Deputy Manager

Hertfordshire; Watford; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council seeks a Deputy Manager for Meadow View in Watford. The role involves leading a team to provide high-quality care for up to 4 children aged 7–17 with complex emotional needs in a safe, therapeutic setting.

You will support the Registered Manager, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive a trauma‑informed, child‑centred service. A level 5 leadership qualification and a full UK driving licence are required.

Qualifications

• Must have level 5 leadership and management qualification in Residential or working towards it.
• Full UK Driving Licence and ability to travel.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in residential children’s homes.
• Experience in senior/leadership roles in residential care.
• Knowledge of Reg 44 visits and Ofsted regulations.

Responsibilities

• Directly lead Seniors and the rest of the team, ensuring motivation, development, and nurturing.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, education advisers from the virtual school, health professionals and social workers.
• Maintain high standards of care and a culture for the team to excel.
• Assist the Registered Manager with day-to-day operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Foster a positive and empowering environment for young people and your team.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Ofsted regulations

Problem solving

Driving

Education

Level 5 leadership and management qualification

Job description

£44,253 progressing to £48,738 per annum

37.0

Watford

05/11/2026

Job Introduction

Job Title:Deputy Manager
Starting Salary: £44,253 progressing to £48,738 per annum plus 3% market enhancement
Hours:37
Location:Watford
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate:Children Services

About the team

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as a Deputy Manager for one of our 7 children’s homes within Hertfordshire’s Residential Homes. Meadow View is based in Watford, at full capacity, Meadow View supports up to 4 children between the ages of 7 and 17 with complex emotional needs and many other difficulties, offers a safe short to long-term home and a therapeutic environment in which the children can thrive.

About the role

As part of this role, you will be required to:

• Directly lead Seniors and the rest of the team, ensuring motivation, development, and nurturing.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, education advisers from the virtual school, health professionals and social workers.
• Maintain high standards of care and a culture for the team to excel.
• Assist the Registered Manager with day-to-day operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Foster a positive and empowering environment for young people and your team.

Support to develop a trauma informed, child centred and outcome focused service

We’re looking for someone with a demonstrable passion to support young people with adverse experiences and advocate for their needs. You will have management experience and ability to lead a team, whilst modelling best practice.

As no two days are the same, you’ll be a natural problem solver with the ability to remain calm and resilient under pressure.

You will have working knowledge of Ofsted regulations, Reg 44 monitoring and being able to support visitors to ensure the home is meeting these standards, along with a full driving licence for cross county travel.

Applicants must be prepared to undertake a level 5 leadership and management qualification, if this is not already held, and undertake a minimum of 1 sleep-in shift per month.

About you

• Must have level 5 leadership and management qualification in Residential or working towards it.
• Full UK Driving License and ability to travel.
• You will have management experience and ability to lead a team.
• Working with Children looked after.
• Undertake a minimum of 1 shift per month.
• You will be required to be flexible to support the needs of the home.
• Able to be a part of the on-call management rota.
• Demonstrable passion to support young people with adverse experiences and advocate for their needs.
• You will have working knowledge of Reg 44 visits and Ofsted regulations to ensure the home is meeting these standards.
• Able to be calm and work under pressure.
• Self-motivated
• Quality Assurance
• Minimum 2 years’ experience of working in residential children’s home.
• Minimum 2 years in a senior experience in residential children’s home or relevant role
• Trauma Informed ways of working.
• Knowledge of how to support with Ofsted Inspections and Reg 44 visits.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 11. Please locate the job profile here:

Interview Date:17th November and 20th November 2026

Additional information

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.