Company Overview
Our homes are more than places of care; they are places of belonging. Warm, calm and filled with life, they are where children and young people can feel safe, heard and held in mind.
We believe every child deserves to grow up feeling truly valued, not simply supported, but seen, understood and cared for in the way they need. We don’t treat care as a service. We treat it as a relationship, a commitment and a promise to walk alongside each young person with kindness, patience and respect.
We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Deputy Manager who shares this belief. Someone who can help lead a home where children experience consistent, nurturing care and where staff feel supported, guided and encouraged to give their very best.
This is more than supporting the Registered Manager with the running of the home. It is about helping to shape the culture within it. It is about being present, setting the standard and ensuring that every decision begins with the needs of the children.
Job Summary
As Deputy Manager, you will work closely with the Registered Manager to provide strong, thoughtful and child-centred leadership.
You will be visible within the home and actively involved in the children’s lives. You will know their plans, understand their experiences and help the staff team look beyond behaviour to recognise what each child may be trying to communicate.
You will support adults to remain calm and consistent during difficult moments, reflect on their practice and understand the difference they can make through the everyday care they provide.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Supporting the Registered Manager with the day-to-day leadership and development of the home
- Leading shifts and providing calm, confident guidance to the staff team
- Promoting a warm, nurturing and therapeutic approach to caring for children
- Ensuring children’s individual needs, wishes, feelings and plans remain central to their care
- Providing staff supervision, guidance, feedback and support
- Supporting the induction, development and ongoing learning of new and existing staff
- Helping staff reflect on incidents and understand what children may be communicating through their behaviour
- Maintaining high standards of safeguarding, care planning, risk management and record keeping
- Reviewing daily records, key-work sessions, incidents and other important documentation
- Supporting the oversight of medication, health and safety and the general running of the home
- Helping to plan rotas and ensure the home has safe and consistent staffing
- Supporting Regulation 44 visits and responding positively to feedback and recommendations
- Supporting the home before, during and following Ofsted inspections
- Contributing to monitoring, audits and the home’s development plans
- Building positive relationships with families, social workers, schools and other professionals
- Taking responsibility for the home in the Registered Manager’s absence
- Occasional Working shifts, including weekends to remain connected to the children and the staff team
- Taking part in the home’s on-call arrangements where required
What matters to us
We are looking for someone with experience, but also someone with warmth, emotional maturity and the ability to lead by example.
You must have:
- At least two years’ experience working in a senior role within a children’s residential home within the last 3 years
- A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or an accepted equivalent qualification
- Experience of supervising, guiding and developing staff
- Experience of leading shifts and taking responsibility for the safe running of a home
- Experience of supporting Regulation 44 visits
- Experience of contributing to or supporting Ofsted inspections
- A good understanding of safeguarding and the responsibilities involved in caring for children
- The confidence to challenge poor practice appropriately and recognise and celebrate good practice
- Strong written, organisational and communication skills
- A full UK driving licence
- Applicants must currently have the legal right to work in the UK. First4Care is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position, either on appointment or at a later date. Continued employment will be subject to the employee maintaining a valid right to work in the UK.
Ideally, you will already be working towards your Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, or be ready and willing to begin this as part of your continued development.
Most importantly, you will be someone who:
- Leads with kindness, honesty and consistency
- Remains calm and thoughtful when situations become difficult
- Understands that behaviour is a form of communication
- Can support staff while maintaining clear expectations and professional boundaries
- Is reflective and willing to keep learning
- Is dependable and follows through on what they say they will do
- Believes children deserve adults who stay alongside them through both the good days and the difficult ones
- Wants to help create a home that children can look back on as a place where they felt safe, cared for and proud of who they were becoming
Pay: £34,320.00-£35,360.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you currently have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship from First4Care?
- Do you have experience working within Ofsted Regulations?
Education:
- Diploma of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
- Senior care : 2 years (required)
Language:
Work Location: In person
