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- Tasks: Lead and support residential care homes, ensuring high-quality care for vulnerable children.
- Company: Acorn Homes, a leading provider of outstanding residential care for children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive leadership culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your leadership career.
- Qualifications: Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare or equivalent experience required.
- Other info: Hands-on role with opportunities for progression to Responsible Individual.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
Acorn Homes is a provider of residential care homes for vulnerable children. We currently have multiple homes that have been rated "OUTSTANDING" by Ofsted and are adding more homes to the Acorn family. We are always looking for more enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our team. BE PART OF SHAPING SAFE, STABLE AND HIGH-QUALITY HOMES WHERE CHILDREN GENUINELY THRIVE.
Acorn Homes is seeking an experienced and values‑led residential care professional to join us as Deputy Head of Care. This is a senior leadership role supporting the Responsible Individual and Head of Care to provide strong oversight of quality, safeguarding and operational performance across our children’s homes. The Deputy Head of Care will work closely with Registered Managers and central support teams. You will play a key role in strengthening practice, supporting consistent leadership and ensuring children’s lived experiences remain at the heart of everything we do. This role is ideal for someone ready to take the next step towards Responsible Individual leadership, while maintaining clear and appropriate accountability boundaries.
Acorn Homes is offering its Deputy Head of Care ÂŁ70,000 to ÂŁ80,000 Per Annum depending on experience.
ABOUT THE DEPUTY HEAD OF CARE ROLE
As Deputy Head of Care, you will support the Head of Care in delivering safe, compliant and high‑quality residential care by:
- Providing visible, child‑centred leadership across homes
- Supporting Registered Managers through coaching, guidance and constructive challenge
- Monitoring quality, safeguarding and operational performance through visits, audits and data review
- Identifying risks early and ensuring timely escalation and follow‑up
- Supporting inspection readiness, improvement planning and learning from incidents
- Contributing to placement matching, commissioning relationships and service reputation
- Providing progression opportunities, to development into a Responsible Individual role in the future
This is a HANDS‑ON, OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLE, requiring regular presence in homes and close collaboration with managers and teams.
DEPUTY HEAD OF CARE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE
- Supporting compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted expectations
- Completing delegated audits, observations and quality assurance activity
- Supporting safeguarding oversight, risk management and escalation processes
- Monitoring workforce stability, rota arrangements and training compliance
- Supporting recruitment, induction, supervision and leadership development
- Contributing to referrals, matching and placement decision‑making under delegation
- Supporting continuous improvement, service development and consistency across homes
- Preparing reports and summaries to support governance and senior oversight
ABOUT YOU
You will be an experienced residential childcare professional with:
ESSENTIAL
- A Level 5 qualification in Residential Childcare, Social Care, Education or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Strong working knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards and Ofsted expectations
- Experience supporting or contributing to quality assurance, audits or inspection preparation
- Experience coaching, supporting or leading staff within residential services
- Sound safeguarding knowledge and confidence in escalation and risk management
- Strong organisational, communication and reporting skills
DESIRABLE
- Level 7 qualification or social work qualification
- Experience supporting Registered Managers or working in a senior oversight role
- Additional training in safeguarding, quality assurance, leadership or coaching
You will bring a CALM, PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE, with the confidence to challenge constructively and the judgement to know when to escalate.
WHAT WE OFFER
- A senior development role with clear exposure to Responsible Individual functions
- Supportive leadership and a strong values‑led culture
- Opportunities for professional development and progression
- The chance to make a meaningful impact on children’s safety, stability and outcomes
OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEPUTY HEAD OF CARE ROLE
- Enhanced DBS clearance
- Willingness to travel regularly to homes and attend meetings
- Ability to participate in the senior on‑call rota
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (or ability to travel effectively)
If you are passionate about improving children’s residential care, value strong governance and want to develop your leadership career in a supportive organisation, we would love to hear from you. APPLY NOW TO BE PART OF ACORN HOMES AND HELP SHAPE HIGH-QUALITY CARE THAT TRULY PUTS CHILDREN FIRST.
Deputy Head of Care employer: Acorn Homes (Group) Ltd
Contact Detail:
Acorn Homes (Group) Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Head of Care
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the care sector, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Acorn Homes thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent achievements. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership scenarios! As a Deputy Head of Care, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to handle challenges. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or improved care quality.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining Acorn Homes and making a difference in children's lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head of Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for working with vulnerable children shine through. We want to see your commitment to creating safe and nurturing environments where children can thrive.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in residential care and leadership. We’re looking for someone who understands the Children’s Homes Regulations and has a strong background in quality assurance and safeguarding.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see how you fit into the Deputy Head of Care role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Acorn Homes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Acorn Homes (Group) Ltd
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarise yourself with the Children’s Homes Regulations and Ofsted expectations. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the framework within which Acorn Homes operates, and it demonstrates your commitment to maintaining high standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your calm and supportive leadership style, and be ready to discuss how you handle challenges and support staff development. This will resonate well with the values of Acorn Homes.
✨Emphasise Child-Centred Care
Be prepared to talk about your approach to ensuring children's lived experiences are at the heart of care practices. Share specific instances where you've made a positive impact on children's lives, as this aligns perfectly with the mission of Acorn Homes.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Discuss your experience with quality assurance and how you've contributed to service improvements in previous roles. Showing that you're proactive about learning from incidents and implementing changes will highlight your suitability for the Deputy Head of Care position.
