Search & Selection UK Ltd
Head of Children Services
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Head of Children’s Services
Location: Sussex
Salary: Up to £90,000 per annum
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
We are recruiting for an experienced and driven Head of Children’s Services to join a growing group of children’s residential homes across Sussex.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who can provide strategic direction across multiple services while maintaining a strong focus on quality, safeguarding, compliance, and positive outcomes for children and young people.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the continued development of the organisation, working closely with Registered Managers and senior leaders to ensure services consistently deliver high standards of care.
The Role
As Head of Children’s Services, you will be responsible for providing effective leadership and oversight across a number of residential children’s homes.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing strategic and operational leadership across multiple children’s residential services
- Supporting, developing, and challenging Registered Managers to achieve consistently high standards
- Ensuring services are fully compliant with Ofsted regulations, legislation, and internal policies
- Maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people
- Monitoring service performance, quality, and outcomes
- Supporting the development and implementation of improvement plans where required
- Working closely with senior leadership to drive organisational growth and development
- Promoting a positive culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Ensuring children and young people receive outstanding care and support
- Building strong relationships with Local Authorities, Ofsted, and other external stakeholders
- Supporting recruitment, retention, and development of strong management teams
- Overseeing and contributing to the development of policies, procedures, and quality assurance processes
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About You
We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong background within children’s residential care.
You will ideally have:
- Significant experience within children’s residential services
- Experience managing or overseeing multiple children’s homes/services
- Strong knowledge of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding, and the Children’s Homes Regulations
- Experience leading and developing Registered Managers
- A proven track record of improving service quality and outcomes
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills
- The ability to operate strategically while remaining close to operational delivery
- A strong understanding of safeguarding and regulatory compliance
- A relevant Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or equivalent
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people
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What’s on Offer
- Salary up to £90,000 per annum
- Senior leadership position with significant responsibility and influence
- Opportunity to shape and develop a growing group of children’s services
- Supportive senior leadership environment
- Opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people
- Long-term career progression
Interested?
If you are an experienced children’s residential leader ready to take the next step into a senior group-level position, we would be keen to hear from you.
Apply now for a confidential conversation about the role.
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