Deputy Manager - Children's Residential Care

Deputy Manager – Children’s Residential

Location: Leatherhead

Salary: £40,000 - £43,500

Hours: 40 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm; flexibility required, including on-call duties

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Deputy Manager to join a children's residential home supporting children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and trauma-related needs.

Working alongside the Registered Manager, you will help ensure the home provides safe, high-quality, child-centred and therapeutic care in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards.

The role is a 50/50 split between management duties and direct care, allowing you to remain actively involved with the children and the day-to-day running of the home.

Key Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Registered Manager and take responsibility for the home in their absence.
• Provide strong leadership, guidance and support to the care team.
• Support staff with their performance, development and training.
• Manage staff rotas, staffing levels, sickness and annual leave.
• Conduct staff supervisions, appraisals and development plans.
• Ensure care records, incident reports, risk assessments and safeguarding documentation are accurate and up to date.
• Support Ofsted compliance, audits, inspections and Regulation 44 monitoring visits.
• Promote high standards of safeguarding, child protection and risk management.
• Support care planning and ensure children receive consistent, nurturing and individualised care.
• Promote PACE-informed and trauma-informed practice – Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy.
• Work with therapists, psychologists, social workers, local authorities, schools, healthcare professionals and families.
• Undertake direct shifts, supporting children's emotional wellbeing, routines, education, health and development.
• Participate in an on-call management rota and respond appropriately to emergencies when required.

About You

You will be an experienced Senior Residential Childcare Worker, Deputy Manager, Team Leader or similar with a strong understanding of children's residential care.

You should have:

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a senior or supervisory role within children's residential care.
• Experience supporting children and young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour, trauma or emotional difficulties.
• Experience of staff supervision, leadership and team development.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, child protection and care planning.
• Experience working within Ofsted-regulated children's homes.
• Experience of multi-agency and/or therapeutic working.
• Strong communication, leadership and organisational skills.
• The ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in challenging or emergency situations.
• A caring, resilient and child-centred approach.
• Ability to balance management responsibilities with direct care.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare – Essential
• Full UK Driving Licence – Essential
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare – desirable or willingness to work towards it.

Key Search Keywords

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