Most deputy manager roles in residential care feel like you're firefighting all day, buried in paperwork, with little chance to actually lead or develop your team. This one is different. We're looking for someone ready to step up into real leadership at a thriving children's home in Lancashire, where your impact on young people's lives and your team's morale actually matters
You'll walk into a home where structure and safeguarding sit alongside genuine warmth. The young people here have complex needs, and they need adults who can hold boundaries with kindness and consistency. As deputy manager, you're not just enforcing rules from behind a desk. You're modelling what good leadership looks like every single day, showing the care team how it's done, and helping the young people see what they can become
This role gives you the space to really lead. You'll work alongside the manager, developing staff, driving practice improvements, and making sure every shift runs smoothly. It's hands-on leadership, not distant management. You'll see the results of your decisions reflected in how the team works together and how the young people settle and progress
We invest in our leaders. You'll have proper induction, clear pathways for your own growth, and a team that respects what you bring. Whether you're coming from residential care practice, a care coordinator role, or another leadership position, this home values people who can think on their feet, stay calm under pressure, and genuinely care about outcomes for both young people and staff
What you will be doing
- Support the manager in the day-to-day running of the home and lead the care team during your shifts, setting the tone for safeguarding, consistency and care quality
- Help recruit, induct and develop staff, giving honest feedback and spotting potential in people who could grow into stronger practitioners
- Manage rotas, cover shifts when needed, and make sure the home has the staffing it needs to keep young people safe and cared for
- Oversee paperwork, risk assessments and compliance, making sure everything that needs to be recorded is done properly and on time
- Step in as manager when required, handling incidents, making decisions in real time, and being the calm, responsible adult the young people and team need in a crisis
Why you will love working here
- Full-time permanent role with a real career path, where you're not just managing a shift but building something meaningful with a team
- Competitive salary commensurate with your experience and qualifications, plus the stability of ongoing, regular work
- Proper training and development from day one, including induction that sets you up to succeed in this specific home and its young people
- A home that's actively recruiting across Lancashire (Blackburn, Chorley, Preston and more), so if location changes, so can you
- The chance to genuinely shape practice, develop staff, and see young people progress because you showed up and did the job right
Is this you?
- You've got genuine experience working in children's residential or supported living settings, or you've led a team in a care environment and know how to handle young people with complex needs
- You hold or are willing to work towards a Level 3 in Health and Social Care, Children and Young People's settings, or equivalent experience that shows you understand safeguarding, attachment and child development
- You're organised, can juggle multiple priorities without dropping the ball, and you don't mind getting hands-on when a shift needs you
- You're aged 21 or over, able to pass enhanced DBS checks, and you're someone young people and staff alike can trust and respect
- You've got a driving licence (not essential, but useful in Lancashire), and you're ready to work full-time shifts that might include some evenings, nights or weekends depending on the rota
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.