Responsible Individual (RI)
All the relevant skills, qualifications and experience that a successful applicant will need are listed in the following description.
Location: Wellington, Telford (TF6)
Salary: £400 per day
Working Pattern: Part-Time (approx. 2 days per week)
Our client is a specialist provider of education and residential care for children and young people with learning disabilities, sensory impairment, complex needs and associated behaviours that challenge.
Wellingtonia Children’s Home forms a key part of their provision, and they are now seeking an experienced and credible Responsible Individual (RI) to provide strategic oversight, robust challenge, and continuous improvement across the service.
The Role
This is a senior governance and accountability role, acting on behalf of the registered provider to ensure the home operates in full compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will provide independent oversight, support, and constructive challenge to ensure the service is safe, effective, and well-led.
You will play a key role within the organisation’s governance framework, with the authority to influence decision-making and drive improvement at senior level.
In simple terms, you hold the legal and regulatory accountability for the Home and play a critical role in ensuring it is safe, effective, and continuously improving.
The successful candidate will be formally nominated to Ofsted as Responsible Individual and must meet suitability requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Oversight:
- Ensure the home operates in line with its Statement of Purpose.
- Monitor performance, safeguarding, staffing, and outcomes for children.
- Maintain a visible and approachable presence within the Home, developing a strong understanding of the children, staff team and day-to-day practice to ensure a genuinely child-centred approach to leadership.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensure full compliance with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.
- Scrutinise Regulation 44 and Regulation 45 reports.
- Oversee improvement plans following inspection or audit activity.
- Ensure timely and appropriate Ofsted notifications.
Safeguarding and Risk:
- Maintain strong oversight of safeguarding systems and practice.
- Monitor serious incidents, complaints, and safeguarding concerns.
- Ensure appropriate response, escalation, and organisational learning.
Quality and Governance:
- Review audits, reports, and performance data to identify trends and risks.
- Evaluate quality of care and outcomes for children.
- Drive continuous improvement and accountability.
- Ensure a joined-up approach between residential care and education, working collaboratively with the school to promote consistency, shared understanding and positive outcomes for children.
Sector Engagement, Best Practice and Knowledge Leadership:
- This role extends beyond internal oversight. As Responsible Individual, you will play a key role in ensuring our client remains informed, connected, and aligned with best practice across the sector.
Sector Engagement and External Relations:
- Actively represent our client within the children’s residential care sector.
- Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with Ofsted, placing authorities and other statutory partners.
Best Practice and Continuous Improvement:
- Proactively monitor developments in legislation, regulation and sector guidance, including updates from Ofsted, the Children’s Commissioner, DfE and wider sector bodies.
- Identify and evaluate examples of strong and outstanding practice across the sector, translating these into practical, actionable improvements within the home.
Knowledge Leadership:
- Provide regular briefings to the Senior Leadership Team on emerging trends, regulatory developments and sector innovation.
- Share relevant learning, research and best practice updates with Registered Managers and staff teams in a clear and meaningful way.
External Relationships:
- Act as a key point of contact for Ofsted.
- Liaise with placing authorities and partner agencies.
- Represent our client with professionalism and credibility.
- Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders, including education colleagues, to ensure alignment between care and educational provision.
About You
You will be an experienced senior professional with the confidence and capability to operate at a strategic level.
Non-Negotiable:
- Demonstrable experience of working with children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs within regulated settings.
Essential:
- Significant experience within children’s residential care.
- Strong knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Ofsted frameworks.
- Previous experience as a Responsible Individual (RI).
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and risk management capability.
- Ability to analyse performance, identify risk, and drive improvement.
- High levels of integrity, accountability, and professional judgement.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.
- Able to operate with professional curiosity, staying informed of sector developments and translating these into improved practice.
- Confident engaging externally and representing the organisation within professional networks.
Our Client’s Safeguarding Commitment
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything they do. They are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and professionals to share this commitment. xwzovoh
All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and safer recruitment processes in line with statutory guidance.