Deputy Children's Homes Manager

Essex County Council; Basildon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% On-Call Allowance

Job summary

Essex County Council is recruiting a Deputy Children's Home Manager for Basildon or Chelmsford. You will supervise staff, maintain safeguarding standards, and support the Home Manager in ensuring a safe, stable short-term home for 11–17-year-olds.

The role requires experience in residential settings and strong quality assurance practices. In this role you will help manage relationships with families and partner agencies, support staff development, and oversee daily operations to meet outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in residential settings for children and young people.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection policies.
• Ability to implement quality assurance frameworks in care settings.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of a short-term children's home.
• Provide guidance to staff to ensure safe, high-quality care.
• Monitor compliance with financial and purchasing procedures.
• Develop and maintain links with the local community and partner agencies.
• Ensure day-to-day running of the home delivers outcomes for children.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Quality assurance

Communication

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Management or Care

Diploma Level 5 (if not held)

Job description

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. 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.

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 . 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.

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.

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 , 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 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.