Deputy Children’s Homes Manager

Essex County Counci; Basildon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-Call Allowance (8%)

Job summary

Essex County Council is recruiting a Deputy Children’s Home Manager to lead residential provision for young people aged 11–17 in Basildon or Chelmsford. You will support the Home Manager, supervise staff, monitor safeguarding and quality assurance, and ensure high standards of care and safety within the home.

The role is permanent and full-time with an 8% on-call allowance and a salary of £38,487 to £51,834 per year. Closing date is 22 November 2026, with interview dates in December.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Management or Care; Diploma Level 5 if not held.
• Substantial management experience in residential settings with children/young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience with quality assurance and process improvement.
• Strong communication and team leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Support development of trusting relationships between staff and young people.
• Utilise Quality Assurance tools to maintain high standards and robust processes.
• Provide advice and guidance to staff for confident decision making.
• Maintain knowledge of current statutory framework and policies.
• Manage compliance with ECC financial and purchasing procedures.
• Develop staff expertise in professional practice and management.
• Maintain links between home and local community.
• Ensure efficient day-to-day running of the home delivering outcomes for young people.
• Provide direct supervision to Advanced Skills Workers.
• Annual targets defined in performance framework.

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Management or Care

Diploma Level 5 (if not held)

Management experience in residential setting

Quality assurance processes

Excellent communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Trauma-informed practice

Job description

Deputy Children's Homes Manager

Permanent,Full Time

£38,487 to £51,834 per annum

Location:Essex

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 22nd November 2026

Interview Dates: 7th & 9th December 2026

Help Shape Brighter Futures for Children and Young People

Join Us as a Deputy Children's Home Manager in Basildon or Chelmsford

Two exciting opportunities available, plus an 8% On-Call Allowance. Please indicate your preferred location in your supporting statement.

Essex County Council is investing in and expanding its portfolio of internal children’s residential homes. These homes will serve as safe havens, offering stable, short-term, and supportive placements for children aged 11 - 17 years who, for the time being, are unable to live with their birth families.

The Deputy Children’s Home Manager is a pivotal role within the Children and Families service. This role involves supporting the management of a short-term children’s home and working closely with children, young people, their families, and partner agencies. The goal is to meet the needs of the children and young people, protecting them from neglect and abuse, and enabling a brighter future.

In the absence of the Home Manager, this role will take on their responsibilities to ensure the home has the continuity of management, and children and young people feel protected in a familiar environment.

The role requires an experienced supervisor to support and guide teams whilst monitoring processes and practices in residential homes, to ensure exemplary practices are in place.

Accountabilities

• Support the development of trusting relationships between employees and young people and support their holistic growth and development within the home and within the community.
• Utilise Quality Assurance tools and methodologies to support day to day practice and ensure processes meet high standards expected and processes are robust.
• Provide advice, support and guidance to employees to enable them to be confident in decision making.
• Maintain knowledge of current legislative framework, regulations, policies and practice to ensure the ability to undertake the full range of duties when required.
• Responsible for managing and monitoring compliance with ECC financial and purchasing procedures.
• Maintaining and developing expertise and skills in professional practice and management in order that advice and support can be given to staff.
• Responsible for the links between the home and the local community, including leisure facilities, and taking appropriate action to build and strengthen these links.
• Responsible for ensuring the efficient running of the day to day functioning of the home to ensure it delivers high standards of support to service users that is outcome focused for children and young people.
• Responsible for providing direct professional supervision to Advanced Skills Workers.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills and Knowledge

• Educated to NVQ Level 3 in Management or Care and able to undertake Diploma level 5 if not already in receipt of it, with substantial relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Evidence of management skills and experience in residential setting involving children and young people, with the ability to motivate and support diverse teams.
• Knowledge and experience of implementing and monitoring effective quality assurance processes.
• Excellent communication and effective listening skills.
• A thorough knowledge of childcare practice including the safeguarding of Children.
• Experience of supporting people with special needs.
• Knowledge of how trauma affects children and young people behaviour.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025 , Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR ) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]

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