsible Individual to lead and develop our high-performing residential children's services.With a long-standing track record of achieving Good and Outstanding Ofsted outcomes since 2014, Area Camden is dedicated to providing safe, nurturing and aspirational homes where children and young people can thrive.We currently operate seven established children's homes, all supported by a strong quality framework and experienced management teams, with two additional homes planned to open as part of our ambitious growth strategy. This creates an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to influence the future direction of the organisation while maintaining the high standards for which Area Camden is recognised.At Area Camden, children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. As part of the Polaris Community, you will join an organisation with a strong reputation for quality, innovation and positive outcomes.Our quality framework is well embedded across the organisation, supported by an experienced leadership team and a dedicated Head of Care. We are now seeking a strategic leader who can build upon these strong foundations, maintain our excellent standards and ensure quality and compliance remain at the heart of every service as the organisation continues to develop.This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior leader and qualified social work professional to shape the future of a successful residential care provider and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people.Why Join Area Camden?Joining Area Camden means becoming part of a provider with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality care and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people. We value strong leadership, reflective practice and professional development, and we are committed to giving our leaders the support they need to succeed and make a lasting difference.In addition to a competitive salary and performance-related bonus structure, we offer a comprehensive and collaborative support network to ensure our senior leaders are empowered to deliver exceptional outcomes for children and young people:Proven track record of excellence: Since 2014, Area Camden has consistently achieved Good and Outstanding Ofsted ratings, providing a stable and high-performing environment in which senior leaders can succeedStrong systems and operational structure: We have well-established systems, processes and frameworks in place to support the effective management and oversight of our services, enabling you to focus on driving quality, performance and positive outcomes for children and young peoplePart of the wider Polaris Community: As part of the Polaris Community, you will benefit from a broad range of specialist central support services, including: Dedicated recruitment teamHR, people and employee relations supportQuality assurance and compliance teamsLearning and development programmesSafeguarding specialistsHealth and safety teamsExperienced leadership team: Work alongside experienced operational leaders committed to maintaining excellence across our servicesA wider professional network: You will be part of a collaborative residential community, providing opportunities to share best practice, drive innovation and contribute to service developmentOpportunities to influence and shape services: Play a key role in strategic decision-making, quality improvement initiatives and the future direction of the organisationContinuous development and shared learning: We are committed to supporting your professional growth through training, development opportunities and peer supportAbout the RoleReporting directly to the Managing Director, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across Area Camden's residential services.You will hold shared Responsible Individual responsibilities alongside the Head of Care, providing oversight across our existing portfolio of homes while supporting future growth and development. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring our homes continue to deliver outstanding care, maintain strong Ofsted outcomes and achieve excellence in all areas of practice.With an experienced Head of Care in post and strong foundations already established, this role is focused on maintaining and strengthening quality across the portfolio, ensuring the organisation's positive outcomes and Ofsted success continue as services grow.Working closely with Registered Managers, senior leaders and central support teams, you will drive continuous improvement, support service development and ensure the organisation remains ready for inspection while delivering positive outcomes for children and young people.We are looking for a visible and inspirational leader who can support managers to achieve their full potential, maintain a culture of high performance and accountability and ensure that children's needs remain at the centre of every decision.Key ResponsibilitiesWork alongside the Managing Director to develop and deliver the organisational strategy in line with Polaris Community objectivesProvide operational leadership across Area Camden's seven existing children's homes, supporting the planned opening of two new homesUndertake shared Responsible Individual duties alongside the Head of Care, ensuring effective governance, oversight and regulatory compliance across all servicesMaintain and further develop the high standards of care and practice that have consistently delivered strong Ofsted outcomesSupport, challenge and develop Registered Managers to achieve exceptional performance and continuous improvementEnsure all services remain compliant with relevant legislation, Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and safeguarding requirementsMonitor operational, financial and quality performance against agreed targets and budgetsBuild strong relationships with managers, staff teams, local authorities, regulators and other stakeholdersEnsure excellent outcomes for children and young people, including placement stability, education, wellbeing and safeguardingDrive inspection readiness through robust auditing, quality assurance and performance management processesAbout YouWe are looking for an experienced senior leader with a proven track record of delivering exceptional outcomes within residential children's services.Essential RequirementsA social work qualificationCurrent registration with Social Work England and/or SSSCSignificant senior leadership experience within children's residential care or closely related servicesExperience acting as a Responsible Individual within an Ofsted-regulated service, or the knowledge and experience required to undertake the roleA detailed understanding of children's residential legislation, regulations and Quality StandardsStrong commercial and financial acumen, with experience of delivering against operational and business objectivesExceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skillsDemonstrable experience of leading quality improvement initiatives and driving service excellenceExperience of supporting growth, organisational development and operational changePersonal AttributesAn inspirational and visible leaderA strategic thinker with a practical, solution-focused approachHighly motivated, resilient and adaptableCommitted to maintaining and strengthening high-quality care standardsWhat We OfferSalary up to £80,000 per annumPerformance-related bonusCompany car or car allowanceOpportunity to influence and shape strategic growth across a successful residential care organisationOversight of an established portfolio of homes, with exciting future expansion plansSupportive and collaborative senior leadership teamOngoing professional development and executive leadership supportThe opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young peopleApply TodayApply today and play a key role in maintaining excellence, driving future growth and helping shape brighter futures for children and young people across Area Camden.Area Camden is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, the cost of which will be covered by Area Camden. Area Camden is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.TPBN1_UKTJ