Therapeutic Residential Children's Home Deputy Manager

Full-time: 37.5 hours per week £36,000 to £40,000 / £18.46 to £20.51

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Deputy Manager to join our children's residential home.

This is a key leadership role where you will help ensure children and young people receive safe, nurturing and high-quality therapeutic care, while supporting and developing a strong staff team.

You will provide visible leadership across the home, remain actively involved in direct care and deputise fully for the Registered Manager in their absence, taking responsibility for the safe and effective running of the home.

What we offer

We want our employees to feel supported, valued and able to develop throughout their career. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Annual leave that increases with length of service

• Complimentary Perkbox membership, giving access to a range of discounts, rewards and wellbeing benefits

• Complimentary access to counselling services

• Long service awards

• Free parking

• Refer a friend bonus

• Funded CPD and ongoing learning opportunities

• Career development and progression opportunities

• A supportive working environment

About the role

As Deputy Manager, you will:

• Deputise for the Registered Manager, taking responsibility for the day-to-day operation and safe running of the home in their absence.

• Provide clear and visible leadership to Team Leaders and Residential Support Workers, promoting accountability, reflective practice and a positive therapeutic culture.

• Support the Registered Manager with service development, planning and continuous improvement.

• Champion a child-centred and trauma-informed approach, ensuring care reflects each child's individual needs, wishes and feelings.

• Support the development and review of care plans, placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.

• Embed the home's Therapeutic Framework, including therapeutic approaches such as PACE, into everyday practice.

• Oversee key workers to ensure casework, care plans and reports are accurate, up to date and reflective of the child's voice.

• Support children and young people to build trusting relationships, develop life skills and achieve their goals and aspirations.

• Safeguard children and young people and ensure concerns are identified, recorded and escalated appropriately.

• Support compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Ofsted Quality Standards, Statement of Purpose and organisational policies and procedures.

• Support the Registered Manager with Ofsted inspections and contribute to quality assurance, audits, health and safety inspections and Regulation 44 and Regulation 45 processes.

• Support recruitment, safer recruitment checks, induction, supervisions,

• Support the management of staff performance and the development of Team Leaders.

• Participate in the on-call rota and provide support and guidance to staff out of hours.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) and, ideally, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management. Where the Level 5 qualification is not already held, there must be a commitment to undertake and successfully complete it within the required timeframe.

• Has significant experience working in a children's residential setting, including senior or supervisory experience.

• Has strong knowledge of safeguarding, child development, children's legislation and Ofsted requirements.

• Has experience supporting children and young people with complex needs and/or challenging behaviour.

• Is confident managing challenging situations, safeguarding concerns and complex behaviour, with sound judgement and decision-making skills.

• Has strong leadership, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to motivate, support and develop a team.

• Can produce clear, accurate and professional written records and reports.

• Holds a full UK driving licence.

• Is willing to work shifts, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins and participate in an on-call rota.

It would be great if you also have

• Previous experience working as a Deputy Manager.

• Experience participating in Ofsted inspections and supporting Regulation 44 and Regulation 45 processes.

• Experience supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

• Knowledge of therapeutic approaches such as PACE or trauma-informed care.

Why join us?

As Deputy Manager, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference not only to the lives of the children and young people we support, but also to the team caring for them.

You will help create a consistent, therapeutic and nurturing environment while developing the people, practice and processes that enable children to thrive.

If you are an experienced residential childcare professional ready to take the next step in your leadership career, we would love to hear from you