At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to transform young lives in a supportive children's home environment.
- Company: Join St Christopher's, a leading charity dedicated to children's welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in residential care required.
The predicted salary is between 51250 - 51250 £ per year.
Salary: up to £51,250 per annum depending on experience and qualifications
40 hours per week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Contract: Permanent
Location: East Croydon (Sanderstead Station)
We have a fantastic opportunity to join St Christopher's fellowship as a Deputy Manager for our new specialist Children’s home in Croydon. You will work alongside the Registered Manager to lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by Team Leaders, experienced Residential Practitioners, as well as our Wrap Around and Education Teams.
About Us
Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future. St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK. We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home. We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong. We hope to attract applications from under-represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.
About the Role
As Deputy Manager, you will lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Team Leaders, and the team of residential staff.
Key aspect of the role:
- To assist the manager in safeguarding and ensuring every child and young person receives high quality care as measured by Ofsted in the social care common inspection framework.
- To assist the manager in the management of the home, including the staff, external relationships, the budget, the resources and fabric of the building.
St Christopher’s Academy
Our 'St Christopher’s Academy' ensures our staff is continually developing. We will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions.
The successful candidate will have:
- A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Nursing, Youth Work etc)
- A willingness to undertake a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, if possessing only a Level 3 qualification relevant to the role
- At least 2 years’ experience in residential children’s homes
- At least 1 years’ experience of staff supervision and management responsibility.
- Ability to develop appropriate one-to-one relationships with young people and employ mentoring skills that empower young people to achieve their goals.
- Numeracy skills to manage budgets efficiently and contribute to the budgetary process.
- An understanding of the regulatory framework relevant to the provision of residential services for children and young people.
- Awareness of issues facing young people such as bullying, gangs and exploitation and how these impact on behaviour.
- An understanding of trauma informed practice
- Ability to work shifts including weekends and bank holidays and undertake sleep‑ins.
- Ability and willingness to be part of an on‑call rota overseeing multiple Homes.
In return we offer:
- Starting salary up to £51,250 per annum depending on experience and qualifications
- Opportunities to develop your career and become a Registered Manager.
- A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
- 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro‑rata.
- Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s rights and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
- Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
- UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
- BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
- Discretionary funded training programs.
- Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
- Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.
Recruitment Process
At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements. Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting. Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. For the full Job Description and Person Specification please visit our website. CV’s will not be accepted.
For more information or assistance during the application process, please contact us via our website. Please note: This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’. It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children. All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.
Deputy Manager - Children’s Home - Croydon in London employer: Assistancedogs
Assistance Dogs is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a flexible hybrid working model, generous leave allowances, and a commitment to personal development, you will find a supportive work culture that values empathy and collaboration. This role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals but also provides opportunities for further training and advancement within the organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Manager - Children’s Home - Croydon in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Assistancedogs.
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We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Manager - Children’s Home - Croydon in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Assistancedogs:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Assistancedogs! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Assistancedogs
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
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✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
