Deputy Manager

Job Opportunity: Deputy Manager - Children's Home

Position: Deputy Manager - Children's Home
Location: Highworth, near Swindon, South West Region
Salary: £30,000 - £33,000 per annum (depending on experience), plus bonuses. Paid sleep-ins at £63/night, average salary £34,276.
Job Type: Full-time

About Us:
We are a leading recruitment agency specialising in placing skilled professionals within the social care sector. Our client is a progressive and trauma-informed group of children's homes in the South West region. This is a unique opportunity to join an organisation committed to providing bespoke, trauma-informed care within a Therapeutic Community.

Why Choose This Role?

• Therapeutic Community Values: Upholding the core values and principles of a Therapeutic Community.
• Comprehensive Training: Trauma-informed training, progressive leadership skills, and community meetings for reflection and shared learning.
• Therapeutic Support: Integrated support programme based on the Pillars of Parenting (POP) therapeutic model.
• Homely Environment: Beautiful, comfortable homes providing a safe environment with strength-based care and emotional attachment for all children.
• Emotional Warmth Parenting: A culture of warmth and empathy in parenting.
• Staff Wellness: Wellness programmes, including Wellness Wednesdays, days off for birthdays, wellness shifts, and fun wellbeing activities.
• Supportive Team: A warm and welcoming environment with senior management and operational support, including 1:1 mentoring.
• Career Development: Opportunities for career growth and NVQ Level 5 qualification.

Main Duties:

• Assist the manager in the management, coordination, and development of quality therapeutic services for young people in the home.
• Ensure the home exceeds all standards as per the Children's Home Regulations 2015 and other relevant legislation.
• Promote relationships as central to the practice of the home, working empathetically with young people, their families, professionals, and other agencies.
• Provide effective leadership, coordinating the staff team and ensuring the implementation of the company's policies and procedures.
• Promote team development and effective working, understanding the impacts of vicarious trauma.
• Encourage reflective practice among team members to uphold therapeutic thinking.
• Ensure meaningful supervision for all team members, applying therapeutic approaches in practical work and documentation.
• Support staff through quality inductions, ongoing training, and by implementing a robust therapeutic training package.
• Ensure paperwork is accurate, reflective, and evidences children's progress. Formulate and implement documents such as care plans, risk assessments, and behaviour support plans.
• Adhere to Health and Safety regulations, including fire safety, medication management, and vehicle and premises maintenance.
• Manage finance budgets, ensuring compliance with procedures.
• Promote and implement the company's attachment-based and trauma-informed policies and procedures.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Essential: Experience in Residential Children's Social Care, with at least one year as a senior support worker.
• Desirable: Understanding of Trauma Informed Care, PACE, and therapeutic placements for children, or willingness to learn.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, nurturing nature, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Level 3 NVQ diploma in Residential Childcare.
• UK Driving Licence.
• Confidence and understanding of the Children's Home Regulations and related legislation.
• Ability to challenge, guide, and mentor confidently.
• Clear DBS and positive references from all previous employers working with children or vulnerable adults.
• Resilience and the ability to handle challenging situations in a nurturing way, with the confidence to set appropriate boundaries and implement policies.

We welcome applications from individuals passionate about making a difference and working therapeutically, providing consistent care for our young people