Responsible Individual (Children's Residential Care)

Responsible Individual (Children’s Residential Care) Location: Derbyshire & West Midlands Salary: £350 – £500 per day (DOE) Hours: Part-time (up to 16 hours per week) Contract: Consultancy / Self-Employed preferred (flexible for the right candidate) Advertised by: Diamond Search Recruitment About the Opportunity Diamond Search Recruitment is proud to be partnering with a well-established and expanding children’s residential care provider to recruit an experienced Responsible Individual (RI). This is a senior, strategic role offering the opportunity to work across two services: A well-established home in Derby A developing service in Sutton Coldfield progressing through registration The position is ideally suited to a highly experienced care professional seeking a flexible, high-impact consultancy role where you can drive compliance, quality, and outcomes for children. The Role As the Responsible Individual, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that services operate to the highest standards, in full compliance with: Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 Quality Standards Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF) You will provide strategic oversight, leadership support, and governance—ensuring that children receive safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed care. You will also act as the key liaison between the organisation, Registered Managers, and Ofsted. Key Responsibilities Regulatory Compliance & Governance * Ensure full compliance with children’s home regulations and quality standards * Oversee adherence to the Social Care Common Inspection Framework * Monitor and ensure timely statutory notifications * Support homes through Ofsted inspections and post-inspection action plans * Maintain compliant Statements of Purpose and policies Leadership & Management Support * Provide mentoring, challenge, and professional guidance to Registered Managers * Support leadership development and strong team culture * Contribute to performance management and service improvement * Offer supervision where required Safeguarding & Quality Assurance * Maintain strong oversight of safeguarding practice across all homes * Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and local procedures * Monitor incidents, complaints, and allegations, ensuring learning is embedded * Review Regulation 44 reports and Regulation 45 reviews * Conduct quality assurance visits and implement improvement plans Operational Oversight * Support occupancy planning and placement decisions * Monitor budget use and resource allocation * Promote child-centred and trauma-informed care * Ensure children's voices influence service development * Drive continuous improvement through learning and feedback About You Essential Experience * Significant experience within children’s residential care * In-depth knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards * Strong understanding of the SCCIF framework * Proven safeguarding expertise * Experience in quality assurance and service improvement * Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills Desirable * Previous experience as a Responsible Individual or Registered Manager * Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management (or equivalent) * Experience overseeing multiple homes * DSL Level 3 safeguarding qualification * Experience supporting or supervising Registered Managers What’s On Offer Competitive day rate (£350–£500 depending on experience) Flexible, part-time working (approx. 2 days per week) Opportunity to shape and influence high-quality care services Work with an ambitious and growth-focused organisation Hybrid autonomy with meaningful on-site impact Apply Now If you are an experienced senior leader in children’s residential care looking for a flexible, strategic role where you can make a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Diamond Search Recruitment for a confidential discussion