Job Title: Deputy Head of Operations
Salary: Circa £54,000 per annum
Hours: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Darlington-based; national travel required
Setting: Complex Care, Learning Disabilities and Autism
Overview:
Compass Associates is working with a values-led charity to recruit a Deputy Head of Operations for their Complex Care division. The organisation supports adults with autism, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviour, with a focus on hospital discharge and community living.
This is a brand new role. The Head of Operations built the Complex Care division from scratch over four years, embedding strong systems and a solid reputation. They are stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on strategy and needs a Deputy to take full ownership of operational delivery across four current services, with growth planned for 2026.
The organisation is a charity with a flat, collaborative structure. The culture is strongly values-led and shapes how decisions are made at every level.
The Candidate:
You will need a strong operational background at multi-site level combined with genuine, working knowledge of autism, challenging behaviour, and PBS values. Experience from home care, elderly care, or outside this client group will not be considered.
You do not need a PBS qualification, but you need to understand the theory and demonstrate how those values have shaped your practice. The organisation has its own bespoke restraint reduction model registered with the RRN. You will champion this alongside PBS and NAS accreditation frameworks.
Values fit is the deciding factor once baseline experience is confirmed. Everyone at every level is expected to know and live the values.
Key Responsibilities:
Line managing five Service Managers across complex care services. Maintaining visible presence within services and acting as senior operational lead in the absence of the Head of Operations.
Leading on internal quality assurance audits, monitoring, and service improvement plans. Supporting services through inspection activity and sustaining quality outcomes.
Holding accountability for CQC compliance. Maintaining relationships with regulators and commissioners. Ensuring services operate within NAS accreditation and RRN frameworks.
Acting as safeguarding champion across all services. Leading investigations into disciplinaries, grievances, safeguarding concerns, and complaints in line with PBS principles and RRN standards.
Holding budget accountability across each service. Acting on negative variance and reporting key risks to the Head of Operations.
Building relationships with local authorities, commissioners, and external agencies. Supporting tendering processes and new service mobilisation.
Essential Requirements:
Multi-site operations management in LD, Autism, or complex care. Working knowledge of PBS values and practice. Direct experience supporting adults with autism and challenging behaviour. NAS accreditation and RRN standards knowledge. Strong CQC compliance track record. Budget management across multiple services. Leadership and management qualification or equivalent. Experience managing grievances, disciplinaries, and safeguarding. Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel with overnight stays.
Desirable Criteria:
PBS or Autism qualification.
Experience of tender processes, service design, and budget development for new services.
Application Process:
To apply or request further information, contact Andy at Compass Associates for a confidential discussion.
0161 527 9632
Recommendations:
Compass Associates Ltd acts as a Recruitment Consultancy for this permanent vacancy. Successful referrals receive £500 in vouchers or a £500 charity donation.
About Compass Associates:
Established in 2009, Compass Associates is an award-winning UK specialist Health and Social Care Recruitment Consultancy, providing tailored recruitment solutions for permanent and interim assignments across the sector.
