RESPONSIBLE
INDIVIDUAL
Responsible Individual (Part-Time)
2x Children’s Residential Homes (EBD)
Location: Rushden / Northamptonshire area
Day rate: £350 to £500 per day (DOE) | Around 4 days per month (manage your own dairy)
Two small children’s homes, both with Ofsted feedback that points squarely at Leadership & Management and recording, are looking for a Responsible Individual. The basics are there: two managers in post, separate homes, directors who are present and invested, and a team who care. What’s missing is that consistent, strategic oversight that pulls everything together and nudges the standard up a level.
They don’t need another manager. They need an RI who can stand slightly above the noise, look across both homes and say, “Here’s what’s working, here’s what needs tightening, and here’s how we’ll do it.”
The opportunity
This is a part-time RI role (around 4 days a month) with a small, owner-led provider. You’re not one of ten layers of hierarchy. You work directly with the two owners and the two Registered Managers, with real influence and a clear brief:
- Take the Ofsted feedback.
- Turn it into a plan.
- Help everyone stick to it.
The aim is simple: help move both homes from “requires improvement in Leadership & Management” to solid, confident practice that stands up to scrutiny and feels good on the floor.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll focus on strategic oversight, not day-to-day rota juggling:
Providing RI oversight for two children’s homes, with a clear line of sight across both services
Turning inspection reports, Reg 44s and internal audits into practical, time-bound improvement plans
Strengthening Leadership & Management and reporting/recording in line with Ofsted expectations
Holding structured governance meetings with the owners and Registered Managers
Visiting the homes regularly, walking the floor, reading the culture and feeding back honestly
Challenging and supporting Registered Managers in equal measure, with no favourites
Keeping policies, QA tools and monitoring aligned to Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and SCCIF
Making sure safeguarding, thresholds, escalation and learning are crystal clear
Preparing the organisation for future inspections, with evidence that stands up and stories that make sense
About you
You’ll probably recognise yourself in most of this:
Experienced as a Responsible Individual, Senior Ops / Regional Manager, or very strong RM with multi-home oversight
Proven track record improving or sustaining Good or better in children’s homes
Confident with Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, SCCIF and good Reg 44 / 45 practice
Comfortable giving clear, direct feedback to managers while keeping relationships intact
Able to balance accountability with support; you expect high standards and help people reach them
Strong on reporting and recording, with an eye for gaps and a knack for making systems usable
Happy working in a small, owner-led setup where visibility, honesty and regular communication matter
Based within sensible reach of Northamptonshire / Rushden for meaningful on-site time
What’s on offer
Day rate: around £350 to £500 per day, depending on experience
Pattern: roughly 4 days per month, with flexibility around which days
Status: part-time employee or self-employed consultant, open to discussion
Scope: two children’s homes, both with clear Ofsted feedback and improvement potential
Direct access to owners who are engaged, open to challenge and want proper RI input
Genuine influence over Leadership & Management, reporting and overall QA
A chance to shape a healthier dynamic between RI, managers and owners, without having to run the homes yourself
This will suit someone who enjoys the strategic side of residential care, likes straight conversations and wants to use their experience where it actually counts.
How to apply
If you’re an experienced RI, Regional or Senior Registered Manager and this sounds like your kind of set-up, click apply below.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an initial conversation, followed by a more detailed discussion with the owners.
Safer recruitment applies: all offers are subject to references, Enhanced DBS and right-to-work checks.