Most deputy manager roles in residential care ask you to manage crisis after crisis with no real support or space to lead. This is different: you'll have a genuine manager backing you, a real team culture that listens, and the chance to shape how care actually happens day to day. If you're ready to step up and make children's lives better through solid leadership and clear systems, keep reading
Picture yourself arriving for a shift knowing exactly what's happened with each young person, reading the handover book, then stepping into a leadership role that actually matters. You're not just firefighting incidents: you're chairing the young people's meetings where they have real say in their lives, organising holidays they'll remember, and building the kind of home where staff feel supported enough to do brilliant work
You'll run quality audits, spot what's working and what needs to change, then have proper supervision time to help your team improve. When a difficult moment happens on shift, staff look to you for guidance and you're there to give it. You're accountable for welfare decisions, but you're not alone doing it: your manager has your back, your team respects your direction, and you get genuine 1.5 hours of supervision every week to reflect and grow
This role teaches you how to lead a residential team with real responsibility. You'll keep petty cash accurate, make sure staffing is solid, ensure communication flows between shifts, and help young people and staff stay safe out in the community. It's the kind of role that builds a CV that opens doors, but more than that, it's where you discover if management is truly your path
What you will be doing
- Lead shifts (40 hours a week plus one sleep-in), taking full accountability for the welfare of young people and staff during the time you're in charge
- Chair young people's meetings, listen to their views, and help them have real say in how the home runs
- Organise and implement the young people's holidays, giving them experiences that matter
- Conduct regular quality audits and give constructive supervision to staff on improving care practices and processes
- Manage petty cash during sleep-in shifts, oversee staffing levels and rotas to ensure cover, and read handovers to stay fully informed
- Offer guidance and support to staff when incidents happen, and communicate any changes in procedure so everyone stays in the loop
Why you will love working here
- 40 hours a week plus one sleep-in per week (additional sleep-ins possible during staff absence or emergencies, so you have real flexibility)
- Proper management support: you'll have a dedicated manager and the Responsible Individual backing your decisions
- Genuine supervision built in: 1.5 hours every week to reflect, develop and get proper guidance
- Real impact on how the home runs: you shape procedures, lead quality improvements, and have genuine say in building a better service
- A team culture where communication is valued and everyone's voice counts, from staff to the young people you care for
Is this you?
- You've got solid experience in residential childcare and you're ready to step into a leadership role with real responsibility for young people and staff welfare
- You're a clear communicator who can chair meetings, give constructive feedback, and help staff feel heard and supported
- You're organised enough to manage rotas, track finances, audit quality, and keep handover records sharp and useful
- You're happy to attend supervision weekly (1.5 hours) and monthly seniors meetings, even when off shift, because you want to keep developing
- You can stay calm under pressure: you might be called at home for advice in a crisis, and occasionally asked to come in if things are urgent
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.