Most care workers hit a ceiling: great at what they do, but nowhere to go. This deputy manager role is different. You'll step into genuine leadership, support a Registered Manager you'll learn from, and build the foundations of a brand-new home from day one, with real backing to progress towards Registered Manager level yourself
Picture yourself leading a shift: you're setting the tone, problem-solving on your feet, and watching your team respond because they trust you. As Deputy Manager, you'll move beyond direct care into the bigger picture: shaping care plans, managing safeguarding responses, developing staff, and embedding the culture that makes a home feel safe. It's the step up that separates those who want more responsibility from those ready to take it
This isn't an established home where everything's already locked down. You're coming in to help build it right from the start. That means your voice matters. Your ideas shape how this place runs. You'll work closely with the Registered Manager, absorbing their experience in supervision and compliance, and you'll get ongoing mentoring specifically designed to move you towards your own manager qualification. That's a rare offer in this sector
The young people you'll support will feel the difference when you're in the room: a deputy who knows them, who leads by example, who handles the difficult moments with calm and skill. You'll be the person other staff turn to when things get complex. That's the role that actually sticks with you
What you will be doing
- Lead shifts and ensure the home runs smoothly day to day, making decisions and solving problems as they come up
- Support the Registered Manager with compliance, staff supervision, and development so the team stays sharp and the home stays licensed
- Work directly with young people to develop and implement their care plans and risk assessments, making sure every child gets what they need
- Handle incidents and safeguarding concerns with care and precision, reporting properly and protecting the young people in your charge
- Be the role model: show staff and young people what professionalism, empathy and good boundaries look like, every single day
Why you will love working here
- Step into a real leadership role with a clear path to Registered Manager level, backed by ongoing mentoring and training
- Join a supportive provider who invests in your development and actually wants you to progress
- Help build a brand-new home from the ground up, where your contribution shapes how things work
- Work with a team that values what you bring and creates the kind of culture where good people want to stay
Is this you?
- You've got a Level 3 Diploma in childcare or equivalent (Level 5 is a bonus, or you're keen to work towards it)
- You've spent at least 2 years working in children's residential care, so you know the rhythms and the challenges
- You understand safeguarding, child development and how to manage behaviour that's challenging, because you've lived it
- You're a natural leader: people want to follow you, you communicate well, and you actually care about getting the best from your team
- You're ready for an enhanced DBS check and the responsibility that comes with it
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.