Deputy Manager

Reports to: Registered Manager

Responsible for: Residential care staff and day-to-day running of the home

Hours: 39 or 45 hours per week (rota including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins)

Salary: £33,117.24 - £41,581.80 (dependent on experience) (39 or 45 hour contracts)

Job Purpose

As Deputy Manager, you will support and lead the Residential Care Worker team to deliver high-quality, child-centred care. You will ensure consistent planning, monitoring and evaluation of each child’s needs, promoting their safety, wellbeing and development. You will also have the knowledge and capability to manage the home in the Registered Manager’s absence.

Leadership and Management

• Provide effective line management for the care team, ensuring staff receive appropriate induction, supervision and performance management
• Promote strong team development and collaborative working to support high-quality care
• Model best practice at all times and monitor staff performance, including attendance and conduct
• Ensure consistent practice and boundaries across the team to maintain a safe and stable environment for young people

Principle Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Care and Support for Children and Young People

• Promote the welfare, development and positive experiences of children and young people
• Ensure each young person’s care, education and health needs are met, including access to culturally significant activities
• Support young people to participate in the residential community as part of their social and emotional development
• Maintain a nurturing, child-centred and homely environment that reflects individual needs

Care Planning, Reviews and Assessment

• Lead and contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of individual care plans, education plans and assessments
• Communicate identified needs, strategies and required support across internal and external forums
• Ensure young people are appropriately involved in planning and reviewing their own care
• Respond to referrals within required timescales and contribute to matching decisions
• Support the Registered Manager and school in setting review targets and contributing to house development plans
• Prepare and implement action plans following Regulation 44 visits within agreed timescales
• Ensure high standards of case recording and reporting in line with Foundation expectations and regulatory standards

Operational Leadership and Quality Standards

• Support communication, planning and the assessment cycle within the home
• Ensure staff practice aligns with the home’s Statement of Purpose and Quality Care Standards 2015
• Promote consistent and coherent practice across the Foundation
• Highlight operational issues and ensure actions are communicated and followed through as part of monitoring processes
• Ensure all policies, procedures and regulatory requirements are adhered to at all times

Environment and Resources

• Maintain a welcoming and well-presented home environment
• Oversee the care and maintenance of the building, grounds and equipment, encouraging staff and young people to take pride in their surroundings
• Ensure risk assessments are completed, reviewed and updated when required

Financial Responsibilities

• Support the effective management of delegated budgets in line with Foundation guidance
• Monitor expenditure and ensure financial controls (including petty cash and purchase orders) are followed

Communication and Partnership Working

• Maintain strong communication and consultation with local authorities, parents/carers and significant others throughout each placement.
• Build and sustain positive relationships with internal and external professionals to support effective multi-agency working.

Professional Practice and Development

• Maintain high standards of childcare and adapt practice to meet the changing needs of children and young people
• Seek guidance from line management when unsure of systems or processes
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills through training and continuous learning
• Ensure Education and Care Workers deliver practice in line with the Caldecott Model of Care
• Continually assess and develop your own leadership and management skills through the Foundation’s performance management processes

Safeguarding

• Take responsibility for specified safeguarding duties within the home in line with Foundation and statutory requirements
• Ensure Local Authority Child Protection Procedures and Caldecott safeguarding policies are implemented consistently and effectively
• Protect children and young people from any risks to their health, welfare and development, both inside and outside the home
• Identify, record and report safeguarding concerns promptly and accurately, following organisational and statutory procedures
• Ensure staff understand and follow safeguarding procedures, promoting a culture of vigilance and child-centred practice
• Support staff to recognise, respond to and escalate concerns about children and young people’s safety or wellbeing
• Promote safe working practices throughout the home, ensuring children’s rights, voices and individual needs are central to all decision-making
• Contribute to multi-agency safeguarding work by providing clear, accurate information and participating in relevant meetings

Health & Safety

• Maintain an active awareness of Fire Regulations and Health & Safety requirements
• Ensure the home consistently meets all health, safety and fire compliance standards
• Ensure fire drills, checks and safety records are completed accurately and within required timescales
• Support staff to follow safe working practices and understand their Health & Safety responsibilities
• Monitor the safety of children and young people in line with relevant legislation and good practice
• Ensure medication procedures, storage and administration follow Foundation and statutory guidelines

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Contribute to the development and implementation of clear Equality, Diversity and Inclusion objectives across the service
• Promote anti-oppressive, ethical and culturally sensitive practice that recognises and respects individual identity, beliefs and needs
• Ensure services promote equity and inclusion for all children, young people, families and staff
• Recognise and respond appropriately to issues relating to disability, discrimination and disadvantage in line with legislation and Foundation policy
• Model and encourage a positive, respectful and inclusive approach towards all service users and colleagues
• Support the creation of an environment where every child and young person feels valued, heard and able to thrive

The duties listed above describe the main responsibilities of the role but are not exhaustive. These may be reviewed and updated over time to meet the needs of the service. Additional annual objectives will be agreed with the post holder as part of ongoing supervision and development. The post holder may also be asked to carry out other reasonable tasks as required. All staff are expected to follow the Foundation’s Code of Conduct and represent the organisation positively at all times.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics and English
• Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare / Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) or equivalent
• Ability to demonstrate Level 2 literacy and numeracy.

Experience

• Substantial experience of working with children and young people in a residential setting
• Experience of supervising and supporting staff
• Experience of working with children and young people who present very challenging social, emotional and behavioural needs
• Evidence of contributing to service development and problem-solving at team or middle-management level

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to lead, mentor and motivate staff to provide high quality care and support
• Working knowledge of the Quality Care Standards, Children’s Homes Regulations and associated guidance
• Ability to case manage and prepare care plans and reports within organisational review processes
• Understanding of Health and Safety requirements in a residential childcare setting
• Ability to lead and support behaviour management within a multi-disciplinary team
• Working knowledge of the Every Child Matters framework
• Knowledge of the range of services available within the local authority and ability to act as an advocate for children, young people and families
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work effectively in a busy environment
• Ability to administer, organise and maintain accurate records
• Ability to participate in and contribute to meetings which produce clear, developmental outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in an integrated way across care, education and health

Personal Qualities:

• Child-centred, trauma-informed and committed to improving outcomes for children and young people
• Resilient, emotionally robust and able to remain calm under pressure
• Reflective, open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement
• Able to build positive, professional relationships with children, families, colleagues and external partners
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promoting anti-discriminatory practice.
• Flexible and able to adapt to the changing needs of the service

Special Requirements:

• Enhanced DBS clearance
• Willingness to occasionally work outside normal office hours
• Ability to travel between sites
• Right to work in the UK
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable Qualifications

• Willingness to participate in continual professional development
• Additional relevant qualifications demonstrating ongoing professional development

Experience

• Experience of managing budgets and financial systems

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience of using performance management, supervision and observation to support staff development

Personal Qualities:

• Confidence in representing the home and Foundation in multi-agency forums

Deadline for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026.