Full job descriptionResponsible Individual (RI) – Children’s Residential Home
Location: Newhaven, East Sussex
Salary: £58,000 – £65,000 per annum
Sector: Children’s Residential Care
Role: Responsible Individual / RI
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Responsible Individual (RI) to join a children’s residential care provider in Newhaven, East Sussex.
This is a senior leadership and governance role, responsible for ensuring the home operates safely, effectively and in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Quality Standards and Ofsted requirements.
Working closely with the Registered Manager, Deputy Manager and Quality & Compliance function, the RI will provide strategic leadership, regulatory oversight and safeguarding assurance.
This is not a day-to-day operational management role. The Registered Manager remains responsible for the daily running of the home, while the RI provides governance, oversight, accountability and professional challenge.
Key Responsibilities
*Provide strategic oversight of the home and ensure compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
*Ensure the home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose.
*Maintain the required oversight under Regulation 26 and demonstrate fitness to Ofsted.
*Provide supervision, support and constructive challenge to the Registered Manager.
*Hold the Registered Manager accountable for quality of care, safeguarding and operational performance.
*Support service improvement, development planning and continuous improvement.
*Ensure appropriate staffing structures, workforce development and safer recruitment practices.
*Review quality assurance reports, audits and compliance findings.
*Identify and respond to safeguarding themes, emerging risks and areas requiring improvement.
*Ensure appropriate action is taken following incidents, audits or regulatory concerns.
*Maintain strategic oversight of safeguarding systems, notifications and reporting processes.
*Review serious incidents and ensure relevant external agencies are notified where required.
*Promote a strong, child-centred safeguarding culture.
*Act as a senior representative when working with Ofsted, local authorities, commissioners and other stakeholders.
*Support Ofsted inspection preparation and improvement planning.
*Provide senior decision-making where significant safeguarding or regulatory risks arise.
Working with the Registered Manager
The RI will provide formal supervision and professional oversight to the Registered Manager while allowing them autonomy to manage the home’s day-to-day operation.
The role will provide support, accountability and constructive challenge to ensure the home delivers safe, effective and consistently high-quality care.
Safeguarding, Quality & Compliance
The RI will work with the quality and compliance function, using audits, safeguarding data and compliance information to inform strategic decisions.
They will ensure safeguarding systems are robust, concerns are appropriately escalated, serious incidents are reviewed, notifications are completed correctly and emerging risks are identified.
About You
The successful candidate will have significant senior-level experience within children’s social care, ideally within children’s residential services.
Essential Experience & Qualifications
*Significant senior leadership experience within children’s social care, preferably residential care.
*Strong knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
*Strong understanding of the Quality Standards and Ofsted inspection framework.
*Experience of safeguarding leadership and managing complex risk.
*Excellent governance, leadership and decision-making skills.
*Ability to provide appropriate challenge and professional oversight to Registered Managers.
*Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or an equivalent relevant qualification.
*The skills and experience required to effectively fulfil the responsibilities of a Responsible Individual.
Desirable
*Previous experience as a Responsible Individual / RI.
*Experience supporting the registration of a new children’s home.
*Experience leading service improvement.
*Experience preparing children’s homes for Ofsted inspection.
*Knowledge of trauma-informed or therapeutic approaches to residential childcare.
Senior On-Call Responsibility
The RI will form part of the senior leadership on-call rota alongside the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager.
The rota will be planned in advance and provides senior management support, safeguarding oversight and decision-making outside normal working hours.
Where active work or attendance is required outside contracted hours, this will be recorded and provided as Time Off in Lieu (TOIL), subject to operational requirements.
Salary £58,000 – £65,000 per annum
Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks and confirmation that the successful candidate meets the requirements to undertake the RI role.
Important Information
Please apply with an up-to-date CV. Successful candidates will be required to complete relevant safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, which may include an Enhanced DBS check, employment history, references, qualification checks, identity and Right to Work checks.
Right to Work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Keywords: Responsible Individual, RI, Children’s Home, Children’s Residential Care, Residential Childcare, Ofsted, Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, Regulation 26, Safeguarding, Children’s Social Care, Registered Manager, Level 5 Residential Childcare, Quality Assurance, Compliance, Governance, Trauma-Informed Care, Therapeutic Care, East Sussex, Newhaven.