Deputy Manager Therapeutic Children’s Home

Bear Care 1 Ltd; Tendring; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's care provider in Tendring is looking for a Deputy Manager to lead a therapeutic residential home. The role requires a calm and values-driven leader experienced in trauma-informed care and safeguarding. You will support the management team and help translate theory into nurturing practice for children. This position offers guaranteed hours, market-leading pay, and opportunities for professional growth, including preparation for future Registered Manager registration.

Benefits

Guaranteed contracted hours

Market-leading pay and conditions

High-quality induction and ongoing professional development

Reflective clinical wellbeing supervision

Clear progression opportunities to Registered Manager

Enhanced pension contribution

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior or supervisory role in a residential children’s setting.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed practice and safeguarding.
• Confidence working in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day running of the home.
• Provide reflective supervision and mentoring.
• Contribute to service development and expansion.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Reflective leadership

Emotional intelligence

Education

Level 5 childcare or social care qualification

Job description

About Us

Beechwood House is an Ofsted‑registered Good therapeutic residential children’s home, providing trauma‑informed care for children and young people who have experienced trauma, neglect and adversity.

Therapy at Beechwood House is not an add‑on; it is embedded in everyday care, relationships, routines and leadership. Our practice is relational, reflective and grounded in emotional intelligence, creating an environment where children feel safe, understood and able to settle.

Since opening, every child placed at Beechwood House has remained with us, reflecting the consistency of our care, the strength of our therapeutic approach and the stability of our team.

The Role

As Deputy Manager you will work closely with the Registered Manager to ensure Beechwood House remains safe, stable and effectively led, with children’s emotional wellbeing at the centre of practice. This role is ideal for an experienced leader who aspires to become a Registered Manager and values reflective, therapeutic leadership.

You will provide visible, values‑led leadership, supporting staff to think reflectively, regulate emotionally, and respond consistently to children’s needs. You will help translate trauma‑informed theory into everyday practice so children experience care that is nurturing, predictable and relationally attuned.

The role offers genuine development, including experience in governance, inspection readiness and strategic leadership alongside an established Registered Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting the safe, effective and compliant day‑to‑day running of the home
• Taking increasing leadership responsibility in preparation for future Registered Manager registration
• Embedding trauma‑informed and therapeutic approaches across care, routines and leadership
• Providing reflective supervision, coaching and mentoring
• Supporting staff wellbeing, performance and development
• Maintaining high safeguarding, quality and inspection standards
• Working collaboratively with placing authorities and professionals
• Contributing to service development and expansion

About You

You are a calm, confident and values‑led leader with a strong grounding in therapeutic residential childcare. You understand trauma and attachment and bring this understanding into both leadership and practice. Reflective by nature, you can hold complexity without becoming reactive and support staff through emotionally demanding situations.

Experience you will bring

• Experience in a senior or supervisory role in a residential children’s setting
• Strong knowledge of trauma‑informed practice and safeguarding
• An emotionally intelligent, reflective leadership style
• Confidence working in a regulated environment
• A relevant childcare or social care qualification (Level 5 achieved or in progress)

Desired experience

• Experience supporting an Ofsted inspection
• Deputising or acting‑up experience
• Experience within a therapeutic or clinically supported model
• Confidence in supervision and staff development
• An interest in progressing to Registered Manager

We Offer

• Guaranteed contracted hours
• Market‑leading pay and conditions
• High‑quality induction and ongoing professional development
• Reflective clinical wellbeing supervision
• A supportive, therapeutic culture with visible senior leadership
• Clear progression opportunities to Registered Manager
• A stable, growing provision focused on quality, not crisis

Post‑probationary enhancements

• Starting bonus after 6 months
• Salary increase to £46,000
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Private medical cover
• Annual performance and Ofsted‑linked bonuses
• Annual salary review
• Increased holiday entitlement with long service

Make an Application

If you believe children heal through relationships, safety and understanding, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact us by 28 January 2026 at [e-mail] to request the full job description and further details.