Responsible Individual

About the role

Medway Council is looking for an experienced and confident Responsible Individual to oversee its in-house portfolio of children's homes, subject to Ofsted approval. The postholder will report to the Head of Children's Commissioning, Placements and Residential Services and will sit within an experienced, high-performing senior management team.

This is a blended role, working part from Eden House and part from home, on a standard 37-hour week.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the in-house portfolio of children's homes and ensuring regulatory compliance
• Applying a detailed understanding of children's homes regulations and the PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) model of care
• Establishing and sustaining positive organisational culture across the homes
• Working effectively with a range of professionals across the public sector
• Operating as a senior manager within the commissioning, placements and residential services leadership team

To apply, submit your application through the Medway Council jobs portal, ensuring you clearly identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the Career Progression Framework (CPF) assessment. For an informal discussion about the role, contact James Harman at james.harman@medway.gov.uk.

About You

Medway Council is seeking someone with a positive approach and a track record in children's residential services at a senior level. You will bring both operational knowledge and the interpersonal skills to lead effectively across a multi-disciplinary environment.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience working with good and outstanding children's homes, with a detailed understanding of children's homes regulations
• Demonstrate knowledge of the PACE model of care and its application in residential children's services
• Have a history of establishing good organisational culture within children's services settings
• Be able to work effectively with a variety of professionals across the public sector
• Be able to demonstrate all Level A criteria within the person specification as essential requirements for appointment

Medway Council is committed to ensuring employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support, and is a Mindful Employer. Applications are welcomed from candidates across all backgrounds.

The successful postholder will be subject to an Enhanced Children's Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.

Medway Council's Offer to You

Medway Council has introduced Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) for all roles. These frameworks give employees ownership of their development within their post and provide a clear, structured route for progression and reward. The salary offered will be at Level A on appointment, with the opportunity to progress to Level B and then Level C based on demonstrated competency against the CPF criteria.

This role sits within an experienced and high-performing management team in Children's Services. You will be supported through induction, probation, and a Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation process, with the CPF helping you to identify areas of strength and any development needs from the outset. For full details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, refer to the Medway Information Pack available on the jobs portal.