Job Description:

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

Deputy Manager | Deputy Children's Home Manager | Children's Residential Deputy Manager | Residential Childcare | Children's Residential Care | Children's Home | Registered Manager | Senior Residential Support Worker | Senior Childcare Worker | Team Leader | Children and Young People | Ofsted | Safeguarding | Child Protection | Trauma-Informed Care | PACE | Therapeutic Care | Complex Needs | Challenging Behaviour | Care Planning | Staff Supervision | Staff Management | Quality Standards | Children's Homes Regulations 2015 | Regulation 44 | Level 3 Residential Childcare | Level 5 Leadership and Management

Important Information

Interested? Please apply with an up-to-date CV. Due to the regulated nature of Children's Residential Care, successful candidates will be required to complete all relevant safer recruitment and pre-employment checks before starting work.

Right to Work: Please only apply if you already have the right to work in the UK for this position. Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

Safer Recruitment & Safeguarding: YourRecruit is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointments to roles within children's residential services will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, which may include an Enhanced DBS check, verification of employment history, satisfactory references, qualification checks, identity and Right to Work checks, and exploration of any gaps in employment, in line with the requirements of the role and provider.

Know someone suitable? YourRecruit operates a paid referral scheme, so if this role isn't right for you but you know someone who may be interested, please get in touch.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within 7 days, unfortunately you have not been shortlisted for this particular vacancy. We would, however, be pleased to consider you for other suitable opportunities.

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