Operations Director - Children's Residential Services

Area Camden
Operations Director & Responsible Individual
Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum plus performance-related bonus
Hours: 40 hours per week
Location: Greater London

About Us

Area Camden, part of the Polaris Community, is seeking an experienced and ambitious Operations Director & Responsible Individual to lead and develop our high-performing residential children's services.

With a long-standing track record of achieving Good and Outstanding Ofsted outcomes since 2014, Area Camden is dedicated to providing safe, nurturing and aspirational homes where children and young people can thrive.

We currently operate seven established children's homes, all supported by a strong quality framework and experienced management teams, with two additional homes planned to open as part of our ambitious growth strategy. This creates an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to influence the future direction of the organisation while maintaining the high standards for which Area Camden is recognised.

At Area Camden, children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. As part of the Polaris Community, you will join an organisation with a strong reputation for quality, innovation and positive outcomes.

Our quality framework is well embedded across the organisation, supported by an experienced leadership team and a dedicated Head of Care. We are now seeking a strategic leader who can build upon these strong foundations, maintain our excellent standards and ensure quality and compliance remain at the heart of every service as the organisation continues to develop.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior leader and qualified social work professional to shape the future of a successful residential care provider and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people.

Why Join Area Camden?

Joining Area Camden means becoming part of a provider with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality care and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people. We value strong leadership, reflective practice and professional development, and we are committed to giving our leaders the support they need to succeed and make a lasting difference.

In addition to a competitive salary and performance-related bonus structure, we offer a comprehensive and collaborative support network to ensure our senior leaders are empowered to deliver exceptional outcomes for children and young people:

• Proven track record of excellence: Since 2014, Area Camden has consistently achieved Good and Outstanding Ofsted ratings, providing a stable and high-performing environment in which senior leaders can succeed
• Strong systems and operational structure: We have well-established systems, processes and frameworks in place to support the effective management and oversight of our services, enabling you to focus on driving quality, performance and positive outcomes for children and young people
• Part of the wider Polaris Community: As part of the Polaris Community, you will benefit from a broad range of specialist central support services, including:
  • Dedicated recruitment team
  • HR, people and employee relations support
  • Quality assurance and compliance teams
  • Learning and development programmes
  • Safeguarding specialists
  • Health and safety teams
• Experienced leadership team: Work alongside experienced operational leaders committed to maintaining excellence across our services
• A wider professional network: You will be part of a collaborative residential community, providing opportunities to share best practice, drive innovation and contribute to service development
• Opportunities to influence and shape services: Play a key role in strategic decision-making, quality improvement initiatives and the future direction of the organisation
• Continuous development and shared learning: We are committed to supporting your professional growth through training, development opportunities and peer support

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across Area Camden's residential services.

You will hold shared Responsible Individual responsibilities alongside the Head of Care, providing oversight across our existing portfolio of homes while supporting future growth and development. The su