At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dedicated team to create a safe, supportive environment for children aged 10-18.
- Company: Coventry City Council, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Full-time role with flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
- Why this job: Inspire change and champion care while shaping young lives every day.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's residential settings and a Level 3 or 4 Diploma in Residential Childcare.
The predicted salary is between 33900 - 41400 £ per year.
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our Values are:
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
About Us: We offer warm, family-style homes for children aged 10–18 years, providing individualised care tailored to each child’s needs. Our well-established homes across Coventry are places where children can heal, grow, and feel secure. As our service expands you could be a key part of this exciting journey.
What Makes Us Unique?
- Family Atmosphere: Our homes truly feel like home – offering stability and genuine care.
- Your Voice Matters: Our strategy is shaped by the views and experiences of both our children and our teams – you’ll help set the standards of excellence.
- Career Growth: As we expand, we offer outstanding opportunities for training, development, and progression within our service.
What Our Children Say: We regularly ask our children how they want to be cared for, and they’ve told us that:
- They want to be truly listened to and respected as individuals.
- They want to feel safe in a supportive environment.
- They value help to reach their full potential, develop independence, build strong relationships, and stay connected to familiar places and schools.
- Above all, they wish to make lasting, happy memories with caring adults who won’t give up on them.
By joining our highly motivated and dedicated management team, you’ll play a vital role in delivering exactly what our children have asked for.
What is the job role? There are several key areas that are essential to this role to support continuous service development and project-based work across the service:
- Role model: create and maintain a culture of relationship-based practice that improves outcomes for children and young people.
- Leader: support and deputise for the Registered Manager, communicate and assert values, and contribute to the development of the residential service.
- Organiser: lead on project development and new initiatives, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and quality standards, and manage budget effectively.
- Skilled Practitioner: facilitate the admission and transition of children, protect them from harm, and collaborate with other agencies to provide complementary services.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such, appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for? Our Ideal Candidate: Someone who can step into a role that truly makes a difference. As Deputy Manager in a Children’s Residential Home, you’ll help shape a safe, supportive environment where young people can thrive. Working alongside the Manager, you’ll play a key part in driving our residential strategy and leading a dedicated staff team. This is more than a job, it’s a chance to inspire change, champion care, and see the impact of your work every single day. It’s challenging, yes, but the rewards are extraordinary. If you’re ready to lead with purpose and passion, this is your opportunity.
You should have:
- A Diploma in Residential Childcare (Level 3 or 4).
- Recent, extensive experience of working in a children's residential setting.
- Willingness and ability to complete the Diploma in Leadership and Management qualification (Level 5) which is an Ofsted requirement.
- Experience in implementing current legislation, in particular the Children’s Home Regulations 2015 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2025).
- Experience in the recording and auditing of sensitive information, maintaining case files and evidence gathering systems, and adhering to confidentiality policies.
- Experience of managing staff and operational situations to a high standard in a similar environment.
- A holistic approach to delivering positive outcomes.
- Have a solid understanding of and be an advocate for the principles of diversity and inclusion in relation to workplace culture and service delivery.
In return we will offer you support and training and the opportunity to develop your front-line management skills. If this sounds like the perfect next step in your career, then we would love to hear from you.
Special Notes: Working Patterns & Posts: This is a full time post, 37 hours per week, on a rota basis including evenings, weekends (one weekend a month), bank holidays, sleep ins and out of hours on-call responsibilities to enable us to meet the needs of the children we look after.
Applications: as part of the process, you will need to provide us with your full work history since leaving school and identify any gaps in employment to meet the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.
Right to Work: all candidates must have Right to Work in the UK with a minimum of 2 years remaining on current Right to Work. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.
For role related queries, additional information or if you would like to arrange an informal conversation to discuss this role, please contact us via email at childrenshomeshr@coventry.gov.uk
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme: As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.
About Coventry: Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.
Salary: £39,152 - £46,142 per annum [£43,067 - £50,756 inc. shift allowances] plus on-call payments.
Frequency: Annual
Job Reference: coventrycc/TP/30633/11864
Contract Type: Full Time Permanent
Closing Date: 07 December, 2025
Job Category: Children's Services
Business Unit: Children & Education Service
Location: Coventry, United Kingdom (Incl. Northern Ireland)
Children’s Homes Deputy Manager in Coventry employer: Coventry City
Coventry City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values community engagement and environmental stewardship. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth and development while making a meaningful impact in local neighbourhoods. With a focus on teamwork and proactive problem-solving, this role provides a rewarding experience in a vibrant city dedicated to improving the lives of its residents.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children’s Homes Deputy Manager in Coventry
✨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 Coventry City.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Coventry City!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
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We think you need these skills to ace Children’s Homes Deputy Manager in Coventry
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 Coventry City:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Coventry City! 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 Coventry City
✨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
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨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.
