Job Description:

Rooted in Care. Giving Change a Chance.

At Arbour Healthcare Group, we provide specialist residential care for children and young people who need safe, consistent, nurturing and emotionally attuned adults around them.

We support young people with complex needs, trauma histories, emotional and behavioural needs, learning disabilities and experiences that may have shaped how they see themselves, others and the world around them.

Our work is not about simply managing behaviour. It is about understanding the story behind it, building trust, creating emotional safety and helping young people believe that change is possible.

We are now looking for a Deputy House Manager to support the leadership of one of our specialist solo or dual-occupancy children’s homes.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will support the Registered House Manager, lead shifts, guide the team and be a visible presence in the home. This is not a role for someone who wants to lead from behind a desk. Our Deputy Managers are on the floor, in the detail and part of the daily life of the home.

About the role

As Deputy House Manager, you will play a key role in the safe, effective and high-quality running of the home.

You will support the Registered House Manager with day-to-day operations, staff leadership, rota coordination, supervision, care planning, safeguarding, recording, quality standards and the overall culture of the home.

You will also hold Keyworker responsibility for at least one young person, ensuring their voice, safety, progress and lived experience remain central to the care they receive.

You will help ensure that the home is structured, nurturing, therapeutic and consistent, while supporting staff to deliver care in line with our RESET Care Model.

RESET means Reassure, Empower, Support, Educate and Transition. It is not just a model. It is how we expect care and leadership to show up every day.

What you will be doing

• Supporting the Registered House Manager with the daily leadership and operation of the home
• Leading shifts and ensuring staff are clear, confident and accountable
• Supporting rota planning, shift delegation and appropriate staffing levels
• Acting as a Keyworker for an allocated young person
• Leading and supporting weekly Keyworker sessions
• Ensuring the young person’s voice, progress and needs are reflected in records, plans and reviews
• Coaching, mentoring and supervising Residential Children’s Support Workers
• Supporting staff development, confidence and professional practice
• Promoting a safe, structured and nurturing home environment
• Supporting safeguarding, incident reporting and professional escalation
• Contributing to care planning, risk assessment and placement planning
• Liaising with social workers, schools, CAMHS, IROs, families and other professionals
• Maintaining accurate electronic records, daily logs, reports and handovers
• Supporting young people with routines, emotional regulation, relationships, education, health and life skills
• Championing the RESET Care Model across the home
• Participating in the on-call duty rota
• Role-modelling calm, respectful and professional leadership

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Deputy House Manager who is emotionally intelligent, resilient and able to lead with both warmth and accountability.

You will need to be confident supporting young people with complex needs, while also supporting staff to deliver consistent, safe and therapeutic care.

You will have:

• Level 2/3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent
• At least 2 years’ experience working with children in residential care
• Experience working as a Key Worker, Senior Support Worker, Team Leader or similar shift-leading role
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and an understanding of professional boundaries
• Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations, Ofsted expectations and/or CIW expectations
• The ability to manage challenging situations calmly and effectively
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence using IT systems and electronic care records
• The ability to lead, coach and support staff on shift
• A willingness to work towards Level 5, where required
• A UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

What will make you successful

You will be successful in this role if you can lead from the front, stay calm under pressure and hold people to high standards without losing compassion.

You will need to be the kind of Deputy Manager who notices when practice is drifting, steps in when staff need guidance and keeps the young person at the centre of every decision.

You will also need to be organised, reliable and confident with records, rotas, safeguarding, communication and professional accountability.

This role requires someone who can support both the young person and the team. That means being visible, consistent and brave enough to challenge poor practice when needed.

What makes Arbour Healthcare Group different?

At Arbour Healthcare Group, our mission is clear: Rooted in Care. Giving Change a Chance.

We believe every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, safe and supported.

Our RESET Care Model places trust, healing, emotional safety and human connection at the heart of care. We do not simply look at behaviour. We look at the unmet need, the communication and the story behind it.

We also believe our staff deserve strong leadership, clear expectations and the right support to do their jobs well. As Deputy House Manager, you will be central to creating that culture.

Our expectations

This is a leadership role, and the expectations are high.

You will be expected to be present, proactive and accountable.

You will need to lead on the floor, not from the sidelines.

You will need to support the Registered House Manager, guide the team, understand the young person’s needs and help ensure the home is always safe, structured and inspection-ready.

You will need to use digital systems confidently, as Arbour Healthcare Group operates paperless services.

You will also be expected to participate in the on-call rota and support the wider leadership needs of the service.

Most importantly, you will need to believe that change is possible, even when progress is difficult, slow or misunderstood.

Ready to give change a chance?

If you are an experienced children’s residential practitioner who is ready to step into a meaningful Deputy Manager role, we would like to hear from you - so apply now.