Job Description:

Deputy Manager - Residential Children's Home (Learning Disabilities)

Location: South East Lincolnshire / Cambridge Boarder

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Working Hours: Full-time (Shift rotation including evenings, weekends, and hands-on care support)

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per annum (Depending on experience)

Our Client:

Our client is a dedicated and values-driven residential childcare provider committed to supporting children and young people with Learning Disabilities (LD). Operating with a therapeutic care ethos, they focus on creating safe, nurturing, and inclusive home environments where young people are empowered to thrive, develop independence, and achieve their full potential.

They offer an exceptionally supportive working culture that emphasises continuous professional development, strong safeguarding practice, and high standards of care across their homes.

The Role:

We are looking for an empathetic, hands-on, and resilient Deputy Manager to support the operational day-to-day management of a therapeutic 2-bed residential home for young people with Learning Disabilities.

Working directly alongside the Registered Manager, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining full Ofsted compliance, managing rotas, and driving high-quality care. This is not purely an office-based management position; you will lead from the front, working various shifts, providing direct care alongside the team, and ensuring a safe, structured, and warm environment for the children.

Key Duties:

• Ensure robust safeguarding underpins all daily practice; act as a champion for child protection and immediately report any practice concerns.
• Assist the Registered Manager in delivering services that meet or exceed the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Ofsted Quality Standards, and the home's Statement of Purpose.
• Manage staff rotas to ensure adequate shift coverage, assist with referral assessments, and oversee child-focused care plans and risk assessments.
• Work flexibly across shift patterns, stepping in to provide direct support worker duties and model best practices for staff whenever required.
• Deliver regular staff supervisions, annual appraisals, and workforce planning, while promoting a positive and respectful team culture.
• Support Regulation 44 visits, complete monthly management audits, and assist with Ofsted/local authority inspections and continuous service improvement.
• Help monitor delegated budgets, inspect physical premises to ensure high standards of repair and cleanliness, and maintain good value for money.

What You Need:

• Proven experience in a senior or supervisory role within a residential children's home environment (experience supporting young people with Learning Disabilities is strongly preferred).
• Ideally hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (England) or equivalent qualification.
• Solid working knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, Ofsted inspection frameworks, and current safeguarding procedures.
• Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills, with the willingness to work flexible shift patterns alongside the team.
• Due to the sensitive nature of this role, any offer of employment is subject to strict vetting, screening, and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package with room for professional growth.
• Ongoing support towards higher-level management qualifications (e.g., Level 5 Diploma).
• A supportive, collaborative leadership structure and friendly working environment.
• The opportunity to make a direct, lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Could this be your next challenge? If you are an experienced residential care professional ready to take the next step into a key leadership role within a supportive 2-bed therapeutic home, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV or contact PJ Cummings on / (phone number removed) for an initial confidential discussion.

Important Notice:

Dovetail and Slate is a market leading public sector recruitment company. We specialise in hiring across various public sector industries, including positions supporting children and vulnerable adults. With our extensive range of roles, we are confident we can find the right match for you, so if the current vacancy does not seem relevant to your expertise, we welcome you to upload your CV or give us a call to discuss your ideal position, with our dedicated team.

Dovetail and Slate is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, applicants, and clients to share this commitment.

This role may involve work with under 18's or vulnerable adults. Any appointment will be made subject to strict vetting and screening checks and receipt of a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. Dovetail and Slate Ltd acts as an Employment Agency (perm) and an Employment Business (temp/contract).

Because education matters. Dovetail and Slate Limited ((phone number removed)) acts as an Employment Agency

Because education matters. Dovetail and Slate Limited ((phone number removed)) acts as an Employment Agency.