Operational Manager - Children's Residential

Job Introduction

Operation Manager

Salary to be discussed

We have a fantastic new opportunity for an Operational Manager at A Wilderness Way. This exciting opportunity has arisen due to growth. You will play a vital role in supporting the company to achieve key business objectives.

Working with our Regional Director, you will be responsible for leading a team of Registered Service Managers who oversee the management of children’s residential care homes.

The role is ideally suited to an existing Area Manager, Operations Manager, or experienced Registered Manager who has overseen the operational management of multiple children’s residential care homes.

Your role and responsibilities as Operational Manager

You will provide clear and consistent support, positive role modelling, supervision, performance management and appraisal for your Registered Managers, ensuring that we meet the needs of each individual child and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Through effective leadership, you will ensure that our services deliver outstanding levels of care, and that the financial and operating objectives are met.

You will liaise directly with our Commissioning and Placements Partner to ensure that we can offer the appropriate level of care to the children that we support.

You will ensure that our Registered Managers partner with the ‘Team Around the Child’ which includes our Multi-Disciplinary Team, education specialists, social workers, and external agencies.

You will review management information, monitor performance and produce reports relating to our children and our regulatory gradings.

You will promote our Vision and Values, demonstrating best practice in leadership and management whilst coaching and mentoring managers to support their development.

What we offer you

Your full-time salary up to £62,500 per annum, depending upon experience and qualifications.

It is our intention that the successful candidate will hold designated Responsible Individual status for a cluster of homes as part of their role, at an appropriate time and depending upon experience. This will be discussed at offer stage.

Your hours of work will be 40 hours per week, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Flexibility may be required due to the nature of the role.

You will receive 33 days annual leave, inclusive of public holidays, with additional leave for continuous service at 2 and 5 years.

Private Medical cover.

Excellent health and wellbeing benefits via Medicash, including an employee assistance programme; a cash back healthcare plan that offers discounts on optical, dental, and a range of complimentary therapies; 24/7 access to a virtual GP, and other lifestyle apps to support your wellbeing; discounted gym memberships.

Company pension contribution.

Life Assurance of 2 times salary.

A range of discount schemes with access to savings on high street brands, restaurants, cinemas and other leisure outlets, including local businesses following feedback from our employees.

An employee referral scheme of £1000 for every successful referral.

An employee recognition scheme to celebrate our ‘Wilderness Heroes’.

Why choose a career with Wilderness?

We actively encourage career development through a range of learning opportunities, supportive coaching conversations, and pathways for progression.

We are an innovative company - the first residential care company in England to operate under a new multi-building registration model.

We have a relentless commitment to providing outstanding care for every child we look after.

We offer a therapeutic approach through the PACE model and provide excellent training in therapeutic care.

We share a culture of Collaboration, Adaptation, Respect and Empathy.  We ensure our employees have a voice and are recognised for their achievements.

We celebrate the smallest of achievements at Wilderness, to help us accomplish bigger outcomes together.

Key qualities that we look for

A minimum of 6 years’ recent experience of working with young people with challenging behaviour in residential childcare.

A minimum of 4 years’ experience of leadership and management in a care environment, including recruitment skills, mentoring and coaching, performance management and conducting investigations and disciplinary interviews.

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services.

An excellent understanding and previous experience of working with Ofsted and other regulatory bodies.

Up-to-date knowledge of Child Protection legislation.

Experience of handling conflict and managing sensitive issues to achieve positive outcomes.

Experience of managing budgets.

Previous experience of following, developing and implementing policies and procedures.

An excellent understanding of Health and Safety legislation and ability to comply with, and keep up to date with, current legislation.

Ability to understand and promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to multi-task and prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

Full, valid UK driving license.

Are you ready to join the Wilderness family? 

Please click ‘apply now’ to register your details with us online. You can also contact us at recruitment@awwltd.com

A member of our recruitment team will contact you to provide our full application form.  We thank you for taking the time to complete it.  

We are an equal opportunities employer and have a commitment to safeguarding children. We follow Safer Recruitment practices. The successful candidate will be subject to necessary background checks, governed by regulation, including obtaining an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring service (DBS), Access NI, or Disclosure Scotland.