Children's Home Deputy Manager

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change for young people in our care. As a Deputy Manager, you will support the Registered Children's Home Manager across two one-bed children's homes, one based in Brandon and one in Shotley.

This is an opportunity to help lead two small, dedicated teams and ensure both homes provide safe, nurturing and stable environments where children and young people can feel valued, build positive relationships and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

You will work alongside the Registered Children's Home Manager to provide day-to-day leadership and management across our two one-bed children's homes in Brandon and Shotley. You will help maintain consistently high standards of care, safeguarding, staff practice and regulatory compliance, and lead across both homes in the Manager's absence.

Each home provides a nurturing, safe and stable environment for one child or young person aged 11-17, enabling the teams to build strong relationships and provide individualised care tailored to their needs.

You will:

- support the Registered Manager in the effective day-to-day leadership of both one-bed children's homes in Brandon and Shotley

- lead and support residential childcare staff across both homes, acting as a positive role model and promoting good practice

- provide management oversight in the Registered Manager's absence, helping to maintain safeguarding, risk management and compliance with the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards

- help take forward service priorities and improvements that support positive outcomes for children and young people

- support staff supervision, development and wellbeing, creating a strong team ethos across both homes

- encourage and support children and young people to make positive changes and fulfil their potential

- work flexibly across both locations and participate in the evening and weekend on-call system as management cover.

Our residential homes are open 365 days a year. Shift work, weekend working and bank holidays are therefore a core part of the role., Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Can you describe a time when you supported or led a team through a period of change or improvement in a residential childcare setting? What did you do to maintain good practice and positive outcomes for children and young people?

2. Tell us about a time when you identified and responded to a safeguarding concern or significant risk involving a child or young person. What action did you take and what was the outcome?

3. Can you give an example of how you have supported, motivated or developed staff to improve their practice and provide consistently high-quality care?

4. Tell us about a time when you had to take responsibility and make an important decision in the absence of a senior manager. How did you assess the situation, what action did you take and how did you ensure appropriate standards were maintained?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

experience of working with children in a residential setting within the last 5 years

- good knowledge of the Children Act, the Quality Standards and the Children's Homes Regulations

- experience of acting as a role model when working with children or young adults

- the ability to work effectively as part of a management team and lead without constant supervision

- good communication skills, a strong team ethos and a commitment to staff training and development

- experience of using solution-focused approaches in practice

- a suitable practitioner-level qualification at Level 5, equivalent experience in a relevant area, or a commitment to achieve the qualification within 2 years of employment

- a full UK driving licence with access to your own transport

- a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

To support your development, you will have access to regular training and supervision, helping you to feel supported and confident in your role.

Salary: £42,123 - £48,607 per annum (pro rata for part time) plus 10% Residential Enhancement Allowance. In addition to your salary, you will receive payment for any on call duties performed as management cover

- Hours: 37 hours per week

- Contract: Permanent, As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days

membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits

performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase

training and encouragement to expand your knowledge

a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation

diverse and active staff networks

flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!