Deputy Manager (Fairview)

About Derbyshire Residential Children's Services
Derbyshire County Council provides consistent, high-quality care through twelve children's homes across the county. Our homes offer safe, nurturing environments where children and young people feel happy to live and are supported to thrive.
Our practice is underpinned by:

• PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy)
• Trauma-informed and psychologically informed practice
• Social pedagogy
• Person-centred, relationship-focused care

We are committed to continuous improvement and ensuring every child has the opportunity to develop resilience, life skills and positive futures.

About Fairview Children's Home
Fairview is a 4-bed children's home providing care for children with complex emotional and behavioural needs. The home offers a stable, nurturing and therapeutically informed environment, supported by a small, experienced and committed staff team.
The Deputy Manager plays a vital role in maintaining consistency, quality and strong relationships within the home, supporting both children and staff to achieve positive outcomes.

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Deputy Manager to join the team at Fairview Children's Home.
Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the home, ensuring high standards of care, safeguarding and compliance are maintained at all times.
This role requires a confident leader who can balance operational responsibilities with a strong therapeutic presence for children and staff.

Key Responsibilities
As Deputy Manager, you will:

• Support the Registered Manager in the overall management of a 4-bed children's home
• Lead and supervise the staff team, promoting reflective and trauma-informed practice
• Ensure children receive high-quality, consistent and therapeutic care
• Build strong, trusting relationships with children and model positive, emotionally attuned care
• Oversee care planning, risk assessments, behaviour support and safeguarding practice
• Ensure compliance with:
  • The Children Act
  • Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015
  • Quality Standards
  • Ofsted requirements
• Manage staffing arrangements, rotas, supervision and performance
• Contribute to recruitment, induction, training and development of staff
• Support effective partnership working with families, social workers, education, health and other agencies
• Assist with budget management and effective use of resources
• Promote children's independence, life skills and participation in daily routines and activities
• Take part in the on-call rota, covering 50% of standby duties

What We're Looking For
We are looking for a Deputy Manager who is:

• Caring, resilient and emotionally intelligent
• Confident working in a therapeutic and relationship-based environment
• Able to lead, motivate and support staff in a demanding but rewarding setting
• Organised, reflective and able to make sound decisions under pressure
• Committed to anti-oppressive practice, equality and safeguarding

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience of direct work with children and young people in a residential setting
• Supervisory or management experience within residential childcare
• Sound knowledge of:
  • Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards
  • Safeguarding and risk management
  • Trauma, attachment and child development
• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (England) or equivalent
• Willingness to work towards, or hold, the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare
• Ability to work a rota when required, including evenings, weekends and on-call duties

Standby / On-Call Arrangements
As Deputy Manager, you will be expected to cover 50% of the on-call rota .
Standby payments apply:

• £29.93 for any standby period up to 8 hours
• An additional £3.75 for each subsequent 2-hour block (up to a maximum of 24 hours per period)

Working for Derbyshire County Council
Derbyshire is a great place to live and work, offering beautiful countryside alongside excellent transport links to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.
Benefits include:

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Employee discounts
• Occupational health and wellbeing services
• In-house counselling and physiotherapy support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking at most sites

Our Values
We welcome applications from individuals who share our values:
Collaborative | Innovative | Empowered | Accountable
These values guide how we work together and how we support children, families and colleagues.

Safeguarding
This post involves working with children and vulnerable young people and is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check . A criminal record will not necessarily prevent appointment; each case will be considered on its own merits.

Apply now to join us and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children at Fairview Children's Home.

If you are interested in an informal chat and a look around the home before interview please contact Alice Thompson- alice.thompson@derbyshire.gov.uk- 07428174460

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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We welcome applications from individuals who share our values - being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.