Job Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Deputy Manager to oversee the daily operations of our Children's Home. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the wellbeing, safety, and development of children in our care. This position offers an opportunity to lead a compassionate team within a supportive environment, contributing positively to the lives of vulnerable children. The Deputy Manager will support the Registered Manager in maintaining high standards of care, compliance with regulatory requirements, and fostering a nurturing atmosphere for both children and staff.
Honeycomb Care Children’s Service are a dedicated and compassionate children's residential care provider supporting young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). We provide a safe, stable, and trauma-informed therapeutic environment where children are supported to heal, develop resilience, and achieve positive long-term outcomes.
Our organisation is led by an experienced and highly qualified management team with extensive backgrounds in children's residential care, safeguarding, and therapeutic practice. This ensures strong leadership, clear accountability, and consistently high standards of care across all services.
We are committed to delivering care in line with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards, ensuring that children's welfare, safety, and progress remain at the centre of everything we do.
We believe that the voice of the child is paramount, and children are actively supported to participate in decisions about their care, daily routines, and future planning in line with their individual needs and communication abilities.
We also promote a culture where children are supported to express their emotions safely and freely, without fear of punitive or disproportionate responses. Emotional expression is understood through a trauma-informed lens, recognising behaviour as communication and responding with empathy, consistency, and therapeutic support.
The Role
As Deputy Manager, you will play a key leadership role in the day-to-day running of the home, supporting the Registered Manager to ensure high standards of care, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance are consistently achieved. This role is ideally suited to an individual who is motivated to develop their leadership skills and progress towards becoming a Registered Home Manager.
Working alongside an experienced and highly qualified management team, you will receive the support, guidance, and mentorship necessary to develop your leadership capabilities and achieve your career aspirations.
You will lead shifts, support staff development, oversee care planning, and ensure the home operates in line with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards and current best practice.
You will play a pivotal role in promoting a culture of trauma-informed, child-centred care, ensuring that the welfare, safety, and progress of children and young people remain at the heart of all practice and decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Registered Manager in the effective day-to-day running of the home
- Lead, motivate, and develop the staff team to deliver outstanding care
- Ensure the home operates in accordance with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards
- Promote and embed safeguarding practices throughout the service
- Oversee care planning, risk assessments, and placement planning
- Ensure children's care plans are implemented, reviewed, and regularly evaluated
- Lead shifts and provide effective management support to staff
- Support recruitment, induction, supervision, and staff performance management
- Develop positive working relationships with families, social workers, schools, and external agencies
- Promote positive behaviour support using trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches
- Part of the On Call team
- Monitor and maintain high standards of record keeping and regulatory compliance
- Support the Registered Manager during inspections and quality assurance processes
What We're Looking For
We are seeking a motivated and experienced professional who can demonstrate:
- Significant experience within children's residential care, preferably within an EBD setting
- Previous experience in a Senior Residential Support Worker or Deputy Manager role
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, and safer recruitment practices
- Good understanding and practical application of safeguarding procedures
- Experience of leading, motivating, and developing staff teams
- Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills
- Ability to remain calm, resilient, and consistent under pressure
- Commitment to delivering trauma-informed, child-centred care
- A passion for achieving positive outcomes for children and young people
Essential Qualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) - Essential
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare - Desirable
- Willingness to work towards the Level 5 Diploma if not already achieved
- Full UK driving licence preferred
Training, Development & Career Progression
We are deeply committed to the growth and development of our staff team. We provide comprehensive induction training and ongoing professional development opportunities designed to strengthen knowledge, skills, and confidence in children’s residential care.
Our commitment includes:
- Structured induction and mandatory training programme
- Trauma-informed practice training to help staff understand the impact of early life experiences, attachment needs, and how these shape behaviour
- Training in understanding behaviour as communication, supporting positive and reflective responses rather than punitive approaches
- Ongoing safeguarding, behaviour management, and therapeutic care training
- Opportunities to gain recognised qualifications in residential childcare
- Regular supervision, reflective practice, and career progression support
- A culture that values learning, development, and continuous improvement
- Support to achieve Level 5 Diplomas
- Continuous professional development and training pathways
- Leadership and management development programmes
- Ongoing supervision and reflective practice sessions
- Continuous professional development opportunities
- Structured progression pathway towards Registered Home Manager
This role offers an enriching opportunity for dedicated professionals committed to making a positive impact on children's lives through compassionate leadership and expert care.
Our Values
We believe every child has the right to safety, stability, dignity, and opportunity. We are committed to providing trauma-informed, child-centred care that promotes emotional wellbeing, resilience, and positive long-term outcomes.
We promote a culture where children feel safe to express their emotions freely and without fear of prejudice, judgement, or punishment. The voice of the child is paramount in everything we do.
Pay: £33,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
